Wigg's tRew grit at Ruby Rocks...
By TMX Archives on 18th Jun 09
ROUND five of the ACU Events sponsored 2009 British Solo Trials Championship headed down to Devon last Sunday for the Anthony Rew Trial, this year staged at Ruby Rocks.And, it was Alexz Wigg, on the Beta, who made the most of the conditions to rack-up his first British Championship success, winning a close contest between himself, series leader James Dabill on the Gas Gas and his closest challenger, Sherco's Michael Brown.The result was yet another step up the ladder for Wiggy who, since narrowly missing-out on the Scottish Six Days premier award to Dougie Lampkin, has been on the up and up. And with Dibs having dropped to a pair of third places, after romping away with the first three rounds, Browny has closed the Championship gap to just six points - and there's three rounds still to go!The practice session was on Saturday afternoon and it gave riders the opportunity to scrub off some of the rockery which was in a very slippery state. In addition, the Championship class wanted some alterations made to some of the sections and these were made.Report and Pictures: COLIN BULLOCK
Sunday was warm and dry as the well-supported Expert B class started out at 9.30. Section one was however not going to be tackled quickly as no-one wanted to be first through the assorted rock jumble. Early efforts from Josh Woods and Ricky Wiggins did show that it was possible as they made single dab rides before north east ace John Crinson made a clean which was only matched by Josh Law on his second circuit.
Riders made their way up the stream bed and the next three sections did not give too many problems but section five, deep in the gully, did give them something to think about taking threes from Crinson and series leader Sam Ludgate. It was here that Danny Gamble had the best ride going 1-0-1 on his three circuits.
After lap one, Crinson held a five mark advantage from Gamble and Andy Blackman and though John would remain in control all day, fellow Scorpa rider Sam Ludgate put in some good rides to haul himself up past the others to grab second from Ricky Wiggins by a single point and Sam retains a healthy advantage in the overall standings.
In the Experts A it turned out to be a relatively low scoring event and it was where a single five would ruin a rider's entire day.
Early on Ben Morphett showed why he is such a good prospect by cleaning section one, even with a changed exit for this class. Both Sam Connor and Gary Macdonald started with twos before both set off for a run of nine straight cleans before both dropped marks at the 11th hazard at the top of the venue.
After the opening lap they were locked on four marks apiece along with Jonathan Richardson but it was not to be the young Sherco rider's day as his second circuit effectively put him out of contention. By comparison Morphett, James Fry and Lee Sampson were putting in some consistent rides to move up the leader board even if there was to be no catching Sam who still looks good enough to ride competitively in the Championship class. Connor then, with four wins and a second, is surely heading for the title in this group.
Last out came the Championship runners and 2009 really is proving to be an interesting competition.
Early on in the season James Dabill twice beat Dougie with Brownie just a little off the pace. Michael's win at The Mitchell though, with Alexz Wigg taking second place just altered the dynamics though and the Gas Gas v Sherco challenge is now well and truly back on - with Alexz coming up fast for Beta.
Alexz, Michael, Jack Challoner and Sam Haslam all opened up with three straight cleans before arriving at the fourth section where most of the spectators waited to see if anyone could sort out a number of mega climbs.
George Morton battled for a well received two which was matched by Wiggy also using his Beta to huge effect while Dabill and Brown had to settle for threes. Morton followed-up with his real moment of glory here on lap three when he posted the only clean of the day!
It didn't look as if there was going to be any cleans on the fifth hazard with Michael Brown best on a dab until right at the back Dibs made the perfect ride with minder Jack Lee giving him animated support throughout.
Next-up it was all change on a hazard that incorporated a bit of everything from deep water, a rocky downhill and a bank exit. This one had needed some work during Saturday's practice but it was now quite rideable with Alexz and Michael cleaning the hazard before James had an unfortunate five as he missed a downhill landing.
Section seven had a real sting in the tail with an uphill climb followed by a difficult right handed exit causing plenty of problems but Dabill was supreme here and he was the only rider to clean it on all three visits.
The final four subs did not affect scores greatly and after lap one it was all pretty close on marks dropped although time penalties meant that for Dabill and Challoner it would make challenging for top place on the day very difficult.
Scores generally fell on the final two laps giving Alexz Wigg his first Championship victory by three points from Michael Brown but those time faults cost James dearly and he had to settle for third despite coming back strongly in the second half of the event.
