Morewoods' '07 title as Tuck makes Sparkes fly
By TMX Archives on 10th Nov 06
ROBIN and Gill Morewood did not win the final round of the ACU British sidecar trials championship, the Peak, staged last Sunday at Hope, north Derbyshire but they did clinch a cliffhanger fifth title, to go two up on Robin's Dad, Alan Morewood!
It was billed as a battle of nerves between the Robins, Morewood, and Luscombe and while the top two sweated it out, Bristol's Jon Tuck and passenger Matt Sparkes did what they have threatened to do all year, win another national to match their Dartmoor result last May.
In ten events this year Tuck and regular passenger Ady Pearce have missed the podium three times, at the Peveril, Camborne, Bewdley and West of England. Their Peak result hoisted them to a nett four championship points behind Robin Luscombe and Les Ashby. They have become serious title contenders through 2006.
The wind howled across Berrystall where Sheffield and Hallamshire pitched its control centre and three craggy subs. Exposed, yes, cosy, definitely not. The Club also fielded Classic, Clubmen, and Experts to make up the seven championship entries, and a further dozen Clubman Sidecar crews, to make the Peak Trial a viable operation.
Nothing radical this year, a soggy beck at Elmore Farm followed by a brace of graded hills and two bracken and mud climbs. There was a game plan for Robin Luscombe and Les Ashby, if it worked! They had to win and Robin and Gill Morewood had to be down in third place for Luscy to take a record 14th Sidecar title. Strong plans, and they were flawed when Tuck spun his 270 Wessex Beta on the exit from the first sub. Morewood had his right boot down twice to clear the gradient while Luscombe and Bernie Chambers/ Helene Allaway straight-lined the soggy exit from the stream. Kev Morley lost drive on the old Luscombe Mont stroker, Rupert and Chris Kimber got through with a fleeting dab.
BRITISH SIDECAR TRIALS CHAMPS
Rd 10 (Final) – Peak Trial (Sheffield & Hallamshire MC)
EXPERT SIDECAR: Jon Tuck/ Matt Sparkes (Wessex Montesa) 39 marks lost, Robin & Gill Morewood (MRS Sherco) 41, Rupert & Chris Kimber (Sherco) 65.
PROVISIONAL FINAL SERIES STANDINGS after 10 rounds (Best 9 scores): 1 Morewood/ Morewood 166 points (CHAMPIONS), 2 Robin Luscombe/ Les Ashby 145, 3 Jon Tuck/ Ady Pearce 141, 4 Kimber/ Kimber 103, 5 Radford/ Radford 62, 6 Flowers/ Smith 62.
For full report, results and pictures see T+MX News, Friday, November 10, 2006