Toby Martyn (Montesa) recorded seventeen cleans to win the Black Combe Trial which constituted round three of the series in the Cumbrian fells on Sunday to keep his title hopes alive. For 2023, the Trial GB class are able to drop one round from their final points tally at the end of the season and the Cornishman had already missed the previous St David's Trial due to his X Trial commitments. Effectively, it will be after the final round before the true positions become clear.
Jack Peace (Sherco) finished second, just four marks adrift after leading on the first lap of twelve sections which were spread across the fells overlooking the famous Black Combe. Leading after lap one by four marks, but reduced to one when he incurred three time penalties, Peace suffered technical issues with his clutch at the second section on lap two which took nearly thirty minutes to rectify and he was playing "catch up" to the rest of the group for the rest of the day. However, his final lap of fifteen was enough to give him the best lap bonus point which could turn out to be vital at the end of the season.
By his standards, a poor second lap nearly ended Billy Green's (Scorpa) consistent place on the lower step of the podium when he suffered four maximums in a row, but recovered on the third tour to edge back in front of Harry Hemingway (Beta) by a single mark.
Jack Dance (GasGas) escaped any time penalties by moving to the front of the pack along with winner Martyn and he was the only rider in the seven strong class to escape maximum penalties on the ultra steep and slippery ninth zone - and he did it twice!
Harry Turner (Scorpa) just edged sixth from Dan Peace (Sherco) after a double check revealed that his wristband had inadvertently had ten points placed on it when the back up sheet revealed a zero. The elder Peace brother, making a rare appearance this year, had some stunning rides throughout the day, but too many maximums also proved costly.
Once again, taking the 125cc Youth Class, but more importantly, heading the rest of the twelve strong Trial 2 field, George Hemingway (Beta) finds himself with a comfortable sixteen points advantage after three rounds following the Black Combe Trial on Sunday. Making a one off (or maybe two or three!) appearance this season, Andrew Chilton (pictured Scorpa) was one of the few riders to improve his lap score as the day progressed which earned him second place and he acknowledged the skills of his younger rival at the podium ceremony.
After missing the previous round due to illness, Oliver Smith (TRRS) was pleased to be back in a podium position in third which also keeps him within the seeded group for the next round. Alexz Wigg (Vertigo) had the dash back from assisting Toby Martyn on X Trial duties to take fourth place on a more cleans tie break from Chris Stay (TRRS) after the pair were locked in battle the whole day.
James Fry's sixth place was enough to keep the Sherco rider in second place in the series standings as the series nears the halfway point at the end of May. Scottish riders, Duncan MacColl (Beta) riding in effectively his home round, scored good championship points in seventh, holding off Hugo Jervis (Beta) in the Trial and the series. Looking forward to riding his first SSDT in three weeks time, Jamie Galloway (TRRS) was a comfortable ninth with Josh Hanlon (Beta) rounding out the top ten.
Despite thinking he was off the pace on the first of three laps, Dan Thorpe (GasGas) recovered well to take a thirteen point win over his arch rival Brad Bullock (Beta) in the Trial Expert class Four maximums on the first lap put the GasGas rider one mark adrift of Bullock, but a very strong second lap, which also gained him the best lap bonus point put the reigning champion back in charge. After going into the event sharing the leaders red plate, Thorpe now holds a four point advantage in his quest to retain his crown. With several of the more established riders suffering on the unforgiving sections where spinning wheels left grip difficult to find, Oliver Sharp (GasGas) was delighted to gain his first ever Trial GB podium position in third, edging out Charlie Smith (pictured Vertigo) whose fourth place was enough to haul himself up into an important seeded position for the next round.
One week ahead of starting her quest for another World title, Emma Bristow (Sherco) claimed fifth in a very physical event, with Malcolm Summers (Scorpa) pressing on at the head of the field to finish sixth and a good points haul.
Corey Dubik (Vertigo) made up for missing the previous round with seventh place ahead of George Gosden (Beta) who also had to take time out for on the spot maintenance high up on the fell mid way through the event. One more clean ride was enough to gain local rider Cameron Brice (Beta) ninth spot after tying with Joe Collins (Beta) in tenth.
Series Manager's footnote. Both the Bootle Club and myself were caught out by how the sections deteriorated as bikes traversed the sections. This was the first Trial GB round the Club have run in several years and we all felt the sections would flatten and offer more grip as the day progressed, but that was not the case, for which I apologise. The aim is always to get a winner in this class losing twenty to thirty marks and we will strive to achieve this at the remaining rounds.
Backing up his opening round win with another in round three on Sunday, Harry Blackwell (Beta) finds himself eight points clear in the Trial 125 title chase with Daniel Da Breo (GasGas) repeating his start to the season in second, whilst the third contender, Harison Skelton (Scorpa) had to settle for third in the Bootle Club's round on Sunday.
Cleans were hard to come by on the day with the main difference being Blackwell's lack of fiasco's which eventually gave him the win and the best lap bonus point.
The event was also the first round for the Trial Electric class but unfortunately only two entries. Chris Pearson (Electric Motion) took the win and in doing so would have actually finished third in the Trial Expert Class which was on the same route through the twelve extremely testing sections.
The next round will take place at Inch Perfect in Lancashire on May 28th and a much larger Electric entry - and an easier course - are both envisaged.