CRUEL END FOR SHEPPARD ON HIS SCOTT DEBUT

Scott - Time + Observation Trial
Richmond - North Yorkshire - 23/10/10

Seventeen-year old Jack Sheppard - Beta got his first taste of the cruel nature of the World famous Scott - Time + Obsevation Trial as the youngster came within touching distance of earning himself an epic finish at this classic event. The teenager looked well on course to recording an incredible debut result as he ran up the front of the field for most of the day on his 125cc machine, before it came to a final halt just before the last fuel check.

Having never experienced this type of competition before, the vice FIM Youth Trial World Champion spent the week prior to the Scott Trial in the company of three times winner Dougie Lampkin. Lampkin ensured that Sheppard was fully prepared for the challenge that lay ahead of the youngster, as they trained and worked on their bikes together ahead of this unique event. Jack enjoyed a real insight into the exactiing detail that is needed to win this trial and looked to put this into good practice as he made his Scott debut.

With little hope of overall honours at his first attempt, especially with him riding his smaller capacity bike against the bigger machines, Sheppard was focussed on being the best newcomer and also the best under twenty one year old rider come the end of the day. However with Jack having no real idea of the battle he was about to endure, even a first time finish would have been an exceptional result for the quietly spoken teenager.

Despite carrying so much expectation on such young shoulders, Sheppard appeared to have absorbed the wealth of advice that had been offered to him in the days before the trial as he made a strong start to the day. Even by the first fuel check Jack had begun to make good progress through the pack from his starting position over half way down the field. The distinct tone of the high revving 125cc made Sheppard easy to identify as he made his way down the valley with good progress and safely through the next two petrol stops.

By the time Sheppard arrived at the difficult By-Pass sections just before going on to the infamous Grouse Moor, Jack was now running inside the top ten and was really making his mark on this gruelling event. Despite the continued and rugged going the seventeen year old was still holding a similar placing when he emerged from the hour long tour of the North Yorkshire wilderness. However Jack was now riding with no front brake, but this did not stop the youngster cleaning the spectator packed Surrender section that brought huge applause from the large crowd.

Sheppard was now homeward bound and looked odds on favourite to be a real contender for the best newcomer award as he crossed the valley for the final time and headed for the sixth and final fuel stop. However disaster was about to strike as a hidden rock in the heavy bracken in between sections high on the hillside above Reeth was to knock Jack from his bike and cause damage to the already battered machine that would eventually bring it to a permanent halt a few miles later.

The crash had pushed the gear lever through the clutch case and broken a bolt off the water pump cover. With oil and water now leaking from the 125cc engine it was only a matter of time before the tiny engine would die, and it did just insight of the last fuel check and within thirty minutes of the finish. Jack was eventually pushed off the moor and despite attempts to revive his stricken bike, it was soon evident that his day was over.

With the bitter disappointment etched over his young face, Jack was brave in the immediate face of defeat. "I simply could not have done anymore, so it is such a shame for the day to have ended in this way. I was going really well and even though I was feeling pretty tired I was confident I was going to make it to the finish until I hit that rock. I was told you need some luck in this trial, but today I don't seem to have got the luck I deserved."

Sheppard concluded by saying. "I will be back next year and will have much more of an idea of what to expect. I would like to thank Dougie and Beta UK for all their help this week and for giving me the best possible chance at finishing my first Scott Trial."