Dan Thorpe in action at this weekend's Jack Wood TrialA busy Easter weekend for JST GAS GAS UK riders...
DAN THORPE continues to be the backbone and anchorman of the Team riding 3 events over the weekend. He rode at Richmond on Good Friday finishing 3rd. Then he competed at his local Hillsborough MCC 'Jack Wood' S3 National Trial finishing second overall behind winner James Fry.
Then Dan was determined to get his own back on James at The Lomax S3 National Trial and rode out of his skin and tried his best to beat the very on form James Fry. Both Dan and James had excellent rides and Dan just missed out on the win again trailing James by just two marks. Respect to Dan for his big efforts this weekend and im sure hes due for a big win soon because 'you only get out what you put in' and Dan certainly puts in 100% every weekend.
SAM HASLAM is still riding extremely well and he was 3rd overall at the Lomax. A little way behind Dan and James but nevertheless didnt do much wrong. Some of the Lomax sections were very hit and miss and Sam just missed a few, as did the majority of the entry. Sam was unlucky towards the end having quite a big crash smacking his knee when he landed. All is ok now but i bet he's laying carpets stood up today!
MICHAEL BROWN rode the Jack Wood S3 round and had some bad luck. He started very confidently fresh from his Cleveland win last Sunday. Michael was hoping for another National win before he goes to Spain for WTC1. He was crusing up to section 11 which many of the Jack Wood regulars know as 'ughill'. A very slippy section which is either clean or five. Michael got it wrong and had a very quick five. He crashed with his bike landing throttle side down pinning the gasser on full revs. He scrambled to pick the bike up but couldnt and with the bike still singing he ripped the lanyard off and still she sang until the piston finally welded itself to the S3 cylinder. With the bike seized solid he pushed it to the road. A quick decision was made to change the cylinder. Both myself and Michael were under pressure with time ticking and the sections closing.
We finally admitted defeat and I told him to continue on my bike just to ride the event and get some riding done. So yes he did change bikes and we did not hide the fact and knew exclusion was inevitable. It was the right decision and Michael enjoyed the day and finished with a smile on his face.
KATY SUNTER also rode the same three events as husband to be Dan. Katy rides very well at the traditional type of events and beats most of the men in the clubman class. Katy was a very creditable 7th at the Jack Wood and 11th yesterday at The Lomax. Katy rides her own events at her own pace quietly and calmly and is always smiling at the finish!
TEAM PEACE spent most of the weekend practicing and preparing for their two week trip to EURO1 Italy, then WTC1 Spain.
JACK PRICE had a creditable ride at The Santigosa 3 Day Trial finishing on the podium in third place in the Junior Class (9th overall). Jack was helped by the guys from the GG Factory. Good to see GG Factory Support back at this event and thanks to Gregor and co. Jack had a shaky day1 but got better as the weekend went on. He got stung a few times for stopping but he wasnt complaining...
To finish, thank you to both organisers of the two S3 rounds who organised two fantastic events!