British Trials Championship Preview
The Rene Pearce Trial joined the ACU Events/TRC sponsored British Trials Championship in 2009 and returns for the second year at this level on 22nd August.
Devon is the fantastic setting for this Torridge & District organised trial which contains a variety of hazards that met with the thumbs up from riders last year. The venue is once again Brousentor Farm which is situated at Peter Tavy, Near to Tavistock and the post code for sat Navers is PL19 9NA. To think we used to find trials by following Castrol triangles on lampposts!
As usual with all of the Championship rounds in 2010 practise takes place on Saturday between 3 - 5 pm with the trial itself getting underway at 10am with the youth class being first off.
In terms of the various Championships Darren Brice holds a virtually unbeatable lead in the Expert B Class. The Scorpa man has won four rounds and taken a second and third which gives him a mighty 30 point advantage from John Crinson with just the two rounds to go. Whilst John has been up there at most of the rounds he has yet to win an event and this would be something he would like to put right this season. He will be having to look out however for Guy Kendrew who is only 2 points behind the North Easterner and he has impressed throughout so much so that he has been awarded the Michelin Tyres for most impressive performance on more than one occasion.
In the Expert A Group Gary Macdonald holds another good advantage from young Jack Sheppard who has impressed everyone this season aboard the 125 cc Beta. Gary has shown his experience throughout the series winning three events and he has never finished lower than third.A Championship would be a fitting reward for the Kinlochleven rider who puts in more miles than an’Eddie Stobart’ driver. Although these two riders are the only ones to have topped the podium in 2010 look out also for Jack Spencer and Ricky Wiggins both of whom quietly get round and are always there or there about.
The Blue Riband class is of course the Championship which has been totally dominated by James Dabill with a 100% record so far. It would now be unlikely that anyone could stop him from a second successive number 1 plate. Last year Michael Brown and Alexz Wigg both managed wins but so far this year Dibs has been too strong over three laps for anyone to get ahead. Pride will drive James on but equally the other contenders will want to prove their own credentials and that could make for a fascinating battle. 2010 has seen a great return to the series for Sean Morris and he is currently holding down fourth in the series.
Just behind Sean is a great tousle between two other Gas Gas teamsters Ross Danby and Sam Haslam. Both are equal on 62 championships points each and they should provide a very interesting little inter team sub plot.
The overall standard of riding in all of the Classes this year has been superb, it is well worth coming down to check out the Trial, now lets
hope for a good weekends weather.