cubby

Ok, different but whatever! If it makes things work then so be it! Another question then, I take there will still be a few groups of sections each day which are fairly easily accessible to spectators? Need some places to point the missus and kids!

So just to clarify, the camping field and Trial HQ is all still in the same place? The difference is we just need to make our way to the relevant starting place on each morning rather than starting from the 'start field'?

Think I've found a decent Rev 50, the plastics suggest 2004, but all the pictures I've seen would suggest it should have a grey frame, this one is black! Must be thereabouts though. Any ideas where I could get sticker kits from and or new plastics? Is direct from Beta the best bet?

280 Gas Gas, I've got a 2011 one and its the best bike I've had for many reasons. Build quality on the Gasser's has come on a lot over the years, and Beta are by no means perfect. But as one of the first people said, ride them both if you can and see which one suits you, as really just splitting hairs when it comes to which one is best.

My 8 year old has been on a Sherco 50 for the last 18 months and its been brilliant, but we're also just trying to work out the next move. Thinking medium wheel beta or gas gas is the way forward with clutch and a few gears.

Was thinking of a rev 50 or similar, but have also just noticed that they can ride an 80 in D and C class. Could keep the bike fpr longer if went for the 80. b40rt - maybe but I'll keep it in mind as looks a good bike! Getting it to the Isle of Man would be the main problem!

Starting to think about what bike is next for my lad and wanted to hear of any experiences good or bad that you've had moving to a bigger bike. He is currently on a Sherco 50, auto clutch, very good bike and he loves riding it, currently in his first year of D class. He is starting to need something more though, and I'm not sure whether to move to a bike such as a GG Boy, which apparently has better suspension, brakes and more power, or onto maybe a medium wheel bike like a cadet or Beta 50? Don't want to over bike him, and put him off but I'm thinking more along the lines of a medium wheel bike. Any advice would be welcome

Photos from this years trial (many of which were shown on the big screen at the presentation) are now available to view and purchase from www.racingpix.im

Photos are now available from this years Manx 2 Day on www.racingpix.im

No problem, the pictures were taken by a guy called Steve Corlett, and he has a website www.racingpix.im although it looks like he hasn't managed to get them postedon there just yet. If you contact him on steve@racingpix.im I'm sure he'll be able to sort you out. Andrew

Just turned my tyre yesterday, have got one of the beader loops from trialendurodirect (other retailers are available!), compressor and tyre soap, went on no problem, whole process about 10 minutes start to finish. The beader thingy makes sunch a difference!

Can anyone remind me how much gearbox oil is required......300cc or 400cc??

Its gonna be good Things to know....... You will need someone to to take your fuel spares drinks etc round. There is a lunch stop on Saturday and Sunday where you will be able to buy sandwiches, drinks, chocolate etc. Time limit for Saturday is 8 hours covering 42 miles and 40 sections, Sunday time limit is 7hr 45 mins covering 40 miles and 38 sections. Don't hang around too much, time limit isn't normally that bad though so shouldn't be a problem. And the quicker you get finished the quicker you get to the pub! Its the Golden Jubilee for the Sidecars this year so expect to see around 40 crews competing. Pubs in Douglas on Saturday night mostly close at midnight, and you have to be in the nightclubs before 1am

This is a fairly hot topic at the moment locally. We have a great network of tracks, which are ancient roads and therefore open to all, governed by normal road traffic laws. The usual problem occurs at particular bottlenecks of damage in wet weather. This is when walkers and do-gooders decide that they want to own the tracks and ban any dirty smelly bikes from the area. Better management of the upland ways is the answer and the problem areas are usually those where little or no maintenane has been done....ever! Thanks for the support and it will help us continue to hold event s like the Manx 2 Day in the future

Get voting folks, please, your support is needed!

Yep, all those other riders as mentioned. If Gary Mac can get on the podium, and Ross can win a round surely it is encouraging for the others who are pretty close that a podium finish is realistic. Previously there was a fairly stale look to the very top of the championship, but the odd 'surprise' result is good. And from an importers point of view (as they seem to be quite crucial to the championship this season) Sherco, Beta, Gas Gas and Jotagas have all been in the first 3 positions this season, a healthy sign of competition.

Almost, just finalising one or two things ready for the printers.

This year we are celebrating 50 years of Sidecars being part of the Manx 2 Day Trial. We have a few special things planned to make this celebration special and hope that as many of you as possible will be able to attend Entries are looking good and we hope that the weekend is going to be even better than usual!! Don't delay, get yourselves over if you have ever taken part in the Manx!!!

So just to clarify the technique for the soapy water method: 1) When you say soap I assume you mean washing up liquid? 2) How wet is the panel? 3) Do you use a spray thingy such as you might use to spray water onto plants? Have got a Jitsie sticker kit so need to spend some time getting it right!

Well done Ross!! The best thing about the BTC at the moment is the fact that this season has thrown up a variation the results! Makes it much more interesting . Very boring when the same 2 or 3 riders dominate, at least the other riders can see the potential of a podium finish these days.

I've a 2011 280 Gasser, which followed a 250 (one of several I've had) and also a 300 before that. I have to say its the bike I get on with the best. Plenty of power if you need it, but can also be soft and controllable, I don;t think I've once had a probelm with too much power. What I felt the last 250 lacked was a bit of grunt and I never got on with it, it was an '09. A friend of mine has a 2011 250 and loves it, for me I would now always give a 280 a decent try. And I've left it totally standard, beofe tweaking anything I w2anted to give it a good try and actually found it great and I got on with it straight away. Not always necessary to make drastic changes,

I've seen a couple of S3 ones and to be fair they do look really good, and look like they will last pretty good. But there are a few of those around now and the Jitsie one is the main alternative at a similar price. There is a company called Storm Graffix or something, theirs look really good, but are twice the price.

Like Anyone bought a Jitsie version?? Good, Bad or indifferent??

I'm looking to get a sticker kit for my '11 Gasser and wondered what experiences people have had with the ones available? As far as I can see there are 3 options 1) Gas Gas UK Team Stickers 2) S3 3) Jitsie. Mainly concerend with how easy they go on and what quality is like, i.e. how long will they last. Cheers

And thats why I love the ACU, they ain't perfect, but it is clear many people drastically under estimate how much passion and work they put into our sport. Well done John, and like you said it is clear that the time for a constructive debate will be after the next 5 days of trialing! My personal view, I think it is about time this was given a go because many people have been saying no-stop is the way forward for years (well we will see won't we). Spain tried something different, it proved that wasn't the way to go, hopefully this will answer the no-stop question and the sport can continue to develop and progress. One other thing, it seems that a number of centres, on hearing that the BTC was changing rules, decided they also had to change. Is this right? In the IOM Centre we run stop allowed for our 6 Centre Championship Road based trials, and non-stop for the Manx 2 Day National. No issues really with either, the only moans are when a section is too hard under either rules! I think that at local and centre level the stop allowed rules work better because it allows a bit more leeway, means you don't get penalised so much for stops etc. If the sport was structured so that as you progressed to National level you had to ride no-stop, it is just a natural progression, i.e. the better you get at the techniques, the less hesitation, the fewer stops you need. The section severity would hopefully be a bit more accessable meaning more people would put themselves up for the challenge (maybe!) Other sports have different sets of rules at grass-roots level compared to the top level, whether it is equipment or actual game rules. These have been designed over years to encourage more people into the sport and as a participant goes through the various levels they adapt and develop to the rules they have to comply with. Trials isn't and shouldn't be any different.