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BTC Round 7.. The Mackenzie, Brimham Rocks |
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Written by Adam, Photo by Barry Robinson
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Friday, 07 August 2009 20:55 |
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Jack Challoner (Beta UK.com) recently took in the penultimate round of the British Trials Championship, held at a very sunny Brimham Rocks, North Yorks. Jacks home club, Yeadon, Guiseley and District, hosted the event.
A fairly good first lap of 33 put Jack into 4th place after the first lap, with team mate Alexz Wigg in third on 27 and championship rival Sam Haslam 1 behind on 34. An improved second lap was needed, and that is what he produced going 6 better than the first for a lap of 27. Wiggy was on 34 and Haslam on 36, this put Jack into 3rd place by a single mark.. all to play for on the last lap.
But the last lap was not to start well with maximums on sections 2 and 3 so it was an uphill struggle from here, but with another 3 maximums later in the lap it was not to be with Jack having 36 for the lap and settling for 4th place overall..
“I am reasonably happy with my riding today, but a little frustrated as I know it could have been a lot better. I had a puncture in section 4 when the tyre came off the rim, which didn’t help, but apart from that the bike has been spot on.” Jack continued “After practice this morning it looked like the trial was too hard, but as it bedded in and dried out a little it turned out just about spot on, tough but very good, thanks to all at Y & G for another fantastic trial. Also thanks to Adam for minding and all the team for their support”.
Jack now lies 4th in the championship, 2 points clear of Sam Haslam in 5th, so a good performance is needed at the final round in Kent at the end of September.
Thanks to Barry Robinson for the above Photo. |
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Last Updated on Friday, 07 August 2009 21:03 |
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FIM Junior World Trials Championship, Rounds 6 & 7. Motegi, Japan. |
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Written by Adam.
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Monday, 08 June 2009 15:58 |
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Day 1:
The long flight out to Japan for round 6 & 7 of the SPEA sponsored Junior World Trials Championship was to be a worthwhile one for Halifax born reigning 125 world Champ Jack Challoner (Miton Top Trial Team Beta 290).
At first the trial looked a tad on the easy side, but after very heavy rain on Friday night this toughened up the 15 hazards. Jacks first lap was to go well, only marred by two maximums, on sections 8 and 14, and a further 8 marks scattered over the lap for a total first lap score of 18 putting Jack in 2nd place behind team mate Alexz Wigg going into the second and final lap. Jack was to start the second lap better, clean up to the difficult section four where another 3 went on the card. Only another 5 marks were to go down until section 14, Jacks bogey section of the day, where another maximum 5 went down for a better lap of 13 giving Jack his best result to date in the Junior class.. a fine second place behind his team mate, and a British 1-2.
“I am really happy with my riding today, everything has gone relatively smoothly, and I finally managed to have a decent first lap! Which set me up for a good overall result, I know I can do it now, all I have to do is try and repeat this consistency tomorrow.”
Day 2:
The weather was to stay fine overnight for much drier and hotter conditions on the second day of competition. But Jacks day was not to start well with silly mistake on the very first section of the day costing a maximum 5 marks and putting him on the back foot on the now drier and easier sections. The rest of the lap would have to be good, and good it was with only one more single dab going down for the rest of the lap. This resulted in a fantastic first lap of just 6 marks, putting Jack in joint first with his team mate Alexz going into the second lap. Jacks second lap started a lot better than the first, but in the end it was just not good enough to take the top step of the podium as Jack took 8 marks to complete the lap. He was just edged out by Alexz who dropped 5, this was to give Jack the #2 spot on the podium for the second day running for another British 1-2.
“Apart from the silly 5 on the first section I am really happy again with my performance, and to be just 3 marks of Wiggy at the end is great, hopefully something has clicked and I can keep up this consistency, which has been lacking a bit up to now. To come away from here with another 34 points is great and moves me closer to third place in the Championship. Thanks to the team and Beta Japan for providing me with a mega bike this weekend and thanks also to Michele for minding this weekend, also congrats to my team mate Alexz on doing the double. Roll on Italy in two weeks time.”
Jacks next event is the 5th round of the British Championship in Devon next weekend, then it’s out to Europe for back-to-back weekends of World Championship competition in Italy and Andorra.
Championship Standings after 7 rounds.
