Wigg rides for Brittain
By TMX Archives on 7th Jan 09
THE fascinating thing about reporting the National Vic Brittain Trial is that there are no pre-season indicators about who is in form, people are out on new machines and with it being a traditional road event, it can throw a few surprises.
This year the, entry included previous winners in the shape of Sam Connor, Sam Haslam and Dan Thorpe but they had to contend with new Beta runners in Alexz Wigg and Shaun Morris.
With the first man away at 9am on a very cold and icy part of Shropshire, it was a nice touch to have Johnny Brittain as the guest starter.
Easthope Wood was the first group with five sections that were tricky, but in the sub zero temperatures, they became very difficult as turns and banks quickly polished up. Of the early Clubman route runners, even John and Tony Cowley dropped marks on turns they would normally not even look at. Richard Allen, Stuart Woodfield and Katy Sunter were some of the very few cleans here.
On the Expert route, section three proved to be a real good test with a big climb at the end offering little grip. Local ace, Buster Regan, managed to get out for three after a spectacular effort and Sam Haslam was superb for a dab but everyone else bar one fived. The other one was Alexz Wigg who simply found grip where none seemed to exist existed and he rode out for a clean that was well worth the generous round of applause.
On the other side of the track was another section that defeated all except John Cowley, Ian Watts and Stuart Woodfield on the Clubman route, and Wiggy on the Expert route. All, however, did enough physical effort to warm them up for the long ride out to the five subs at Earnstry.
This group allowed the riders to get into their stride with streams, banks and rock steps and it allowed Richard Allen to get into an early lead in his class. Some other good efforts came from Michael James and John Cowley especially.
NATIONAL VIC BRITTAIN TROPHY TRIAL
Much Wenlock, Telford (Bewdley MCC)
EXPERT ROUTE: Alex Wigg (Beta) 13 marks lost, Sam Haslam (Gas Gas) 26, Sam Connor (Beta) 28, Shaun Morris (Beta) 37, Dan Thorpe (Gas Gas) 51, Jack Challoner (Beta) 52, Ben Wibberley (Gas Gas) 58, Shaun Fox (Beta) 68, Buster Regan (Beta) 78, Josh Woods (Beta) 97.
CLUBMAN ROUTE: Richard Allen (Gas Gas) 13, Michael James (Gas Gas) 31, John Cowley (Gas Gas) 32, Darren Williams (Gas Gas) 39, Stuart Woodfield (Beta) 46, Graham Walker (Beta) 59, Tony Cowley (Gas Gas) 65, Katy Sunter (Gas Gas) 68, Mike Flanagan (Gas Gas) 68, Ben Ely (Gas Gas) 69.
FOR FULL REPORT SEE T+MX NEWS, FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2009
Clubman runner Katy Sunter made a good start with one of very few cleans in the first five sections, eventually finishing in eighth place.