The third round of the 2017 YMSA trials championship was held last Sunday at Foxholes near Matlock. The top class entry came from far and wide with riders from the south coast, Devon and Cumbria and included current British and world champions.
The trial started under blue skies as ordered! The usual team set twelve testing sections, half in the rocky stream and the others on the steep banks and rocks of the quarry. Because this venue is only used once a year the rocks were very green and slimy which meant the more experienced riders rode a slow first lap hoping for an improvement in grip.
South coast star Oliver Smith had a steady day to claim top spot in Youth A with an unlucky five on section seven of the second lap and another five on ten also on his second lap taking the edge off what could have been a great score, but it was still easily good enough for the win. Will Tolson made a rare appearance at the YMSA to grab second spot.
The B class winner was Charlie Smith on his new Beta making it two wins from two starts this year. His score of 14 was also the best of the day on the yellow route which was shared with the Adult Intermediate class. Second and third places saw a turnaround from the previous trial with Jack Dance grabbing runner up spot from Mitch Brightmore who had a couple of unlucky fives, however he still leads the championship with three rounds to go.
Youth C saw another easy win for the on form Ash Brightmore, his score of just 13 lost included a five on section 9 when he went the wrong side of a flag, but he was far enough in front for it not to matter. At the half way point in this year’s Championship he looks a safe bet for the title. Runner up spot went to one of the Yorkshire visitors, Charlie Crossland who beat YMSA regular Alfie Ray Turner into third by just 3 dabs.
D class was won by Max Dance by a clear margin from Zachary Sellers in his first ride at a YMSA event with Mason Green taking third. This result strengthens Max’s position at the top of the D class championship.
Youth Novice saw another win for the girls as Olivia Brooksbank had her second YMSA victory in what is turning out to be the tightest class of the year. Daisy Parsons took second only seven marks behind with Max Chadwick another nine adrift in third holding up the lads challenge!
Adult expert was won, as you would expect, by current world champion Jack Peace but it could have been a different story had Tom Minta ridden the first lap as he did the second and third laps. Jack’s consistency was a joy to watch and made a slippery and tricky course look very easy. Kieran Child was a safe though distant third, but looked to be getting to grips with the change from a 125 to 300cc machine.
Adult intermediate was once again a close run thing with the usual suspects filling the podium positions. Dan Greaves took the win from veteran south Midlander, Chris Tett who beat Matt Dixon by a single dab. Matt was lucky to avoid a huge crash on section 9 on his second lap when he nearly demolished a tree but managed somehow to stay on board and get away with a single dab !
Adult novice was won again by Chris Brightmore with an excellent score of only 5 marks lost, This was easily the best score of the day on the white route. He was followed home by Mark Gregory and Andy Brooksbank in second and third places.
The popular easy clubman route was very close with the Twinshock bikes taking the win over the modern. Ash Hallows beat his dad into third place with the filling in the Hallows sandwich begin Beta-mounted Ben Burton. This championship also looks like going down to the wire. The Series now takes a break of a few months with the next round not being held until 30th July.
RESULTS
YOUTH A CLASS
OLIVER SMITH GAS GAS 43 MARKS LOST
WILL TOLSON BETA 83
YOUTH B CLASS
CHARLIE SMITH BETA 14
JACK DANCE GAS GAS 22
MITCH BRIGHTMORE GAS GAS 31
YOUTH C CLASS
ASH BRIGHTMORE BETA 13
CHARLIE CROSSLAND BETA 96
ALFIE RAY TURNER BETA 99
YOUTH D CLASS
MAX DANCE BETA 32
ZACHARY SELLERS OSET 80
MASON GREEN OSET 128
YOUTH NOVICE
OLIVIA BROOKSBANK GAS GAS 42
DAISY PARSONS BETA 49
MAX CHADWICK SHERCO 58
ADULT EXPERT
JACK PEACE GAS GAS 5
TOM MINTA GAS GAS 8
KIERAN CHILD BETA 25
ADULT INTER
DAN GREEVES TRS 18
CHRIS TETT BETA 27
MATT DIXON BETA 28
ADULT NOVICE
CHRIS BRIGHTMORE GAS GAS 5
MARK GREGORY BETA 13
ANDY BROOKSBANK GAS GAS 18
GREEN ROUTE
ASH HALLOWS HONDA 6
BEN BURTON BETA 7
MARK HALLOWS YAMAHA 15