The Diamond Jubilee Manx National Two Day Trial gets underway this Saturday with over 200 competitors ready to take on the best of what the jewel of the Irish Sea has to offer.
Taking place on the middle weekend of the Isle of Man Festival of Motorcycling the trial provides spectators with a competitive and scenic alternative to the racing on the mountain course and vintage bike displays.
The first riders get underway at 8am on Saturday morning, leaving Onchan Community Centre to set out on the separate routes for solo and sidecar competitors. The solos will cover nearly 100 miles and 82 sections across the weekend with the sidecars covering around 80 miles and 82 sections.
The solo’s head south and away from the TT course covering early groups including Kewaigue Bridge, Old Stoney Mountain Quarry and South Barrule. After a trip around the Southern coast of the Island where the recent Ladies British Championship event was held at Scarlett they will finish the first day at Knock Froy, home of the Peveril Motorcycle Club.
Meanwhile the sidecars will be heading north on the first day with early locations including Clypse, Ballacarooin and Snaefell Mines.
The solos head north on Sunday with the sidecars heading south making sure the riders truly get to see all aspects of the Islands scenery and rockery. Solo groups include Larkhill, West Baldwin Bridge, Injebreck Gulley and later the very popular Laxey Beach in the middle of the afternoon. The solos will finish this year on the sections known as White City, used in previous years in TDN and World Round events on Onchan Head. The sidecars will be covering groups including Bims’s Field, Glenlough, Scarlett, Knock Froy and Douglas Beach. These will be the final sections and well worth a watch at the northern end of the promenade.
An unfortunate clash with the final round of the British Championship means that the Expert Class is a little smaller than normal, and with local man Josh Brain in the middle of some exams and unable to ride it leaves the class wide open. Maybe another local rider Barry Kinley will finally get his moment on the top step of the podium after finishing second on several occasions? Or will Juan Knight be able to take his new Scorpa around for the lowest score of the weekend? It really is an open contest with Benn Sprigg, Nathan Wrigglesworth, Chris Madigan, Tom Maddrell and Stuart Hanlon all talented enough to threaten the top of the leaderboard.
As usual in the Solo Clubman class the result is much harder to predict with any amount of potential winners. Recently married Michael Clarke from Barrow will be in the mix as will Nigel Crowther, Mick Thompson, Steve Swanson and Nicky Dowland. Throw in a few of the locals and the competition will be intense!
The sidecar class is looking like a battle between current British Championship leaders Nigel Crellin/Chris Molyneux , Rupert and Chris Kimber and Darly Dale/Hannah Etherington. The one route course will mean it will be nip and tuck all weekend with the leading crews not able to throw any marks away.
Riders and Observers signing on will take place on Friday 28th August 2015 at the Villa Marina, located centrally on Douglas Promenade.
The trial itself commences from 8am on each day from the Onchan Community Centre, located on School Road in Onchan.
The weekend is completed by the Presentation of awards on Sunday evening, 30th August 2015, also at the Villa Marina, with doors opening from 8.30pm.