Michelin Maintain the Winning with Jack Peace (Sherco)

Sherco rider Jack Peace became the third Michelin winner in the 2024 ACU Trial GB British Championship from the opening three rounds. The defending champion joined Billy Green (Scorpa) and Harry Hemingway (Beta) as a winner at Summer Bridge in North Yorkshire with a mere four points now covering the top three riders in the fight for the 2024 British Championship.

The championship is observed using the ACU Trial GB marking system where competitors may stop, go sideways, or reverse without penalty, a marking system now used in the FIM Trial World Championship. However, going backwards whilst footing incurs a five-mark penalty. A one and a half minute time allowance for each section is permitted. The course at each round in 2024 can consist of either three laps of 12 sections or two laps of 15 sections at the discretion of the organisers. In the Trial GB class, a rider can drop the results from one round.

The 2024 ACU Trial GB Championship moved to the north of the country for round three and the Ripon Motor Club event at Summerbridge near Harrogate. The Clerk of the Course Joel Sadler worked with the ACU Trial GB team to bring a good event together for the ACU British Trials Championship and the 55 riders who were entered across the three classes: Trial GB (7), Trial 2 (14), and Expert (34). There would be one main route for the Trial GB class and alternative routes marked in different colours for Trial 2 and the Expert class, three laps of 12 sections would be ridden by all three classes.

A wide variety of rocks and steep climbs in the natural terrain for the competition needed full concentration and precision riding in the fight for the win. Looking very calm and confident it was Jack Peace who was in stunning form on the opening lap parting with just a single mark on possibly the most difficult section six. The other two championship challengers Harry Hemingway and Billy Green were both in trouble parting with 18 and 20 marks at the close of the lap showing just how close the sections were between success and failure.

On the second and third laps Harry Hemingway came fighting back showing his true form with single lap scores, but Jack Peace remained calm and stayed in control of the event parting with calculated mark losses when necessary to maintain the advantage. After parting with single mark losses on the difficult section six, Jack stopped in the section of the final lap, but he had done more than enough on the opening lap to secure the victory from Harry Hemingway.

Jack Peace (Sherco): “With nice warm but windy riding conditions, the sections rode well all day. Wheel grip was also very good which was really needed as the big rocky sections demanded the most from both the rider and machine with maximum, concentration required for safe passages through the hazards. As always, the Michelin tyres inspired the confidence in my riding knowing that the grip levels were maintained in the trickiest of situations. Feedback and feel from the Michelin tyres once again proved vital to my success, showing how they can adapt in all conditions. The win has now moved me within two marks of the championship lead which will be my main focus for the next round”

Results Round Three Rock ‘N’ Hop, Summerbridge, Yorkshire 18 August 2024

Trial GB Championship Class

1: Jack Peace (Sherco) 17; 2: Harry Hemingway (Beta) 24; 3: Billy Green (Scorpa) 46; 4: Jack Dance (GASGAS) 47; 5: George Hemingway (Beta) 48; 6: Harry Turner (Sherco) 104; 7: Ben Dignan (Montesa) 164.

2024 Trial GB Championship Positions After Three Rounds

1: Harry Hemingway (Beta) 54; 2: Jack Peace (Sherco) 52; 3: Billy Green (Scorpa) 50; 4: Jack Dance (GASGAS) 39; 5: George Hemingway (Beta) 32; 6: Harry Turner (Sherco) 31; 7: Ben Dignan (Montesa) 18.

A full set of results for all the classes can be found on the ACU Trial GB website: www.acutrialgb.org.uk