THE SCOTT 2021 A WELCOME RETURN
What a pleasure it was to return the 2021 Scott Trial in Reeth, North Yorkshire, firing on all cylinders for everyone to enjoy! It was further endorsed by the huge influx of spectators and followers of this iconic motorcycle trial and its long sporting heritage dating back to the turn of the 20th century.
With the Covid-19 restrictions now more relaxed, the many hotels, B&B’s, restaurants and cafés in the area enjoyed the extra tourist business this event brings to the region, helping to support the local economy.
After the devastation the floods caused since the previous event in 2019, the organising Richmond Motor Club had been out early on the course early on to meet the many farmers, local people and landowners. The Clerk of the Course Nathan Stones and his fellow club members and helpers had started preparing for the trial earlier in the year, and it was reflected in the once-again well-organised event.
The interest in this unique time and observation trial was at an all-time high, but with the entry limit of 200 riders, it filled very quickly. By the time the day of the event came around on Saturday 16th October, 188 riders assembled in the start field at Marske just outside Richmond at 9.00am in an attempt to take on the 76 sections and 88 miles that made up the 2021 course.
As you will have just read in the opening two pages, it was a case of unfinished business for Jack Price after the 2019 exclusion. However, he arrived in 2021 armed with the latest Vertigo trials model on a mission, prepared and ready to lay claim to his first win after a very challenging day’s riding.
IN FOR THE ULTIMATE CHALLENGE
The 2019 winner James Dabill had returned with his Italian Beta to defend the title, having retired from mainstream trials in 2020. However, keeping his hand in the two-wheeled off-road world of enduro riding, he would no doubt be wanting to add another Scott win to his long list of successes in a very rewarding trials career.
With the FIM Trial World Championship finished, no benchmark could be set as to who would be on form. With a break in the ACU British Championship, could it be Jack Peace who could make the breakthrough? 2020 FIM
Trial2 World Champion Toby Martyn, and his elder brother Dan, would miss the starting order with an elbow injury. Billy Green had moved from the four-stroke Montesa on which he had taken the Best First Time Rider award in 2019 to the two-stroke Scorpa. Maybe it was the time of the local rider and experienced Scott competitor, Richard Sadler, or maybe Guy Kendrew? Of course, you could never write off the six-time winner, Dougie Lampkin, or other previous winners including, Jonathan Richardson (Sherco) in 2011, Michael Brown (Gas Gas) in 2012 and Ian Austermuhle (Beta) in 2015.
The weather in the area had been kind in the weeks running up to the event and was dry but cool at the start field. A superb 58 first-time riders had entered, with 33 under the age of 21 for the ultimate challenge on a trials motorcycle. As rider number one, George Clarke from Leamington, was flagged off the start line in front of the ACU steward Gordon Lawley; he was about to enter into what is still the greatest one-day test of man and machine in the world, the Scott Trial.
88 MILES AND 76 SECTIONS
Yes, a daunting task that would need to be finished in your allotted time. With surrounding dry areas, there was not much water in the many rivers. It meant that the running time of the riders would be generally quicker.
This year, the course would again take in the regular sections. With names such as Goats, Reels Head 1 and Surrender, riders would then head out onto the demanding Grouse Moor crossing, By-Pass, Grand Canyon, Tank Trap, Whaw Bridge before heading home riding Bridge End, Reels Head 2, Underbank’s, Cold Knuckles, Rotten Wood and, hopefully, the last ones at Clapgate.
Six strategically-placed fuel stops would keep the machines running, just, but due to the Covid-19 restrictions, no drinks would be given out by the club members. Early indications were that it would be a low-scoring event with the leading riders pressing on at a fairly fast pace.
At By-Pass, the support crews greeted riders, who had a quick breather and a chance for any machine maintenance as they arrived off the Grouse Moor. Early reports had the sections quite difficult, but the open moorland going was in quite a good mood, with the dry conditions in the area favouring the riders.
FIRST MAN
At 11:54:28, the early rider number three, Cillian Doyle from Ireland, arrived first on the Scorpa for a spirited attempt up the huge rocks in the very dry river bed at By-Pass 1 observed by Mike Rapley and his team. The section rode very well, with the rocks well bedded in and offering huge amounts of wheel grip even for the step at the end.
The next rider on the four-stroke Montesa was Andrew Lishman at 12:04:48, followed by young Tyler Rendall on his Vertigo in his first Scott Trial. Cameron Brice (Beta) was next at 12:15:20 as one of the fancied winners. Billy Green levelled the section on the Scorpa just a few seconds behind. A few more riders passed through before the French rider, Benoit Dagnicourt, cleaned the section, looking very calm and fresh on the Vertigo. It was now getting quite hectic with a small queue at the start of the section as the riders had a quick visual inspection. James Fry (Sherco), Tom Minta (Scorpa) and then Jack Price arrived closely together, all passing through feet up.
