Keyneton Motor Cycle Club Inc - 2 Day Moto Trial
Incorporating the SA State Championships
23rd & 24th
September 2006
Over the weekend of September 23rd
& 24th the Keyneton Motorcycle Club ran the 2006 SA Moto Trials
Championship, and for the 3rd time in as many years the weekend
became a ‘Long’ Weekend, with the Gawler MCC’s
Aaron Long winning the premier class.
For the first time in many years
a trial in SA entries reached the 50 mark and Saturday saw 53 machines take to
a course of 10 sections, in fine sunny conditions. Included in this were 12
Victorian visitors, keen to have a ride and have a look at terrain that will be
similar to next years Australian Championships. In most classes, low scores
were the order of the day as most competitors found the sections challenging
but ‘cleanable’. So Saturday was an enjoyable but relatively easy ride for most.
Sundays sections had already been
set a touch tougher for the riders when a new variable was thrown at the organisers
and riders. The old saying of “How do you make it rain? Easy, hold a moto
trial!”, rang true on Saturday evening when the wind picked up strength and the
heavens opened. The Club marquee had to be rescued and dropped to the ground –
and wasn’t that fun, trying to put it up again on Sunday morning!
So Sunday had suddenly become a
new test not experienced in SA this year, riding in the wind and the rain, with
no grumbles from anyone that it was too easy. Sections for all grades were
modified on Sunday morning, making them a little easier than originally marked
given the influx of wet weather. Unfortunately this resulted in a number of
spectacular “A” solo sections being modified with the massive rocks no longer
safe to be ridden. Some grades, while the sections were ‘backed off’, were
still intentionally left a little harder than Saturday’s which is clearly shown
in the results (A solo, Sidecars, C solo and Veterans).
A couple riders succumbed to
falls early on both days, and although their injuries weren’t serious it put
their bikes back on the trailer for the remainder of the event. One of these,
Chloe Whittle from Victoria,
decided laughter was the best medicine and seemed to spend the remainder of the
event following a couple of ‘Crash Test Dummy’ sidecar boys around and having a
good laugh at their expense!
Ben Zander was once again the
main organiser of the event, with valued assistance from Andrew Warnest.
Together they received many compliments from all who attended, especially the
interstaters who are now looking forward to coming over next year for the KMCC
run Australian Championships. Ben thanked all for riding and passed on his
thanks especially to all past, present, and in some cases future members of the
Club who observed the sections, especially on Sunday in the inclement weather.
Thanks were also passed on to the
Club members who helped with section marking before and during the event and to
Andrew and Tanja Warnest, Kirsty Ames, Wendy
Holmes, John Wilksch and helpers for the catering and scoring, especially on
Sunday when the marquee wanted to fly away around them.
In the ‘A’ Grade Solo day 1 was
led by Jarrod Barwick, 3 points in front of defending champ, Aaron Long, who
had found the easy sections tough to concentrate in and had dropped ‘silly’
points. The wet day 2, however saw Aaron take control in the tough conditions
and pull away to a comfortable win, with Jarrod 2nd and 15 year old
Victorian Scott Owen 3rd.
Scott now heads to WA for this years Aussie Champs and being an
‘unofficial’ Keyneton member, the Club wishes him well as he chases the Junior
Title.
The ‘B’ Grade Solo class was
fought out between Brenton Hogan and Nick Fethers, a rivalry that has spanned
the best part of 20 years, and as almost always happens the trophy presentation
saw Nick plead with ‘Hoges’; ‘can’t you let me win just one!’ 3rd
was Matt Stanley with a consistent ride over the 2 days.
The ‘C’ Grade Solo class saw
Victorian visitor Phil Whittle lead day 1 by a comfortable margin, but he fell
into a big hole on Sunday and dropped to fourth. 3rd after day 1 was
Greg Cramond and a consistent ride in the wet conditions saw him jump to the
top to win his 1st State Title. 2nd was Mark Opie, with
last years Junior Champ, Mike Collins home for 3rd. Keyneton member
Kevin Steinert was sitting in 6th overnight, but a fall on lap 3 on
Sunday left him with a fat ankle and a first ever DNF in a moto trial.
The Post Classic class,
unfortunately only had a single entry, so Paul Collins
rode ‘C’
Grade lines on the old bike to
challenge himself. His score would have won him the ‘C’ Grade Title against all
the modern bikes. Well done!
The Masters Class was an all
Victorian affair and Peter Sens held on to win, after a great day 1, from Chris
Herbert, who pegged back the lead on day 2 to fall short by 1 point. 3rd
was Gary Owen, who also rode a lot better on
day 2. It was possible that all 3 felt more at home in Sunday’s Victorian
weather!
In the Veterans Class,
Rob
White is chasing a hat trick of his own, with the SA Titles
leg 2. He has now won the Victorian and SA Titles, and now heads to WA to try
for the Aussie Title to fill out his trifecta! Good luck Rob. 2nd to
Rob was Dominic Brissoni, with Victorian Gas Gas distributor, Mal Loone home in
3rd.
4th was KMCC Life
Member, and all round good guy, Chris Holmes who travelled down from Mildura
for an 18th birthday and thought he may as well have a ride.
The Clubman Class was dominated
by Phil Young who opened up a 19 point gap over Jeff Baker on day 1 and
although Jeff pegged him back on Sunday, it wasn’t enough with Phil winning by
a comfortable 15 points. 3rd was James Digance, with KMCC member and
41 year old rookie, Paul Wright home in 4th
in what was his 1st solo ride at a SA Title.
14 Juniors were entered in what
was perhaps the largest field in SA in 10 years. Last years runner up, David
Baker went one better this year to win the SA Title for the first time. He can
now put that alongside the Victorian Title he won a month ago – well done
David. 2nd and 3rd
were Victorian visitors Jack Herbert and Jordan Sens, Jack leading after day 1
but unable to stop the Baker challenge. 4th was another Victorian in
Jacob Whittle, with 5th place being won by SA’s Joel Cramond. In the
Sub-Juniors Connor Hogan had the class to himself, but impressed all with his
ability at 6 years of age – a future Aussie Champion?
The ladies Class was easily won
by Sally John, riding C Grade lines over Sarah Behn, riding Clubman lines after
Sarah had bike problems on day 1 and had to share a bike, not the easiest thing
to do.
In what was a good final hit out
for the Aussie Titles later this month the Sidecar Class was dominated by 7
time Aussie Champs Todd Kuerschner & Steve Sparkes, whose total score was
less than what their competitors lost on day 1. 2nd was Aussie no. 2
team Chris Schultz and Stu Gerhardy, with Ben Zander & Matt Neldner 3rd.
The Club is now looking forward
to 2007 and the Australian Moto Trials Championships that it will run on the 13th
& 14th of October and can only be encouraged by the compliments
and support it received out of this event.
To all that helped out – a big
thank you from the KMCC and we hope to see you at next years Aussie Titles.
Ben Zander
Results