The Isle of Man sidecar championship trials on Sunday and Monday near Peveril were testing to say the very least. Tough unyielding sections ridden under a no-stop rule was an impossible task.
For Yate British champions Jon Tuck and passenger Matt Sparkes the weekend was a nightmare. After three opening sections on Sunday their ultra - reliable TRS machine jammed in bottom gear and there was two options –retire or struggle through the sections with but one gear an option. Jon and Matt opted for the latter. Their fourth place yielded thirteen championship points and a cricket penalty figure of 144, seven times greater than winner Nigel Crellin and Chris Molyneux!
After some midnight oil tuning the Tuck/Sparkes attack resumed on Monday with second place to Crellin albeit six penalties in arrears. DavId Tuck and passenger Joe Newman ran through Sunday to take second place to Intermediate class leaders Nigel and Gracie-Mae Scot in what a tight finish. Just eight penalties separated the two crews.
For David and Joe Monday was the end of the line as their TRS machine copied a boiling kettle so no championship points. In amongst all the mechanical carnage Yate brothers Josh and Luke Golding quietly took a second and third places scoring thirty-two championship points.
For Jon Tuck and Matt Sparkes somehow they scored thirty points, only ten behind the Crellin/Molyneux duo. The Goldings hold second place with Jon Tuck just two championship points in arrears.
The next sidecar championship event is on April 15 at Orleton.
Photos by Joel Crabtree