The RT Keedwell ACU British Trials Championships for 2016 reach the final two rounds this coming Saturday and Sunday. Both of the events in this double header are being organised by the East Lothian Motorcycle Club using the Bob Macgregor Trials Academy as the venue. This superb and compact piece of spectator friendly ground can be found at Totherick Quarry, Dunlop, East Ayrshire, KA3 4EH. This will be the third time the championships have come to the Academy and it will be a suitable place to bring the series to a close. The start times for both Saturday and Sunday events is 9.30am with plenty of parking available and onsite catering is superb.
James Dabill has already annexed his 7th British title but the Vertigo rider will be more than keen to add more wins to his belt. So far he has taken eight wins from nine rounds with only Jack Sheppard having been able to beat him once at the Guisborough round in August. Jack is however in a big battle with Jack Price to secure the number 2 plate. They are only 2 points apart to date so it will be a case of who handles it best over the final weekend. Another of the young riders Iwan Roberts lies in fourth position but he has the experienced former Champion Michael Brown for company so there is interest throughout the class.
In the Expert Group there has been something of a change around in the fortunes of the two main challengers for the title. The current champion Dan Thorpe started the year in dominant form but it is Tom Minta who has taken the better scores recently. Both are mounted on Gas Gas machines and in the battle of youth verses experience it is the young Shropshire rider who now holds the advantage. Third place is currently being held by North eastern rider Tom Affleck and he holds a decent margin of points between him and Joel Edwards. With 40 points still up for grabs there is still plenty of scope for late positional changes.
Amazingly in the Youth A division Jack Peace still has not mathematically won the class despite winning every single round to date. He does however hold a 35 point margin over Keiran Child his nearest rival so any finish on either day should be enough to win the top placing. Josh Hanlon sits comfortably in third position after a very consistent series.
The weekend should more than provide a fitting finale to the 2016 Championships.