Riders ready for Manx Two-Day battle
By John Dickinson on 10th Jul 19
The Manx National Two-Day Trial takes place this weekend with around 270 competitors from all parts of the UK ready to take on two great days of trials action on Solo and Sidecar machines.
It celebrated its 60th Anniversary in 2015, and the event moved to new dates from September to July in 2017
Now well established at Douglas Rugby Club as Trial HQ, the event gets underway at 8am on Saturday, with riders setting out on the separate routes for solo and sidecar competitors.
The solos will cover nearly 80 miles and take in 78 observed sections across the weekend with the sidecars covering around 80 miles and 72 sections.
Solos head west and south on the first day with early groups including Glen Lough, Old Stoney Mountain Quarry, South Barrule Quarry and Glen Rushen Gulley.
Competitors will then head onto the South coast with groups at Pooil Vaaish near Gansey and Scarlett Point and finishing the day with an arena type section in Castletown Square at around 3.30pm.
Meanwhile the Sidecars will head north with early locations including Larkhill, Ballacarooin and Axenfell Plantation, with Dhoon Quarry, Bims Field and Douglas Rugby Club in the afternoon run.
Solos head north on Sunday and the Sidecars south making sure the riders truly get to see all aspects of the islands scenery.
Heading towards Ballacreetch, Brandywell Gulley and Axenfell Plantation, Solos then visit Snubbies Glen and the lunch stop at Ramsey Rugby Club before Tholt y Will Plantation, Injebreck
Gulley and back towards Douglas via West Baldwin Bridge and finishing the day alongside the sidecars at Knock Froy.
The chairs hit Glen Lough, Cornelly Mines, South Barrule Quarry and Carnagrie before lunch, then into Peel with sections on Peel Hill and Corletts Sand Quarry after which they head back towards Douglas via Bernies Glen to the final sections at Knock Froy.
A healthy entry of 30 Expert riders will provide spectators with good competition, gunning for the coveted winners Sword of State. Local hopes rest on reigning champion Josh Brain who is looking good on his new Gas Gas.
Josh will face a stern challenge from TRRS-mounted Welsh duo Iwan Roberts and Hugo Jervis. An interesting entry is trials rider turned Extreme Enduro ace Billy Bolt.
It will be interesting to see just what he can do in his first Manx although he has previously ridden on the Island when contesting the Youth British Trials Championships.
The Clubman Solo class remains wide open as usual with a number of riders in position to take a win including previous winner Nigel Crowther from Leeds.
In the revamped Sidecars, which now features a Clubman class there is one former winner on the entry list with Jamie Teare making a rare appearance on an outfit, passengered by Anthony Smith.
The crew on form and currently third in the British Championship is father and daughter Nigel/Gracie Mae Scott, but they will surely be challenged by Olly Lace/ Gareth Temple, William Caine/ Sam Baxter and Jack Corlett/ Beth Thomas throughout the weekend.
On the Clubman route its a similar story with any number of crews possessing the ability to take the top spot over the weekend.
There are a number of current and ex-road racers through the entry list including Ian Duffus, Brian Morrison, Donny McLeod, Ryan Farquhar, current TT star Dean Harrison and another fast man around the TT course, all-rounder Kiaran Hankin.
Local Enduro ace Jamie McCanney (220) and Red Bull KTM rider and winner of the famous Le Touquet Beach Race Nathan Watson also start.
The trial itself starts from 8am each day.
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