Riding at 100% as always, Jonathan Richardson was next on the Montesa, followed by Ben Hemingway (Beta) and the eventual fastest rider Guy Kendrew (GASGAS).
Once again, riding with no gloves, was the exBritish Enduro champion Juan Knight (Scorpa) from the Isle of Man. Dougie Lampkin (Vertigo) had suffered a high-speed crash early on before the first petrol check, which was slowing him down with pain in his neck. Jack Peace hung on to his tail.
HANGING-ON
It was now time to dig deep and hang on as the event started to guide the riders into the second half of the trial. The front runners were now pushing fast to keep up the pace, knowing that the time element would come into play in the final results, whilst also being aware of the need to keep the scores low on observation.
The limits of the riders’ endurance now came into play in the final part of the trial, as the assembled crowd stood on the exposed and formidable Reels Head overlooking Reeth down below for two sections.
A four-stroke noise in the distance could only be one rider; it was soon revealed as Jonathan Richardson on the Montesa as he came into view. He arrived at 13:59:05 and absolutely levelled the section in a show of controlled aggression. It was no mean feat, as anyone watching would testify to the severity of the steep exposed rocks.
The next rider to arrive was Billy Green, looking strong and fresh on the Scorpa at 14:00:09 in close company with Jack Price; covered in mud, it was quite evident that he had been charging forward in his quest for the much sought-after victory!
Guy Kendrew (GASGAS) was next at
14:02:44, and in contrast to Price, he looked very clean and neat. Then James Fry arrived in close attendance with Tom Minta (Scorpa), with them both looking very confident.
PANIC STATIONS
It was then a case of panic stations as Jonathan Richardson ran out of fuel as he came off the moors, followed by Jack Price, who had earlier passed Green. Both riders had been motoring and, consequently, used more fuel. A ten-minute push to the fuel check with the dead machines must have seemed like an eternity but, welcomed by the members of the Richmond Motor Club who man the fuel stop; they were soon filled up and on their way.
On the orange Scorpa, Billy Green passed them both before filling up with petrol and racing off. He was the first man back at the finish at 15:08:58, followed by a now dirtierlooking Guy Kendrew at 15:11:28 and, literally hot on his tail, Jonathan Richardson. Shortly after Jack Price arrived, he looked very happy, knowing he had a very low observation score and sure he had passed through all the sections.
Riders now started to arrive thick and fast, each with their tales of a ‘Scott’ day. The tradition of the Scott has the riders telling each other of their day’s sport on the Yorkshire Moors in the finish area. By the look of his facial expression Dougie Lampkin looked in even more pain from his early crash; he knew 2021 would not be a winning year, but he could hold his head high with six wins to his name, going back as far as 1994; his first one when he was best on both time and observation.
Two strong Scott Trial riders, previous winner Ian Austermuhle and the ever-consistent Ross Danby (TRRS) arrived very close together.
After his recent back surgery, Dan Thorpe (GASGAS) was more than happy to finish in the company of Ben Hemingway. Emma Bristow arrived intact and, as always, was smiling as husband James congratulated her; she was the only female finisher on time of the three entered.
TIME FOR A BEER
Under the guidance of the invited ‘Trials Guru’ John Moffat, the evening awards presentation was opened up with the annual charity auction. Some exciting bidding, especially for the guaranteed entry for the 2022 Scottish Six Days Trial, pushed the monies up to a staggering £4,897 on the night.
After a few glasses of liquid refreshment, it was now time to announce the award winners. As with any Scott Trial, finishers were read out in reverse order.
Coming down to the final five, it was getting really tense. When Devon’s Billy Green was announced in second place, only one name was left — Jack Price. To a huge round of applause and cheering, he was the winner of the 2021 Scott Trial. In his closing speech, he thanked everyone for the support to achieve one of his lifetime ambitions. It was now time for a beer!
TRIAL MAGAZINE
John Hulme: “I would like to thank everyone for such a tremendous effort to make this year’s event happen after the cancellation in 2020. It was like a homecoming; such was the positive feeling from all the local landowners and everyone involved in this prestigious event.
“With so many newcomers riding the event and the influx of younger riders, the Scott
Trial can only grow over the next few years. I would like to personally thank everyone from Richmond Motor Club for putting in such a huge effort in these difficult times and the riders for putting on such a good fight for supremacy as we continue on the road map out of Covid-19. See you all in 2022!”