2023 Pre-65 Scottish Two Day Trial Report

By John Dickinson on 3rd May 23

News Trials Scottish Six Days Trial

The 2023 Scottish Pre-65 Two Day Trial, staged of course by the Edinburgh and District Motor Club and based in Kinlochleven on Friday/Saturday, April 28/29, just before the Scottish Six Days, once again proved to be super competitive from first place to last – and once again ended in a tie-break for the winner!

Dan Thorpe and Gary Macdonald, both on Triumph Tiger Cubs, contrived to lose zero marks through the two days and 60 sections with the honours going to Thorpey as the older of the two – a fact Gary was happy to concede!

Dan Thorpe dropped zero dabs on his way to the win

This made Dan a two-time winner, having won in 2019 but as his dad Dave no doubt pointed out, the lad is still four wins behind the master as Thorpey Sr has his name on the trophy no fewer than six times!

Gary can of course console himself with the knowledge that he is already a three-time event winner!

The weather can make such a difference to this trial but 2023 saw almost perfect riding (and spectating) conditions with overcast skies but no rain and even the moor crossings were more forgiving being neither too dry nor too wet.

Friday saw a bright 9am start and the 200-strong entry – with several keen riders, including Wetherby's Ian Myers being awarded last-minute rides as others pulled out – first took in three groups within walking distance in Kinlochleven before riders headed out up and over the moors in a clockwise loop including several at Blackwater before passing under the mighty dam before dropping back down to the famous Pipeline.

Pipeline only comprises a single section these days – in the interests of keeping the trial on the move – starting just below the feared step and ending in the usual place above the solid rock slabs. It proved as watchable, entertaining and satisfying as ever for those riders who achieved a memorable clean, some making it look easy, others fighting all the way to the Ends cards.

The route then hit the road for several miles along the south shore of Loch Leven taking in the rocky climbs at Cnoc a Linnhe, Pollock Hill and Caolasnacon before dropping below the road and two final groups, Leven Shore and three subs up the burn at Camas na Muic.

And after the day's 30 sections, there were no fewer than four riders sharing the lead as Thorpey and G-Mac were joined by Darren Wasley on yet another Cub – albeit one he rarely rides being usually found on a GASGAS or a Fantic Twinshock – and cheery Irish visitor Stephen Murphy on his 250 James.

Donna Fox was the leading lady in the trial

You can gauge just how competitive the trial is by the fact that no fewer than 42 riders kept their scores in single figures, including triple World Champion (1976/'77/'78) Yrjo Vesterinen on his well-developed Bantam.

Dan Clark, Chris Greenwood, James Harland and Russ Rooksby all finished on just a dab. Clarky was victorious in 2016 and James won the rain lashed 2013 trial when the second day had to be cancelled due to the sheer volume of water on the course.

Unfortunate early retirements included local dad and lad Martin and Tyler Murphy. Tyler's Cub ran out of sparks while Martin's big AJS single was afflicted by a strange crankcase compression problem. ACU stalwart Anthony Rew was forced out when a newly built (not by Anthony!) rear wheel collapsed.

Saturday dawned another fine day and after early groups at Aluminium Works and Lower Mamore then headed up the hill again before and taking in the old favourite, Mamore Road, with half a dozen separate groups along the way including Sleubhaich and Callart (well known to Six Day competitors) before dropping back down to the tarmac road and a return to the village. A quick refuel and then back along the south shore again to tackle Garbh Bheinn, Cnoc a Linnhe again, including the feared 'top' section, Cameron Hill and finally signing off on the Loch Shore at Camas na Muic.

It was another good day for riders and spectators alike but it always comes down to the question – who's won?

And while both riders were inseparable on a zero score, the fact is that the winner's name on the trophy is Dan with commiserations to Macdonald.

After taking the win in 2022 on the oldest rider tie-breaker, Gary Macdonald was trumped by Dan Thorpe on this occasion 

Dan Clark only just failed to add to his 2016 victory with a clean ride on Saturday matched by fellow 500 Ariel rider Ben Butterworth who again challenged for the win without quite getting there. It'll come Butty!

Big bikes were really in the mix with Russ Rooksby and regular Irish challenger Mark Harris right behind Ben, mounted on their own 500 Ariels.

The first two-stroke home was local Calum Murphy on the Bantam, Calum another regular challenger for the top spot in this always closely fought trial.

There were several rigid two-strokes tackling the course this year and while these must be a challenge to ride on the rocks they were well-ridden with Scott Callaghan having an exceptional rider to take the class award on just 14 marks.

Best lady rider was the ever-cheerful Donna Fox losing just nine marks on the Bantam while similarly-mounted Robin Luscombe took best Over 60 and his pal Mick Grant again nailed the Oldest Finisher award. Probably not the one he most cherishes from his illustrious career on two wheels but it is still a tremendous achievement.

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