Trials Torque: British Trials Championship double-header this weekend.
By John Dickinson on 27th Jul 16
THERES an RT Keedwell ACU British Trials Championship double header coming this weekend.
Rounds six and seven of the eleven round 2016 series are being staged courtesy of the Hookwood Trials Club and Witley &DMCC, both clubs in the South Eastern centre.
Saturday will see the weekend of Championship action get underway when the Hookwood Trials Club host their Hookwood Trial at the club's well known centre near West Horsley, Surrey, KT24 6EA.
The vastly-experienced clerk of the course and Hookwood supremo Jim Connor is in charge with son Sam Connor laying out the course and the Connor family know better than anyone anyone what will be an appropriate challenge across the three rider classes.
The Connors have rung the changes in the sections in order to make it different to last year and have a few surprises up their sleeves for competitors and spectators.
Spectators please note there will be a nominal entry charge for the event.
Sunday then sees the second of the weekend's Championship rounds at the excellent Butser Limeworks, near Petersfield, Hants. GU31 5SW.
The Witley Club came back into the Championship series in 2015 with the welcome return of Butser to Championship trials and provides a very different rider challenge with its mixture of big climbs and loose shale type going.
Neil Bowker is in charge of the sections this year as CoC.
Since the last round down at the West of England many of the British riders have been busy and very successful on the World scene including the British round at Tong in Yorkshire, but it is now time to challenge again for domestic bragging rights.
In the main British Championship class Vertigo factory rider James Dabill has maintained a perfect record to date with five wins out of the five events staged and comes hot from his podium World Championship finish at Tong.
It is behind Dibs where much of the interest lies with Beta-mounted Jack Sheppard, concentrating on riding in Britain this year and back in the series, currently holding onto second place.
But with Jack Price, crowned as FIM Trial2 World Cup Champ at Tong, currently rampant on the Gas Gas, can Shep hang on to the runner-up berth? Pricey will be gunning for victory.
Reigning Expert class Champ and Gas Gas UK ambassador Dan Thorpe leads the class but it is quite tight between Dan and his young rival Tom Minta.
Tom is now mounted on a Gas Gas, his third make of machine this season following Montesa and Beta, and he looked good in Devon where local ace Joe Baker popped-up to take the win.
Third place is being closely contested between Tom Affleck and Joel Edwards.
Youth A has seen yet another Gas Gas ace, Scarborough's Jack Peace match Dabill's 100 per cent winning record so far this year and he really has dominated the class.
Behind Jack it is Keiron Child, with Ulster's Josh Hanlon not far behind in third.
With six rounds still to go – including this weekend – there are still plenty of points still on offer.
Both days features a 9.30am start time and will sport the standard Championship format of a spectator-friendly three laps of 12 sections on a short, contained course.
So there's no reason not to get out there and enjoy the spectacle!
