HE may have retired in a cloud of steam last year almost within sight of the National Mintex Trophy Trial finish, but Truro teenager Toby Martyn made no mistake last Sunday on his RCM Beta on the remote and bleak moors in the heartlands of the Scott Trial.

Martyn made just two stops in 60 sections on the Richmond Motor Club event at Hurst.

Observer Barry Watson said: "I think he was rushing the section initially. He failed my section, the 20th, on lap one and also the 17th, but sailed up on lap two."

Last year's winner Joe Dawson completed the course in 2:50.05 and dropped 11 on time, while Duncan McColl pipped Martyn by a mark on observation, but collected 20 time penalties. Only the top three broke the three-hour time.

Martyn learned that 125cc engines are not built to scream for hours after a radiator hose let go last year. At the finish, he said: "I ran in high gears, kept the revs low. In some parts of the course I was using top gear and moving fast. This year, it has worked. The RCM Beta ran perfectly."

Only a few names were really prominent in class B – Billy Green, Keiran Child, Daniel Slack, local lad Ryan Brown and Scarborough's Zac Collinson. Green took the first-timer with a sterling ride on time and observation to take overall fifth place, six marks short of Child.

Collinson was in the first-timer ranks and he adapted well to a time event and the moors.

Richard Sadler was keeping a close eye on Bellerby's Brown while carrying out his duties as travelling marshal. A comment on section lines and gear selection did a power of good. The first-timer got his John Lee Scorpa home in seventh place.

Notable retirees were Guy Stones, with a tangled rear chain, and Scott Aitken, with mechanical problems on his Sherco.

Andrew Reynolds took a fall, but went on to win the endeavour award.

The moors around Hurst were dry until about 4pm, then the rain arrived and the tail-enders arrived at the finish already showered and washed.

The Mintex continues to grow in stature, with entries up by three, including 23 newcomers.

AS last Saturday night's trial included the final round of the Northern Group Championship, plus a round of the newly-introduced Twin Shock East Yorks Championship, Thirsk and District MC would have expected a better entry at their Long Plain Farm venue, but numbers were down.

Jonathon Frost took full advantage, winning outright from James Thompson.

The first section proved difficult on the expert route, where riders came out of the small stream to negotiate a steep climb and turn out round a tree. Frost rode this well, losing just two marks. Thompson lost eight here, but rode the twisting climb over rocks and difficult knife-edge turn to exit well, losing just two marks here. Only Frost and clubman A winner Mark Shearer bettered this.

Steve Kirkwood grabbed full points in twin shock on his Fantic, beating in-form Paul Nelson, clubman B winner, in the process by just one mark. Jon Gamble and Shaun Page continued to move steadily up the awards with good rides to grab second and third place respectively.

Results

Richmond MC Mintex Trophy Trial. – 1 Toby Martyn (Mintex Trophy) 29; 2 Joe Dawson (Barry Robinson Trophy) 45; 3 Duncan McColl (W C Stones Trophy) 48; 4 Keiran Child (Lowther Engineering Trophy) 63; 5 Billy Green (Mark and Mags Lundberg Trophy) 69; 6 Jack Biggins (Mintex Salver) 102; 7 Ryan Brown (Mintex Salver) 113; 8 Luke Jackson (Mintex Salver) 119; 9 Zac Collinson (Mintex Salver) 129; 10 George Spivey (Mintex Salver) 145.

Special Awards, Luscombe Suzuki Trophy for best performance by a rider under 15: Billy Green 69; Mintex Cup

for rider creating standard time: Toby Martyn 2:39:30; NLS Contracts Trophy for rider with best performance on observation: Duncan McColl 28; Robinson Joinery Cup for last official finisher on time: Samuel Robinson 5:04:20; Syl Palmer Trophy for best performance by a first-timer: Billy Green 69; Harker Coaches Trophy for rider showing best endeavour: Andrew Reynolds.

Certificates for riders finishing within the time limit: 11 Tom Needham 154; 12 Guy Stones 159; 13 Robert Wetherill 159; 14 Ben Dignan 172; 15 Tyler Murphy 178; 16 Chester Adamski 178; 17 Joel Tett 189; 18 Henry Jackson 195; 19 Reece Gazzard 196; 20 William Dalton 203; 21 Sam Charlton 205; 22 Charlie Dent 217; 23 Oliver Richardson 248; 24 Joel

Holdsworth 254; 25 Oliver Rouse 253; 26 Adam Juffs 259; 27 Tom Constantine 277; 28 Will Harrison 281; 29 Brett Stein 286; 30 Josh Chew 300; 31 Max Townson 307; 32 Mathew Allum 311; 33 Dominic Williamson 318; 34 Samuel Robinson 359.

Thirsk & District MC Northern Group Championship, Hambleton. – Intermediates: 1 Jonathan Frost (Beta) 28; 2 James Thompson (Beta) 81.

Clubman A: 1 Mark Shearer (Montesa) 5; 2 Daniel Gamble (Beta) 21; 3 Leigh Smith (Sherco) 32.

Twin Shock: Steve Kirkwood (Fantic) 4.

Clubman B: 1 Paul Nelson (Beta) 5; 2 Jon Gamble (Sherco) 11; 3 Shaun Page (Beta) 13.

Fixtures

Tomorrow: Ripon MC trial, West Hill Edge, Galphay Moor, 3pm and 5pm.

Sunday: Wetherby MC National Wainwright Shield Trial, Raydale Farm, Marsett, 10.01am; Horsforth & District MC trial, Dry Gill, Greenhow, 11am.