Vesty's clean ride a good omen for Scotland this weekWith less than a week to go before the Pre-65 Scottish, Red Rose Classic MCC could rightly have expected a good turnout of competitors wanting some last minute practice and the Colne-based club, which caters for pre-65 and twinshocks, were rewarded when 63 riders turned up at Lee Quarry, Bacup for four laps of ten sections. The entry list boasted some familiar Red Rose names, including former world champion Yrjo Vesterinen and double Pre-65 Scottish winner Paul Heys, and some unfamiliar names, such as Mika Jansson, Juhani Himmanen, Tom Sjoman and Kurt Ahlgren. They were joined by some of the nine Red Rose members expected to start in Scotland on Friday morning.
The popular venue, better known as one of Britain's top mountain bike courses, provides a stern test of man and machine, but that didn't stop some great performances. Riding his Tiger Cub, Vesterinen finished the trial without a single mark to his name, and if he can reproduce that form in Kinlochleven this weekend, he must one of the contenders for victory. Paul Heys, winner of the Pre-65 Scottish in 2009 and 2010 was in great form too, cleaning every section and only missing out on the class win to Vesterinen because of the Oldest Rider Rule. Pete Clibburn, also on a Cub, split the pair to finish second in class C.
The versatile Ben Butterworth, who will be contesting both the Pre-65 Scottish and the Six Days, cleaned up in the twinshock class with no marks lost on his Fantic. Second place went to Stu Melling (Bultaco) with just four marks lost.
In class A, Roy Palmer and his Velocette edged out Tom Sjoman (BSA) and Mika Jansson (Trifield), with Gary Shaw the lone entrant in class B in his AJS.
There was a three-way battle for class Ce, with Mick Dickinson (Bantam), Bob Baker (Cub) and Maurice Brayford (DOT) all on 0 marks. Again the OR rule applied with Dickinson getting the verdict from Baker.
It was the same in class Te with Paul Whittaker and his Fantic taking the win from Pete Gothard in a similar machine,
The club would like to thank clerks of the course Ian Alderson and Les Humphries, and all the observers. They would also like wish all the Red Rose members taking part this weekend every success.
The next round of the club championship is at Catlow Ford, Nelson on Sunday, May 10. Nearest postcode is BB10 3RN.
Results
Class A: Roy Palmer (Velocette) 2, Tom Sjoman (BSA) 6, Mika Jansson (Trifield) 6.
Class B: Gary Shaw (AJS) 7.
Class C: Yrjo Vesterinen (Cub) 0, Pete Clibburn (Cub) 0, Paul Heys (Cub) 0.
Class Ce: Mick Dickinson (Bantam) 0, Bob Baker (Cub) 0, Maurice Brayford (DOT) 0.
Class D: Paul Harrison (James) 27, Eric Atkinson (Ambassador) 27.
Class T: Ben Butterworth (Fantic) 0, Stu Melling (Bultaco) 4, Mick Clarke (Bultaco) 5.
Class Te: Paul Whittaker (Fantic) 0, Pete Gothard (Fantic) 1, Peter Rhodes (Montesa) 4.