Michael Brown Starts British Title Defence With Win

Reigning British Trials Champion, Michael Brown – JST Gas Gas  today began the defence of his crown with victory over long-time friend and rival, James Dabill - JLI Beta at the Lakes Trial, the opening round of the 2014 ACU RT Keedwell Group British Trials Championship hosted by LMT at their Fell Green venue.

Rain and mud were very much the order of the weekend with heavy rain in the run-up to the season opener making the ground sodden, muddy and very slippery as the 60-odd competitors prepared to start their 2014 challenges. In the Championship Class, it was former Champion Dabill, fresh from his endeavours at the FIM X-Trial Championship who looked the most promising in the opening lap. A dab on the very first section won’t have done Brown’s confidence any good, particularly as his main rival rode the same section without penalty. Both dropped fives on the tough third section, but that was to be a section that took marks all day with nobody passing through it clean. A further two from Brown on the following fourth section where, again Dabill rode clean put him three points adrift. He did manage to claim two of them back on the seventh section, dropping three whilst Dabill picked up maximum points , but a dab on the ninth set him back again. Closely matched, the pairing ended their first visit to the fifteen sections with Dabill just ahead on sixteen points to Brown’s fifteen.

The second of the three laps was to prove the decisive one for the twosome.  A three point score for Dabill on the very slippery opening section, which he’d ridden clean on his first visit put Brown back in the lead. From there the pair were pretty evenly matched, with both dropping points throughout the remainder of the lap, but no major disasters.  Dabill’s error on the first plus another point picked up by Brown put the reigning Champion ahead on twenty nine points to thirty two with just the final lap remaining. The third visit showed just how evenly matched these two riders are, with both saving the best for last and dropping just nine points apiece, but it wasn’t to be enough for Dabill who finished on forty one points to Brown’s thirty eight and giving the reigning Champion the perfect start to his 2014 campiagn. Although slightly off the pace of the top two riders, Alexz Wigg – JST Gas Gas made a strong showing, again improving as the day progressed to claim the remaining podium position.

In the Expert Championship, Guy Kendrew  - JLI Beta drew first blood with a steady performance throughout the day to take a twelve point victory over Ben Sprigg – MRS Sherco with Joel Edwards – JLI Beta finishing a further two points adrift to complete the top three.

Although just four of an entry, it was a close competition in the Youth Championship with Dan Peace – Gas Gas taking top honours with a four point margin over Tom Hooper – Sherco. Ossa-mounted Billy Bolt rounded out the podium places.

Ed: Our thanks go to Lakes MTA for their hospitality. The guys for towing the camper out of the mud. Twice (which caused Mr. Kitchen great hilarity). And to the lovely Mrs. Kitchen for the shortbread!

Photo Coverage

An enjoyable day despite being soaked now having mud in places we didn't even know we had places! Feels like half of Cumbria has returned to Scotland stuck everywhere.

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Trials Central Supporters Photo Coverage (179) - Higher resolution and no watermarks

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