Chippenham KTM rider Stephen Sword is being considered for a place in Britain's team for the forthcoming Motocross Des Nations team event along with Tommy Searle, Brad Anderson, Billy Mackenzie and the currently-injured Shaun Simpson.

Sword will be out to further his cause by increasing his lead in the 250cc class in the fifth round of the National Championships at Lyng, Norfolk, tomorrow.

He enjoys a 37-point advantage over South African Neville Bradshaw with Latvian Mattis Karro in third place, but should he not finish in either of the races left in the series, most of his lead would be wiped out.

His near neighbour, Tom Church, is competing in the Open class event at the Cadders Hill track, but he needs race wins to be able to mount a challenge on series leader Anderson, James Noble or Gareth Swanepoel.

Several Bristol grass racers are competing in France over the weekend and they will miss the Swindon Club's third meeting of the year at Dauntsey tomorrow.

With no superstars in the 85-strong line-up, close racing is being envisaged in all solo classes.

Hundreds of trial followers in the region will be making an early start tomorrow to witness British Championship action in the Torridge Club's sixth round at Peter Tavy, near Tavistock, in Devon.

Although 50 of Britain's leading lights are competing in a three lap, 12- section event at Browsenter Farm, only ten are competing in the main event, which is currently led by James Dabill from Mike Brown and Alex Wigg.

Sam Connor leads the expert A Class Championship and is unlikely to be beaten.

Most Westcountry interest will be centred on the B class, where Yeovil's Ricky Wiggins is in third place, close behind Sam Ludgate and John Crinson.

Cornwall Centre champion Ross Hancock is also competing with near- neighbour Ian Martin and Nick and Jimmy Baker from the Minehead area.

WEEKEND FIXTURES

Saturday: Moretonhampstead MCC trial, Lettaford near Moretonhampstead (2pm).

Sunday: Torridge MCC British Championship trial, Browsenter Farm, Peter Tavy near Tavistock (9.30am); Norwich Vikings MCC British Motocross Championship round, Cadders Hill, Lyng, Norfolk (12 Noon); Swindon MCC grass track meeting, Grangewood Farm, Dauntsey, Wilts (1pm); Chard MCC ORPA motocross, A and A Moto Park, Smeatharpe near Honiton (10.30).