Round four of the ACU British Trials Championships was held yesterday at the excellent, and very sunny! Morlais Quarry, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, with 18-year-old Jack Challoner (TTT, Beta UK.com) wanting to improve on his disappointing 7^th position at the last round. After practise on the Saturday, and a meeting with the organisers, it was agreed that the event was too easy, and several sections were stiffened up for the main event on Sunday. Jacks day was to be a straight forward one, after a clean on the first, a disputed 5 went on the card on section two, then another on the difficult third, a further 9 marks were to go down in the wooded area of the trial, then it was back up to quarry, with the big step at section 9, which Jack nailed in practice, but didn’t get right for another maximum, then a 3 on section eleven for a mighty total of 27 marks for the first lap, a disastrous start! Leaving him in last position!

The second lap started better, with a 3 on the difficult second, but another maximum went on the card at section three, the wooded area of the trial went better this lap, with just a single 3 then it was back up to the big section nine, where another bad 5 went on the card, then an improved 2 on eleven for a better lap of 18, but still off the pace, but managing to drag him up to 6^th overall after the second lap, a trademark ‘Challoni’ last lap was needed!

Jack started the second lap relaxed and eager to improve, this he did, with a mega single lap ride on section two, followed by an excellent clean on section three, one of only four all day, he then went clean right up to the very tricky section seven, where another 3 went down, then up it was clean on eight, then up to the big step at nine again, where Jack finally crested the top, but unfortunately had a 2 later in the section, then a further improvement, a dab on 11, then another clean on twelve, for a vastly improved lap of 7. This would haul Jack up to a career best finish of 4^th overall, in only his fourth outing at this top level, Jack commented afterwards “after the first lap I was completely off the pace, but as the day went on I relaxed more and my riding just got better and better. I am not happy with my first two laps; there were just too many 5’s! But my last lap of 7 proves that I can compete at this level I just need to carry on working hard, and I am confident the consistency will come, thanks to the club for staging the event, and some mega weather, and big thanks to Adsy for minding.” Jack now lays 5^th overall in the Championship at the halfway stage.

Jacks next events are rounds 6 and 7 of the FIM Junior World Championships at the Twin Ring Circuit in Motegi, Japan next weekend.

Picture: www.trialmag.net