Becky in action in the Czech Republic.
MOTORCYCLE TRIALSTRIALS star Becky Cook completed a brilliant double last week, winning the inaugural British Ladies’ Arena Championship title before travelling to the Czech Republic and winning the second round of the European Women’s Championships.
Her great week began at North Berks MCC, where the Wightlink-sponsored Top Trial Team/Beta UK rider took on four other top UK riders for the chance to make the three-rider final of the first ever British Ladies’ Arena Championship.
The qualifying stage did not go brilliantly for Becky as, although she qualified, she could only come second behind Emma Bristow, her top rival in the main ladies’ championship. Nikita Smith took the third finals’ spot.
In the final, Becky came out fighting, riding with much more confidence and going clear over the first four sections. A solid three-mark ride on section five where both Emma and Nikita failed, put her in the lead.
She made her first mistake on section seven, losing three marks through the course. Emma went clear to overtake Becky by just one point.
However, Becky regained the lead at the penultimate section by cleaning the big double step very stylishly while both Nikita and Emma lost three marks each.
With the final waterfall section to go, Becky held her nerve to take glory.
She said: "I’m really chuffed to have won this event. I’ve been looking forward to it since I was asked to ride it. It’s great for the ladies to be able to ride this kind of event and show the public what we can do."
She then flew out to Tanvald, Czech Republic, for the second round of the European Championships.
In hot, dry and dusty conditions, Becky, riding a new Beta Evo which the Italian based Top Trial Team had prepared for her, performed brilliantly to win the trial and take the lead in the overall standings.
After the first lap, Becky had dropped only three marks but Emma Bristow, who was looking for revenge from North Berks, was only a mark behind. German Theresa Bauml was third.
In the second lap, Becky was determined not to let her slender lead slip. Riding strong and confident on the second lap, she lost just two marks to record her first ever European victory with a score of just five marks.
Becky now leads the championship on 37 points, with Emma second on 32 and Sandrine Juffet of France in third on 28.
The final round takes place in Zelhem, Holland, on September 8.
Becky thanked Top Trial for providing her new bike and her minder, Craig Talbot, for his assistance round the course. She added: "I’m delighted to claim my first ever round win in the European Championship. I rode really well with just a few odd marks."