ACU EVENTS BRITISH SOLO
TRIALS CHAMPIONSHIP
Rd 5 – Anthony Rew Trial (West of England MC)
CHAMPIONSHIP CLASS
1 Alexz Wigg (Beta UK) 10 + 7 + 4 + - = 21
2 Michael Brown (MRS Sherco) 10 + 9 + 5 + - = 24
3 James Dabill (300 JST Gas Gas) 11 + 4 + 9 + 7 = 31
4 Jack Challoner (Beta UK) 12 + 12 + 9 + 6 = 39
5 George Morton (Beta UK) 17 + 15 + 12 + - = 44
6 Sam Haslam (JST Gas Gas) 19 + 13 + 13 + 3 = 48
7 Ross Danby (JST Gas Gas) 24 + 24 + 15 + 2 = 65
8 Craig Robinson (JST Gas Gas) 32 + 28 + 15 + - = 75
SERIES STANDINGS after 5 (of 8) rounds: 1 Dabill 90 points, 2 Brown 84, 3 Wigg 72, 4 Challoner 53, 5 Morris 52, 6 Haslam 48, 7 Danby 45, 8 Morton 43, 9 Lampkin 34, 10 Robinson 34.
EXPERT A CLASS
1 Sam Connor (290 Beta UK) 4 + 3 + 1 + - = 8
2 Gary MacDonald (290 MRS Sherco) 4 + 5 + 3 + - = 12
3 Ben Morphett (125 Beta UK) 10 + 3 + 0 + 1 = 14
4 James Fry (MRS Sherco) 8 + 4 + 3 + - = 15
5 Lee Sampson (TRC Gas Gas) 8 + 7 + 1 + - = 16
6 Dan Thorpe (300 JST Gas Gas) 9 + 4 + 5 + - = 18
7 Jon Richardson (125 MRS Sherco) 4 + 12 + 3 + - = 19
8 Jonny Walker (125 Ace Gas Gas) 13 + 12 + 8 + - = 33
SERIES STANDINGS (Expert A): 1 Connor 97 points, 2 MacDonald 69, 3 Morphett 54, 4 Austermuhle 52, 5 Sampson 52, 6 Richardson 50, 7 Thorpe 43, 8 Fry 43, 9 Jonny Walker 37, 9 Jonny Walker 37, 10 Liam Walker 24, 11 Hemingway 22, 12 Pearson 21, 13 Wibberley 19, 14 Jones 15, 15 Jenkins 6,...
SERIES STANDINGS (Expert A 125cc): 1 Richardson 72 points, 2 Morphett 72, 3 Jonny Walker 64.
EXPERT B CLASS
1 John Crinson (Birkett Scorpa) 9 + 4 + 4 + - = 17
2 Sam Ludgate (NBK Scorpa) 17 + 5 + 10 + - = 32
3 Wiggins (250 Albion Gas Gas) (23x0) 15 + 8 + 10 + - = 33
4 D Gamble (Acklams Beta) (16x0) 14 + 10 + 9 + - = 33
5 John Sunter (300 Montesa 4RT) 13 + 12 + 9 + - = 34
6 Josh Woods (Beta UK) 19 + 9 + 11 + - = 39
7 A Blackman (Monster Gas Gas) 14 + 16 + 15 + - = 45
8 Daniel Greatorex (250 Gas Gas) 24 + 19 + 13 + - = 56
9 Ross Hancock (Gas Gas) 21 + 24 + 18 + - = 63
10 Josh Law (280 Gas Gas) 30 + 24 + 24 + - = 78
11 R Pollard (Beta) (4x0) 29 + 27 + 23 + - = 79
12 Shaun Fox (250 Goode Beta) (3x0) 22 + 26 + 31 + - = 79
13 G Pollard (Beta) 21 + 31 + 30 + - = 82
14 Grant Laming (Gas Gas) 27 + 28 + 28 + - = 83
15 Lee Shankie (Sherco) 33 + 29 + 24 + - = 86
SERIES STANDINGS: 1 Ludgate 89 points, 2 Crinson 78, 3 Wiggins 71, 4 Woods 47, 5 Gamble 42, 6 Carr 36, 7 Blackman 32, 8 Sunter 28, 10 Brice 20, 11 Kettlewell 19, 12 Fox 18, 13 Sherwin 18, 14 Law 18, 15 Kendrew 15.
YOUTH SUPPORT CLASS (Non-champs)
1 Jack Sheppard (Beta UK) 11 + 2 + 2 + - = 15
2 Chris Short (Gas Gas) 24 + 25 + 29 + 2 = 80
NEXT ROUND: July 12 – Rene Pearce Memorial Trophy Trial at Brousentor Farm, Peter Tavy, nr Tavistock (Torridge & DMCC).
Alexz Wigg concentrates on keeping both feet on the pegs on his way to his first British Championship win.
