SOUTH West Centre trial champion Joe Baker was nudged out of first position for the second time in the opening two events of this year's series.
Edged into the runner-up spot by Ricky Wiggins in the first round in January, the South Molton Scorpa rider had to give best to Bodmin's Keelan Hancock in the second round at Bridgetown in West Somerset on Sunday.
More than 100 competitors tackled a three-lap, 12-section course at Hollam Farm, and it was the penultimate section, a climb over a series of steep banks and leaf mould, that brought about Baker's defeat. He stopped in the hazard on his first two laps, which cost him ten precious marks, while Hancock's three visits cost him just one mark.
Keelan's older brother Ross was in the lead on completion of the first lap, having lost five marks to Keelan's seven and Baker's nine. However, his second lap cost him a further 17 marks to leave Keelan, who completed the circuit without penalty, way ahead of his rivals.
Simon James netted a two-mark success over Rob Smith in the Clubman expert class after gaining the advantage on the first section.
One mark separated the top three finishers in the Past Masters class on a slightly easier route, while four of the five award winners in the Over-50 years class were decided by a series of tie-breaks after they had relinquished 14 marks apiece.
Bath's Tom Church, who retired from top flight motocross at the end of last year, retained his indoor Supercross title with a last-round victory at the LG Arena in Birmingham on Saturday night.
After winning his qualifying rounds he led the final from start to finish, with Jack Brunel and Adam Chatfield snapping at his heels.
Neville Bradshaw took the lightweight class, passing Nicholas Aubin on the final lap of the final to take third place behind Chatfield and Brunel and claim an overall two-point triumph.
An unnamed enthusiast paid £58,000 for a 1932 Brough Superior 680cc Alpine Black Shadow at an auction of more than 50 lots during the Carole Nash Bristol Classic Motorcycle Show at the Royal Bath & West Showground, near Shepton Mallet, over the weekend.
The machines that went under the hammer belonged to Jeremy Chichester, from the Nailsea area, who had collected them over a period of 50 years.
Exmoor MCC South West Centre Championship Trial at Bridgetown, West Somerset - Expert class awards: K Hancock (Gas Gas) 10 marks lost; J Baker (Scorpa) 16; R Hancock (Beta) 24; S Martin (Gas Gas) 31.
Clubman experts: S James (Gas Gas) 29; R Smith (Gas Gas) 31; R Wrayford (Honda) 33; M Thompson (Beta) 50.
Clubman: S Dommett (Dot) 45; N Andrew (Beta) 65; A Strang (Gas Gas) 70; G Harding (Gas Gas) 83.
Past Masters: J Atwell (Gas Gas) 49; M Champion (Gas Gas) 50; I Baker (Fantic) 50; Phil Wickett (Triumph) 61.
Novice: A Benstead (Beta) 15; T Heard (Yamaha) 17; M Aldred (Fantic) 21; S Marshman (Montesa) 22.
Over-50 years: E Pollard (Montesa) 7; G Mackie (Sherco) 14; S Thornhill (Beta) 14; M Jacobs (Beta) 14; M Burge (Fantic) 14.
Youth awards – Experts: S Mortimore (Gas Gas) 46.
A class: J Baker (Gas Gas) 85; B class: T Hooper (Beta) 39.
British Supercross Championship at Birmingham - Open class final: 1, T Church; 2, J Brunel; 3, A Chatfield; 4, N Bradshaw; 5, N Aubin; 6, D Strydon.
Lightweight class: 1, Chatfield; 2, Brunel; 3, Bradshaw; 4, Aubin; 5, A Greedy; 6, Strydon.
Final positions after three rounds - Open class: Church 65 pts, Bradshaw 55, Aubin 50, B Anderson 47, Brunel 42, Chatfield 40.
Lightweight class: Bradshaw 67, Aubin 65, Brunel 52, Greedy 46, Chatfield 45, J Dunn 40.
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