EM’S SHOCK
The depth of talent, age, ability and machines in this Trial 2 class makes for the most exciting category in the ACU British Trials Championship. Make no mistake, introducing electric machines in our sport is rapidly gathering momentum. It was endorsed further at the opening round for two reasons. Matthew Alpe, the official UK importer of all Electric Motion, or EM, products into the UK, had the French manufacturer’s number one rider Gael Chatagno over for the opening round. A rider of a very high standard, the Frenchman had initially entered the Trial GB class, but as he looked over the sections the day before, he approached the series manager for the ACU, Brian Higgins, to ask to drop down to the Trial 2 class, which was granted — a very wise move indeed. Only on display, UK importer Steve Saunders presented the new electric Mecatecno. Over the next three laps of a very challenging 12-section course, we were about to witness history for the first win from an electric-powered motorcycle in the Trial 2 class.
From as early as section one, the unforgiving land of the Hookwood venue was about to take no prisoners as it would be a very tough day with the very wet terrain. As the sections deteriorated and the riders became more fatigued, the time element would also come into play in the fight to find a round-one winner.
A TOUGH OPENER
As with the Trial GB class, the opening section soon let the Trial 2 riders know they would struggle to record a clean ride.
Riding right at the front of the entry was Alexz Wigg, who took the Vertigo to the first clean. Gael Chatagno had the spectators watching his every move on the electric machine. He parted with a single mark before local rider Sam Connor took the only other clean ride on the opening lap on the Beta. ‘Wiggy’ was on a roll, taking the only clean on section two and having a super singlemark ride on the deep mud of section eight to take an early lead on 30 marks lost, followed by Chatagno and Sam Haslam on 34 each.
ELECTRIC CONTROL
On the second lap, the crowd witnessed a stunning performance from Chatagno as he took the EM machine around for an incredible lap of just 22 marks lost, the best of the trial. Haslam followed on 36 and young Harry Turner on 37.
As the sections continued to deteriorate with the passing of every rider, it was a case of trying to get through many of the 12 sections. With queues starting to appear, Chatagno finished with six time penalties. It did not matter though; he won with the only double-figure score of 95 marks lost.
The battle for second went to Haslam, with Sam Connor taking the final podium step. The fight for the remaining championship points was very close, with Harry Turner next on 120, closely followed by Alexz Wigg on 124 and Oliver Smith on 126, just one mark better than James Fry.
In eighth place was a rider who showed real guts and determination — 15-year-old George Hemingway riding his 125cc Beta. Take note of the name; it was an incredible ride.