News update:Statistics prove it...older bikes are better!
Round 2 of the Ulster Classic Trials championship proved something many of us have known for a long time. Now its official - classic bikes are better than modern machines! In fact the older the bike, the better the result!
On Saturday the 10th September LMMCC hosted a trial at John Whites farm which started in very wet and muddy conditions. As the day progressed the sun began to shine and strong winds rapidly dried the course. The trial therefore turned out to be a low scoring event and when the results came in they certainly had a few surprises!
On the 'A' route you might imagine the best ride of the day would have been by an ultra-lightweight modern bike with all the aftermarket bits and bling available? Not so. The lowest score on the day was set by Marty Drennan on his Pre-1965 350 BSA with the loss of only 1 mark, giving the oldest machine on the 'A' route the overall win! Second best overall went to Matt Millar who also took victory in the twinshock class with a loss of just 2 marks. The Carrick man was mounted on his recently restored 1978 350 Bultaco twinshock.
Moving up the years, Bangors Stephen McKee put in third best overall performance. Riding his immaculate Yamaha TY250 'Pinkie' he also took victory in the Aircooled mono class with a loss of 3 marks. Russell Houston rode his beautiful 1991 K-Roo Fantic to fourth overall on 4 marks lost and in the process another Evo class win.
So where did all the modern machinery feature in the results? Young Alex Lennox of Portstewart was the lowest scoring modern bike with 4 marks lost. The best modern adult result was Robert Scott who dropped 6 on his Beta.
So, for all of you who are drooling over the new 2012 bikes or you are just considering 'moving up the years', it might be worth giving some thought to these results first! It clearly shows that as the bikes get older the scores get better! Fact - classic bikes are better.
