Raptors rider Jack Sheppard prepares for ACU British Trial Championship

Young seventeen year old Jack Sheppard has made quite a name for himself in the World of trials over the past twelve months and it’s not just here in the UK. After finishing runner up in last year’s SPEA FIM Youth Trial World Championship the young star from Ipswich, Suffolk attracted direct support from the Italian Beta factory. Having just returned from Australia, where he featured in his second stint of Top Gear Live shows, Jack has just taken delivery of his brand new factory Beta machine and is now fully focused on spear heading an attack on the British Trials Championship.

missed the opening round of the British Championship as I was in Australia, but now I’m back home the championship takes full priority.

Another new challenge for Sheppard during 2011 will be his first outing at the infamous Scottish Six Day Trial (SSDT) where Jack will be looking to make his mark. This year marks the event’s centenary and is therefore expected to bring in record crowds and stiff competition.

Round 1 - Harwood Dale, North Yorkshire

Defending champion of the series was raptors rider Daryl Bolter, who could not make the trip due to other commitments so it was up to KORR's rookie rider Jonny Walker to represent KTM and the team. Walker is another upcoming raptor rider. Jonny has ridden many times before at Harwood Dale but only in Trials, this weekend he returned to make his first Cross-Country race on his KORR Azego KTM 300 EXC. 
He made a good start and within a few turns was quickly up to second and then just followed KTM's Ashley Woods, the 2 riders quickly pulled a big gap on the rest of the field and Jonny shadowed Ashley following him in his wheel tracks for a few laps.
On lap 3 Jonny moved to the front and started to make a safe gap of around 1 minute on Ashley, we only used a stock EXC tank so it would be touch and go if we could make just one fuel stop, fortunately with the clear tank we could see the level and kept him out until the last moment on reserve and just managed to pass the halfway point which would mean we only needed to stop once for fuel.
The second half of the race Jonny just managed his lead and rode effortlessly to finish 1st overall, meanwhile veteran Ady Smith on his 250XCF worked his way up to third to make a KTM 1-2-3 on the podium.
Overall Results
1. Azego KTM UK 300 EXC Jonny Walker 2. ET James KTM 250 XC Ashley Woods 3. KTM UK Off Road Schools Ady Smith