Trials Torque: Scarborough set fair
By John Dickinson on 1st Jun 16
THIS Saturday sees the fourth round of the RT Keedwell ACU British Trials Championship take place courtesy of the Scarborough club at their Low North Park venue at Harwood Dale.
After the three opening rounds – a weekend double at Fell Green, Bootle, Cumbria, thanks to the Lakes MTA and a single day at Neath – reigning champ James Dabill is well on course to retaining his title with three wins on the factory Vertigo. His 60 points is almost 20 ahead of Jack Sheppard and 22 up on his pal Michael Brown.
But, Low North Park is JST Gas Gas ace Michael Brown's home patch and the 2013 British Champ, as he fights back to full fighting fitness following that serious debilitating knee injury in Japan early last year, has been improving round by round.
After a slow start in the Lakes opener, seventh on day one, improving to fourth on Sunday, Michael leapt back into contention in Wales with a fine second place and he will be really gunning for victory in his home round.
A fighting second place in The Scottish won't have done Michael's fitness and confidence either.
But there's plenty of opposition, starting with Beta UK runner Jack Sheppard. The Ipswich rider is concentrating on home events this year and come hot off the back of an excellent Scottish Six Days, fourth behind Dougie Lampkin, Michael Brown and Dabill, and currently sits second in the series, just two points ahead of Browny..
Fourth-placed Jack Price is currently on fire having celebrated his 19th birthday last weekend with a double victory in Germany in the Trial2 class of the Trial World Championship.
Gas Gas UK contender Pricey has notched two third places in the British champs already and will be looking for another podium on Saturday.
Ross Danby sits in fifth on Steve Saunders' TRS and the always consistent Ross is capable of a podium showing as is Dan Peace, another Trial2 contender and trial winner.
Sam Haslam is overdue a top placing as is Iwan Roberts, the Welsh Champ having struggled this year after finishing last season with a stunning victory in the final round, landing himself with plenty of expectation for 2016 which so far hasn't happened.
You don't lose skill overnight though and Iwan will roar back with a big points haul at some point.
Moving on to the Experts class and reigning champ Dan Thorpe is maturing like fine wine, the Gas Gas UK stalwart sitting on a maximum 60 points after three straight wins.
No one has managed to push Dan so far with Montesa rider Tom Minta 11 points adrift in second, with Joel Edwards third.
And in Youth A Jack Peace on the JST Cloburn Gas Gas sits on the third full house of wins and it would be a brave man who would bet against Jack on Saturday.
Kieran Child and Joe Dawson have been consistent, trading podium places with Kieran just having the edge but Josh Hanlon, son of former BTC contender Philip Hanlon, has improved each round so far and finished a fine second in Neath so Josh has only one more place to go.
The action takes place at Low North Park, Harwood Dale, YO13 0LA, which is the club's own venue and there will be some tasty rocky hazards as all classes face three laps of 12 sections.
Start time is 9.30am.
And don't forget, on Sunday the club will be staging a SuperTrial for invited riders with some special sections designed with the help of Ben Hemingway who has been on site with a large digger creating some stunning hazards.
