Thursday June 17, 2010 at 11:26am
AFTER three months of competition the ACU Events sponsored Trials Championship reaches round four of eight on the weekend 19th/20th June when it heads to South Wales for the St David’s Trial.
Neath MC who host the event have though been forced to run the event at a new venue after many years at Aberduluis.
The new trials ground is Ysguthan Farm, Heol y Mynydd, Garnswlly, Ammanford. We have a fairly close postcode of SA18 2RY, use house number 42 which will get you very close. If you come via the M4 Junction 49 is your best bet.
Practice sessions are as usual for 2010 on Saturday afternoon between 3 - 5 pm with the trial proper kicking off on Sunday from 10 am when the Youth contingent will be first away. They will be followed by Experts B, A and finally the Championship Class around 45 minutes later.
Experts B has so far been dominated by Cumbrian Darren Brice who has won all four rounds to date.
The Scorpa rider has kept his chief challengers John Crinson and Guy Kendrew fighting for the other podium spots and he will no doubt be keen on continuing this state of affairs as the others are in deposing him. As with last year the B Class has been very competitive again and no less than four riders finished on 24 marks lost at the Mitchell. It took a tie break to separate them all for third place and it should be no different this time out.
With no Ian Austermule at the recent Mitchell it turned into a straight fight between Gary Macdonald and Jack Sheppard in the Expert A class. Jack took the victory last time out which was impressive stuff especially as he is out on a 125. Gary has the experience to fight back and he does not journey from Kinlochleven without his eye on the title this year. Andy Chilton had a fine third place at the last round and he will be looking to get back on the podium as will Jack Spencer who has
put in some consistent rides up to now.
James Dabill has been another man with a perfect set of BTC results also this year. He has dominated the blue riband class and in fairness has never looked to be in anything but supreme form. His rivals have just not been able to stay with him over the full three laps of each event. It is great though to see Shaun Morris riding with such skill and commitment and his second at Merthyr was well deserved. This venue may host different terrain however with not so much of the big grippy rocks on offer. This could help his rivals amongst them Michael Brown who had to settle for fourth last time out behind Alexz Wigg. Look out also for Midlander Ross Danby who is having his best Championship year to date and currently stands in fifth place overall.