James Dabill aiming for BTC clean sweep
By John Dickinson on 19th Oct 18
The 2018 trials season is coming to an end and this weekend sees the culmination of the RT Keedwell ACU British Trials Championship with a double Saturday/Sunday with rounds seven and eight in Scotland.
As it has been in recent years The Bob MacGregor Trials Academy in East Fife is the venue for the showdown that will see three of the four classes reach their conclusion. The new-for-2018 Masters class is already beyond doubt as Ross Danby (TRS) is more than 40 points clear of second-placed Tom Affleck as the Vertigo dealer/ rider opted out of the Hafren clubs event.
In the Championship class the odds are that it will be decided on Saturday. Beta factory rider James Dabill is storming towards an eighth British Championship title having won all six rounds to date.
The Dibsta has a current 22-point lead over defending champ, Gas Gas ace Jack Price so in reality Dibs only needs two points from Saturday to nail the title.James will of course be determined to complete the series with a clean sweep which would be some achievement. Dan Peace (Gas Gas) sits third, a dozen marks behind Jack with Toby Martyn (Montesa) fourth exactly the same distance behind in fourth.
In the Experts Champs Richard Sadler (Beta) is hot favourite to put last years disaster behind him when he imploded in the final round at the same venue and literally handed the title to a grateful James Fry (Sherco) who stuck to his task and his persistence paid-off.
This time Richard takes a 17-point series lead to Ayrshire after winning three of the six rounds with his pal and nemesis Guy Kendrew (Beta) on his case, as ever! Guy comes hot from a strong fourth place finish in The Scott so the two will be watching one another closely all weekend. Luke Walker (Sherco), Dan Thorpe (Gas Gas) and Chris Stay (TRS) are all in with a chance of the final podium placing.
In Elite Youth Gas Gas protege Mitch Brightmore has the initiative from Gus Oblein (Sherco), Mitch having been on good form having won four of the six rounds including the last two. Mitch currently holds a handy 16-point advantage over Gus with Betas Charlie Smith a further 10 points back.
The Bob MacGregor Trials Academy can be found at Totherick Quarry, Dunlop, East Ayrshire, KA3 4EH and the first rider is due away at 9.30am each day.They will face three laps of 12 sections and the venue is very compact making for good spectating. Facilities include goodhard-standing, refreshments and toilets.
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