MILES: 99. SECTIONS: 32 DAY THREE: WEDNESDAY
As heavy rain came down in the morning, Martin Lampkin set off along the Mamore road to the first group of the day at Callart Falls. The eight sections up the hillside were very slippery, and he lost eight marks, the same as the trailblazer for the day John Reynolds.
Due to the daily rotation of the riding numbers, ‘JR’ was riding most of the hazards first to try and stay within the day’s time limit. After lunch at the Inveroran Hotel, the sun started to break through as the riders started a tough second half of the day, which took in Ba House, Chairlift and Kentallen. The star at Ba House was Spanish rider Manuel Soler (Montesa), who was the only clean rider through the four hazards. The biggest cheer of the day was saved for Lampkin at Chairlift. He levelled both hazards; the best of the day.
On the final five hazards at Kentallen, Jaime Subira (Fantic-ESP) was the best, going through feet-up, followed by Lampkin, who lost two marks to put him at the head of the field with three days remaining.
Yrjo Vesterinen was once again the man on a mission, taking the daily best score with 18 marks lost, moving him into a solid fight for the win with both Burgat and Lampkin; it was game on to find a winner.
BEST DAILY PERFORMANCE: Yrjo Vesterinen (Bultaco-FIN) 18 Marks Lost
1: Martin Lampkin (SWM-GBR) 45; 2: Gilles Burgat (SWM-FRA) 51; 3: Yrjo Vesterinen (Bultaco-FIN) 53; 4: Charles Coutard (Montesa-FRA) 61;
5: Jaime Subira (Fantic-ESP) 67; 6: Manuel Soler (Montesa-ESP) 70; 7: John Reynolds (Beamish Suzuki-GBR) 72; 8: Nigel Birkett (Fantic-GBR) 73; 9: Norman Shepherd (Majesty Yamaha-GBR) 74; 10: Danilio Galeazzi (SWMITA) 75.