2016 Winner, Barry Kinley
Image courtesy of John Watterson, Isle of Man NewspapersThe new look Manx National Two Day Trial gets underway this Saturday with over 270 competitors across solo and sidecar classes ready for a great weekend of Trials.
Traditionally the ‘Manx’ has taken place a little later in the year but with increasing difficulties in organising the event at that time the organisers made the decision to move, and the decision is paying dividends already. Now taking place directly after the Southern 100 Road Races it is clear that the decision to change has been well received with a large increase in entries for 2017.
The first riders will get underway at 8am on Saturday morning, leaving the new Trial HQ at Douglas Rugby Club to set out on the separate routes for solo and sidecar competitors. The solos will cover around 80 miles and ride nearly 80 sections across the weekend with the sidecars covering around 60 miles and 85 sections.
All the competitors will leave the start and head west towards Peel on day 1 before the solos move south and the sidecars north for the afternoon of the first day, with things reversed on Sunday, the solos heading north and the sidecars south.
As usual at the ‘Manx’ there are plenty of spectator opportunities with solo groups on Saturday including Peel Headland (11.10), Ballaspit (11.45), South Barule Plantation and Quarry (14.10) and Glen Lough (16.09). The sidecars will be covering groups including Kings Forest (09.55), Corletts Sand Pit (11.00), Injebreck Gulley (14.45), Colden Plantation (15.10) and Bims Field (16.05).
On Sunday some of the best places to watch for the solos will be Colden Plantation (09.30), Injebreck Gulley (09.55), Axnfell Plantation (13.55), Douglas Rugby Club (15.05) and Knock Froy (15.35). Sidecars will be starting their day with sections at Douglas Rugby Club (08.30), and then later can be seen at Mullinaragher (10.30), Billown (11.20), South Barrule Quarry (12.30), Archallagan Plantation (14.15) and Knock Froy (15.15).
The Solo Expert class looks a lot healthier for 2017 with local riders Barry Kinley and Juan Knight sure to be taking the front running as both are previous winners. After them we have regulars such as Ben Sprigg, Tom Maddrell, Andy Lee and Nigel Sharp, together with youngster Josh Hanlon who could all be in the thick of the action.
As usual in the Solo Clubman class the result is much harder to predict with any amount of potential winners. With around 195 Clubman riders entered from the length and breadth of the UK and Ireland the competition will be close throughout the weekend. Winner in 2016, Guy Chandler is back and looking to repeat his result from last year, but riders such as Stephen Murphy, Nigel Crowther, Adam McCanna and Steve Swanson will keep the pressure on.
There will be a battle of interest within the Clubman entry as ex road racers, Rob McElnea, Iain Duffus, Brian Morrison and Donnie McLeod see who comes out on top, while the battle of the Enduro riders will surely be led by factory Husqvarna rider Danny McCanney.
The sidecar class is looking like it could be a hat-trick for local aces and British Champions Nigel Crellin/Chris Molyneux. They will have Rupert and Chris Kimber, Daryl Dale/Hannah Etherington, William Caine/ Beth Thomas and others biting at their heels for the whole weekend with the one route course will meaning it will be nip and tuck all the way, the leading crews not able to throw any marks away.
Event Details
Riders and Observers signing on will take place on Friday 14th July at Douglas Rugby Club, located near to Quarterbridge on the TT course.
The trial itself commences from 8am on each day from the Douglas Rugby Club.
The weekend is completed by the Presentation of awards on Sunday evening, 16th July, at the Palace Hotel, Central Promenade, Douglas, with doors opening from 8.00pm.