Moto Britanica & Sidecargate Trial - 5 Oct 2008
PROVISIONAL Results, Ben's Press Report
Other Years: 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003.
Photos by Ben Falconer (Quality by an inadequate camera!)
A Round of the Rickman British Bike Championship
Provisional Results are linked on the right. Please contact us if you spot an error.
A bit of a championship event in more ways than one as it turned out, what with having World and European champions riding in the chairs. And having the solos won by the 5 time Wyegate winner and RBB Championship organiser Adrian Moss. We may have more info to show here as soon as some reports come in.
Ben's Press Report
THE CLEAR winners of this year's Sidecargate honour lost only one five mark maximum over 23 sections.
Andy Abraham and Looby Norman's decision to ride at the front of the field paid dividends, as once they had got their five at section three out of the way, they dropped marks on just four other sections, putting them more than 20 marks ahead of Ian Hannam and Debbie Smith.
This year's event was an amalgam of the Sidecargate - a Wyegate trial for sidecars only - and a round of the Rickman British Bike Championship, the Moto Britanica Trial.
With only five sidecar crews starting, the entry was augmented by 25 solos.
Starting from Sling, the entry wended its way through groups of sections familiar to Wyegate competitors.
Pingry Lane's slick mud took marks off all but three riders but conditions improved as Coxbury and Lord's Grove loomed.
A welcome cake stop halfway round gave the mainly older bikes and mature riders the chance to have a breather before entering Forge Wood.
Former Sidecargate winners Ian Hannam and Debbie Smith nosed ahead of Neil Hannam and Pete Pesterfield, who in turn pipped Alan Bale and James Osbourne and Merv Morgan and Steve Cooper.
Hannam and Smith were on the only pre-1970 outfit, apart from some special guests on Ian's spare outfit.
Ten times sidecar road race world champion Steve Webster and his last passenger, Paul Woodhead, enjoyed a first ever outing on dirt aboard three wheels.
Learning all the time, they dropped 64 marks, which wasn't too far off the main field.
The solos chose from an easy and hard route, and rigid class winner Adrian Moss lost five marks in total over 25 sections.
Best on the hard route was Nick Woolley, who lost a mark more.
Thanks to observers and landowners for their help and assistance.
Main Results.
- Sidecargate & Class 8: Andy Abraham/Looby Norman (Sherco), 14 marks lost.
- Class 7: Neil Hannam/Pete Pesterfield (Sherco), 40.
- Other sidecar finishers: Ian Hannam/Debbie Smith (BSA), 35.
- Alan Bale/James Osborne (Montesa), 43.
- Merv Morgan/Steve Cooper (Montesa), 49.
- Steve Webster/Paul Woodhead (BSA), 64.
- Class 1: Adrian Moss (Triumph), 5.
- Class 2: Nick Woolley (Ariel), 6.
- Class 3: Tim Padmore (James), 20.
- Class 4: Nigel Houlston (BSA Bantam), 9.
- Class 5: Martin Bell (BSA), 15.
- Class 9: Ian Wixon (BSA 250), 19.
- Class 10: Ben Falconer (Gas Gas), 12.
and Full Results