Ten championship events gone and just a finale at Hook Woods on November 25th to run the ACU Wessex Plant Hire British Trials Sidecar Championship is still unresolved in the premier class. The Normandy Motor Cycle Club will stage the last event on Sunday at the Hook Woods Trials Centre at West Horsley. Start time is 10.30 am. Mathematics will play a major role in the Expert class!
After the Mel Harrison Trial on September 16
th, Yate brothers Josh and Luke Golding hold an eight-point lead over current champions Jon Tuck and Matt Sparkes, also Yate contenders.
Ahead are a potential twenty championship points, less the single drop score ruling. Manx crew Oliver Lace and Gareth Temple could bridge the eight point gap to the Goldings but that is a tall order as they will drop their lowest score which happens to be thirteen ironically scored at their own Peverill event on April 1.Tuck and Golding missed the Doncaster Cup way back in March due to the weather so their drop score is implemented, basically the Goldings have to finish. The Lace/Temple challenge may not happen as the drop score pegs them in third place-whatever.
Nigel Scott and daughter Gracie -Mae are unbeatable in the strong Inter class. The threat will come from Tony Jones and Jamie Howe or Dave Tuck and Joe Newman who also have dropped multiple scores so have it all to play for. All twelve class contenders have dropped scores.
The Clubman class is two horse race. No disrespect intended but three crews have amassed a total of 377 gross points and two of them. Manx contenders Jack Corlett and passenger Beth Thomas are invincible. That leaves Paul Fishlock and Peter Pesterfield to defend the mainland honours. Stef Goodman and Xanthia Petherick had a good result in the Harrison and could be in with a chance. John Corlett and Harry Gell missed the D.K Mansell trial so their drop score is also done.
As far as the Newcomers category is concerned Elliott and Graham Tickner the class is a done deal!
In terms of numbers about twenty crews will compete. The main class will be in the expert ranks and the outcome between Tuck, Lace and the Goldings is in the melting pot.
Just one other angle- could Nigel Crellin and Chris Molyneux stick a wooden spoon in the melting pot to aid their Manx colleagues?