1st Alexz Wigg 137
2nd Alfredo Gomez 112
3rd Matteo Grattarola 105
4th Jack Challoner 94 |
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The Mitchell Trial, ACU British Championship. |
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Written by Adam, image by Heath
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Monday, 01 June 2009 13:45 |
 Round four of the ACU British Trials Championships was held yesterday at the excellent, and very sunny, Morlais Quarry near Merthyr Tydfil in Wales with 18-year-old Jack Challoner (TTT, Beta UK.com) wanting to improve on his disappointing 7th 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. Jack's day was to be a straight forward one, after a clean on the first a disputed 5 went on the card on section two and 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 the quarry. Onto the big triple step at section 9, which Jack nailed in practice, but didn’t get right for another maximum. Jack then had 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. He then had an improved 2 on eleven for a better lap of 18, but still off the pace. This did however manage to drag him up to 6th overall after the second lap... a trademark ‘Challoni’ last lap was needed!
Jack started the third lap relaxed and eager to improve, this he did with a mega single dab 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, a clean on eight and up to the big step at nine again where Jack finally crested the top, but unfortunately had a 2 later in the section. A further improvement, just 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 4th 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 as 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 5th 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
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Junior WTC Carlisle... rounds 4 & 5. |
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Written by Adam... photo by Ian Cross
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Tuesday, 19 May 2009 17:46 |
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Last weekend saw 18 Year Jack Challoner take in the highly anticipated UK round of the SPEA FIM World Junior Trials Championship at the Nord Vue venue near Carlisle aboard his Miton Top Trial Team Beta 290.
Jack was highly motivated going into the trial, this being his home GP, and going all out for a good result. But the weekend was to pan out as bitter sweet!
Jack set out on the Saturday confidently, but the nerves got the better of him with dabs on sections two, three and four, then a harsh 2 on section five, a clean on six and disastrous 5 on section 7 with a broken tape. The rest of the lap was feet up apart from a another bad maximum on section 13 for a first lap total of 15, not what he wanted, putting him in 6th place going into the second circuit. A good lap was needed, and everything was going well with all cleans going into the difficult 13th hazard but another maximum went on the card and then a further dab on 15 for a last lap of 6.. this was good enough to move Jack up to 4th overall on the day only missing out on the podium by just 3 marks. “I have ridden well today apart from 3 silly mistakes resulting in 5’s, I have to try to improve my first lap, and give myself a fighting chance. Thanks to the team for the bike, it’s been awesome today, and to Adsy for minding.. hopefully a better day tomorrow.
Day 2:
The second day started with bright sunshine, unlike yesterday’s showers, and with a number of sections stiffened up from the previous day to make them harder and longer. The day started well but was to get worse, with three bad 5’s on the first lap coupled with some 3 dabs and a 2 Jack had a mighty total of 20 points for the first lap, putting him in 9th position and playing catch up again. Jack re-grouped and got his head down for another excellent second lap of 6, again marred by one bad five on the relatively easy section seven, but the damage had been done with Jack eventually finishing in 6th position. “Today has been much the same as yesterday with another bad first lap. I need to put this weekend behind me and move onto the next round in Japan.. thanks again to all the team and the organisers for a brilliant event.”
Jacks next outing is The Mitchell British championship, before flying to Japan for the next world round. |
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 19 May 2009 18:53 |
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Junior World Championship, Rd 3. Chaves, Portugal |
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Written by Adam.
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Tuesday, 28 April 2009 16:40 |
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Sunday saw the 3rd round of the Junior World Trials Championship; Yorkshire youngster Jack Challoner (Miton Top Trial Team Beta) was hoping to improve on the previous days result. (see report below)
The day started well with two cleans on the now damp and slippery sections due to overnight rain, but 3 to 5 were now made a lot more difficult in the wet. A disastrous run of 5-3-5 was to have Jack playing catch up from then on to try and claw anything back from the day. Jack re-grouped to cover the next six hazards for only 1 dab but another maximum on the now very treacherous 12th section, along with the vast majority of his adversaries, and a further two went in sections 12 and 13 for a mighty total of 21 for the first lap.
The second lap was a case of damage limitation, and Jack rose to the challenge, with a miserly score of just 7 marks, the second best lap of the day for a total of 28 for the event...
“Today has been a trial of two halves! The first lap was very slippery on the first half, and I was finding it difficult to find grip, as it is the first time I have ridden the full spec team bike in slippery conditions, this is something I will have to work on once I have got fully dialled into the bike. By the second lap I was back on top of it and I am happy with the second lap score of 7. I am learning all the time on the big bike, as the power difference from last years 125cc is huge, but I am really enjoying the challenge. Thanks to the team for providing an awesome bike and Adsy for minding duties.”
Jack now returns home in preparation for the best trial in the world, The SSDT. |
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