Trials Torque: It's Foel-speed ahead in tight KIA title chase
By John Dickinson on 6th Sep 17
WITH the 2017 KIA Twinshock series due to resume on Sunday, September 17, with the Aqueduct clubs event at Foel, Welshpool, and just three of the nine round series left, none of the classes have a winner yet, bearing in mind that riders drop their two worst scores.
Ossa Gripper fan Stephen Bisby leads Chris Barnett in the Historic Spanish Experts by 20 points, these two being the only riders in class to score in every round. Ossa MAR mounted Dave Wood is in third.
Air-cooled Mono Experts is close fought with all-rounder Rob Faulkner in front, chased by Dean Devereux and Dan Sanders. There's only 14 points between them, so anything could happen between now and the series finale at Knighton in late October. There has been a different winner at each round so far this year.
It's looking likely that positions will change in Pre-72 Experts as second placed Ian Peberdy is injured and will not contest any more rounds this year.
This leaves the door open for Martyn Stanistreet and others to chase the current leader, Cub-mounted Yorky Nigel Scott.
Twinshock Experts is close with only 10 points covering the first four. Honda mounted Richard Allen is in front on 81, from Fantic fan Olly Waring and Roman Kyrnyckjy and Andy Hipwell in fourth on 71 points.
Eirian Davies leads Historic Spanish Clubman on 104, pushed by the ever improving Jim Waters on 99. If either of these slip up, then Steve Fletcher is waiting in third to take advantage. These three have scored consistently well in all the rounds held so far.
Aircooled Mono Clubman is also close currently led by Mr Rockshock Gary Fleckney on his Honda, who, although not a class winner, has scored consistently to reach 59 points.
However, Martyn Goodall is only four points behind on 55, with third placed Paul Hobson on 51.
Bantam rider Peter Edwards leads Pre-72 Clubman by 18 marks from Owen Hardisty's Cub, Jonathan Souch in third. This has also been an unpredictable class with different winners at each round.
Nearly 50 riders have competed in Twinshock Clubman, but no one has been able to get near north east ace Stephen Robson on his Fantic as Butch has won each of the five rounds he has entered.
Best of the rest is Suzuki RL mounted Cumbrian David Braithwaite from Oli Foulke and David Wilkinson.
You can check out up to date standings on the series website twinshockchampionship.org.uk
