Report: Southern Experts Trial
By TMX Archives on 9th Dec 16
SAM Haslam was the man of the moment at the 75th Sunbeam MCC Southern Experts Trial.
Solo top dog for the past two years, Sam was hell-bent on completing a hat-trick of wins in the south's most prestigious trial.
And the Gas Gas rider got his wish as he topped the podium at the end of a superb three-lap, 12-section battle at Hookwood Trials Centre.
Sam was leading on nine at the end of the opening lap, just one ahead of Sam Connor, who had been out of action since an injury in this year's SSDT.
Toby Martin was also in close contention on 14 with Tom Minta (18) and Joe Baker (24) not too far behind.
Haslam, Martyn and Baker all cleaned Rosy's Rocks where Connor had a dab and after all riders had fived the difficult rocks of section ten on the first two laps Haslam led on 17 from Martyn on 20 and Connor, who recorded having his worst lap of 12 to sit on 22.
Connor put in a fantastic third lap of just five including the only clean all day on section ten.
But it was just not enough to repeat his 2006 win as the likeable Haslam made it three from three.
The Expert Sidecar class was a closely-fought battle between young Luke and Josh Golding and father and son pairing Rupert and Chris Kimber.
Both crews lost five on their first lap and one on their second lap to move into the final circuit all square.
But the Goldings held their nerve to lose just a dab on their final circuit while the Kimbers had a five.
The Goldings lifted the trophy for the second year running, with the Kimbers second and the consistent Peter Dale and Harriet Shore joining them on the podium.
Former Youth A Champion Chris Stay made a welcome return in the Clubman Solos and rode very well with the exception of on section 11, where his final lap saw him take a trip over the handlebars.
Over 50 winner Brian Francis rode well to take second from Rob Warner.
The Youths tackled the same route as the Clubmen and Billy Green had a superb ride to finish on 16 and hold off Oliver Smith and Gus Oblein.
Fourth-placed Jack Dance had a lovely one-dab ride on his 80cc Beta on the slippery section four.
Best girl Alicia Robinson had a very nice one dab ride on the greasy cambers of section one but was another caught out on section 11 and also went over the handlebars.
Simon Evans and Nick Harding topped the Clubman Sidecars by just two from Bernie and Charlie Chambers, with Keith Fishlock and Pete Pesterfield third.
Results
Expert Solo: Sam Haslam (JST Gas Gas) 25, Sam Connor (Beta UK) 27, Toby Martyn (Beta UK) 32, Tom Minta (JST Gas Gas) 42, Joe Baker (MRS Sherco) 53, Jonny Starmer (Beta) 85.
Expert Sidecar: Luke & Josh Golding (TRS) 7, Rupert & Chris Kimber (Beta) 12, Peter Dale/ Harriet Shore (Beta) 38, Sean Cuckow/ Paul Cuckow (Sherco) 62.
Solo Clubman: Chris Stay (Gas Gas) 31, Brian Francis (Gas Gas) 42, Rob Warner (Montesa) 45, Wayne Holdsworth (Montesa) 56, Sam Rolls (Gas Gas) 53, Tom McCabe (Beta) 71, Lee Hassall (Gas Gas) 73, James Connor (Beta) 78, Nick Brock (Beta) 82.
Best Over 40: Ben Skinner (Gas Gas) 65.
Best Over 50: Brian Francis (Gas Gas) 42.
Youth: Billy Green (Beta) 16, Oliver Smith (Oset) 44, Gus Oblein (Sherco) 57, Jack Dance (Beta) 80, Ronnie Day (Gas Gas) 101, Adam Juffs (Beta) 119, Oscar Jones (Gas Gas) 133, Jake Eley (Beta) 134
Best Girl: Alicia Robinson (Beta) 123.
Clubman Sidecar: Simon Evans/ Nick Harding (Gas Gas) 47, Berrnard & Charlie Chambers (Gas Gas) 49, Pete Pesterfield/ Keith Fishlock (Honda) 61, Neil Hannam/ Barry Pocock (Honda) 76.
