British Championship: Trial GB
Fifty years ago the ACU British Trials Championship was about to see some significant changes. A change to the ruling meant that only events including observed hazards would be included, which ruled out the Welsh Three Day Trial and other similar events. Points would be awarded to the top ten finishers on a 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 basis, and ten rounds would count towards the championship. It was quite fitting that round one of the 2020 British Championship would be held near Guildford at the superb Hookwood venue. At the end of 1970, we would have a new British Champion from this area, Gordon Farley; the first championship title for Montesa as he finally dethroned Sammy Miller (Bultaco). He had dominated the series since 1959, a record of 11 consecutive wins that still stands today. Sammy Miller returns to the series as a sponsor this year. 2020 sees the reintroduction of the ‘stop allowed’ rule and a time limit of 60 seconds per hazard, but would we see new winners over the four classes?
NEW RULES
The first round of the 2020 championship would not run under the ACU TSR ruling but, following a meeting with the Trials and Enduro Committee, under the new marking system called ACU Trial GB which will include a one-minute time allowance for each section to be traversed.
Other changes introduced for 2020 will include the following: Competitors may stop, go sideways or reverse without penalty, but going backwards whilst footing will incur a five-mark penalty. An additional championship point will be awarded to the best performance on observation on each lap of the trial to all four classes, but the points scoring would remain the same.
There will be the option for a third route for the ACU Trial 2 Class, with separate coloured markers. The ACU Trial 125 Class will be open to any rider over the age of 14, but riders between the ages of 14 to 16 will require permission from the ACU to compete.
Series Manager, Brian Higgins: “My aim will be to continue with the work the whole team did in 2019. This will be to ensure the level of difficulty of the sections is appropriate for each of the four classes. Although the marking system has changed, the section design should remain very similar to 2019 as the riders, especially in the top two tiers, have stretched the rules to way beyond the limit. We hope that the new system will provide a level playing field for all.”
TRIAL GB: DABILL’S DELIGHT
With the bold move by the enthusiastic team headed by the experienced Brian Higgins, the opening round of the 2020 championship attracted much interest from the public with a good crowd turnout at the excellent Hookwood Trials Centre at West Horsley near Guildford.
Machine changes have seen the defending champion Jack Price make the move to the Vertigo, and last year’s runner-up Toby Martyn to TRRS. Having already won eight ACU British
Trials Championship titles since his first in 2009, Great Britain’s undisputed number one trials rider James Dabill (Beta) would return for a full season in 2020, having opted out last year, with his eye on title number nine.
OVER AND OUT
It was a huge wakeup call on the opening hazard of the day for James Dabill as he misjudged the amount of traction on the slippery log take-off area and the Beta pitched him straight over the handlebars! The younger of the two Peace brothers had made a very confident start, with the only clean on this very intimidating hazard which required a huge jump up over a tree stump. It was in fact Jack Peace (Sherco) who held the early advantage as Dabill used all his strength and experience to move up the leader board to head the field at the close of the first lap.
The weather conditions were cold and the ground sodden, making the hazards very demanding. In close company to Dabill were Toby Martyn (TRRS) on 26 and the elder of the Peace brothers Dan on 29. Evenly matched on 33 marks lost each were Jack Peace and Jack Price, who was riding at the head of the field on the Vertigo.
THE GOING GETS TOUGH
As the hazards deteriorated Dabill moved his riding to another level on the second lap, where he executed the tough steep rocky section three to record the first clean, followed by the second on his final lap; it was ‘Dibsta’ at his very best using the newly introduced time limit to the full, and the crowd rewarded his efforts with a strong round of applause. His lap score of 11 marks lost most certainly read out a statement to his rivals, he was in a class of his own. Trying to stay in touch with Dabill was the new TRRS signing Toby Martyn, whose second-lap score came down as he did not incur any five-mark penalties in his score of 23. Dan Peace had a massive crash on the opening hazard of the second lap, which would ultimately cost him the runner-up position, but he came back very strong on the last lap matching Dabill’s 23-mark effort. At the final score both Jack Peace and Jack Price had parted with the same number of marks, which was decided in the younger Peace brother’s favour for fourth position.
WORK TO DO
James Dabill stood very proud on the podium, with his points haul of 22 including two extra points for the best lap score on the first and second laps. The eldest of all the championship contenders, he looked very much in control all day apart from the opening hazard, and the question now is ‘who can challenge him?’.
Toby Martyn knows he needs to close the gap to Dabill and will no doubt focus on this, as will the Peace brothers. It’s only one round down so do not underestimate the below-par performance of Jack Price; just remember that he won the 2019 championship convincingly. Billy Green had a tough day, suffering with ‘arm pump’ but showed the flashes of brilliance on the Montesa that will no doubt mature as the season progresses.
ACU BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIP 2020 TRIAL GB, ROUND ONE: HOOKWOOD
RESULTS: 1: James Dabill (Beta) 59; 2: Toby Martyn (TRRS) 81; 3: Dan Peace (Sherco) 85; 4: Jack Peace (Sherco) 95; 5: Jack Price (Vertigo) 95; 6: Billy Green (RG Montesa/Honda UK) 127.
CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS (1 OF 8)
RESULTS: 1: James Dabill (Beta) 20 + 2, 22; 2: Toby Martyn (TRRS) 17; 3: Dan Peace (Sherco) 15 + 1, 16; 4: Jack Peace (Sherco) 11; 5: Jack Price (Vertigo) 10; 6:
Billy Green (RG Montesa/Honda UK) 9.
MACHINES