Trials Torque: Tyne running out for Keedwell
By John Dickinson on 14th Sep 16
THE RT Keedwell ACU British Trials Championship is now moving rapidly towards its climax and this Sunday Tynemouth & DMCC stage a brand-new event which will represent the ninth of the 11-round series.
The venue is Shaftoe Crags at East Shaftoe Farm, near Belsay in Northumberland and it is certainly an exciting prospect.
It is only available for motorcycle trials once a year and the club usually stages a cracking and popular north east centre trial that draws 100-plus entries.
The event is usually contested by riders of the standard of Ian Austermuhle, Michael Phillipson and John Crinson.
But the club knew that the venue had the capability of hosting events of a higher standard.
So this year they have effectively given up their date for the centre to run a British Championship event.
And the centre has rallied round to give it their best with people like Fred Nicholson and Colin Battensby at the helm.
There are no streams or water hazards but lots of boulders and rocks that offer some really huge potential.
The course is about a quarter of a mile from the start area but is very compact and the 12 sections, which will be lapped three times, will be easily accessible for spectators.
Reigning British Champ James Dabill (Vertigo) is favourite to nail the 2016 crown.
With just two rounds to go, at the Bob MacGregor Trials Academy in Scotland in two weeks' time, Dibs just needs to emerge from Sunday's trial with a 40-point advantage – and at the moment he has 39 in hand over his nearest challenger Jack Sheppard (Beta).
Jack actually bagged his first ever adult British Championship win at the last round run by the Guisborough club on the north Yorks moors and inflicted the first defeat of the year on James.
This moved Shep into second place in the series but a mere four points ahead of a rival Jack – in the form of Jack Price (Gas Gas).
Pricey has been a revelation on the International stage this year, picking up the FIM Trial2 crown while Shep has gone the opposite route, concentrating on British events after several years based on the Continent.
The battle between the two is sure to be intense and very likely stirred up by the likes of former champ Michael Brown (Gas Gas) and Welsh Kingpin Iwan Roberts (Beta) and will in all probability go to the final round of the year.
Things are a whole lot closer in the Championship class with just six points separating the Gas Gas pair of Tom Minta and reigning champ Dan Thorpe.
It is a real Youth v Vet battle and it was Dan who got the season off to a flyer, winning the first three rounds.
But a change of machine to Gas Gas saw a completely revitalised Minta who raced to three victories in the next four rounds.
After winning the last round – the Guisborough club's John Hardaker – maybe the Richmond club's Richard Sadler will throw another spanner in the Championship works in the Tynemouth event.
In the Youth A class it is a question of who can stop Jack Peace.
The East Yorks Gas Gas ace has won all eight rounds to date, his nearest challenger being Beta-mounted Kieran Child who has carved out four second-place finishes.
So, there's a lot to ride for on Sunday and with a brand new venue it is equal for all.
The postcode you need is NE61 4EA and it should be an action-packed event.
