Trial Magazine Issue 70 August-September 2018

M OTORC YC L E • CYCLE • SI DE-CAR • CLAS S IC • CO MPE TITIO N • FEAT U R E S

SECTION

www.trialmaguk.com

70

RECORD-BREAKER

BOU’S 100 INTERNATIONAL

TRIAL GP POSTER INSIDE

JAIME BUS TO TONI BOU ISSN 1 7 5 3 - 0 0 4 0 AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018 7 0

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771753 004058

MY VIEW

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TRIAL MAGAZINE

SECTION

WELCOME

70 WELCOME FEATURES RULES

14

INTERNATIONAL

24

REMEMBERING

50

MY VIEW

62

INSURANCE

72

SPORT

78

YOUTH

93

DEALER VISIT

96

CLASSIC COMPETITION

101

CYCLE

108

To Stop or Not? FIM Trial World Championship Alans Clews CCM Mick Wren

What to Do

British Championship Solo/Youth/Ladies The Mintex

Craigs Motorcycles

Alvie Two Day

Josh McParland

SECTIONS TALK TRIALS

TONI BOU NEWS SHOPPING PADDOCK POSTER SUPERSTORE DEALER LOCATOR SUBSCRIPTION FORM

6 10 18 20 57 84 106 112

COVER PHOTO: 100 WINS FOR TONI BOU (REPSOL HONDA-ESP). PICTURE CREDIT: JOHN HULME

CJ Publishing Limited is a Company Registered in England Number: 5947718. © 2018 CJ Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publishers. Great care is taken to ensure accuracy in the preparation of this publication, but neither CJ Publishing Ltd or the editor can be held responsible for its contents. The views expressed are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of the Publishers.

Trial Magazine is published by: CJ PUBLISHING LIMITED 48 Albion Road, New Mills, High Peak, Derbyshire, SK22 3EX. UK Telephone: 01663 749163 Email: england@trialmag.com Co-Managing Directors John Hulme & Charles Benhamou Executive Director Philippe Benhamou Editor John Hulme (NUJ No: 949620) england@trialmag.com

TRIAL MAGAZINE • AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018

Editorial Staff Cyrille Barthe, Jean Caillou, Phil Disney, Nick Shield, Matthew Heppleston, Heath Brindley, and John Moffat Photographers Colin Bullock, Eric Kitchen, Cyrille Barthe, Josh Turner, Yoomee, Trials Media, Barry Robinson, Don Morley, Mauri/Fontserè Collection and the Giulio Mauri Copyright, Brian Holder and Andy Gregory.

Commercial Manager John Hulme england@trialmag.com Design and Production Dean Cook The Magazine Production Company www.magazineproduction.com

Printing Buxtons Press Distribution Warners Group Publications Plc

Proof reading

Mail Order www.trialmaguk.com

Jane Hulme and Davina Brooks

TRIAL MAGAZINE: ISSN: 1753-0040.

5

TALK TRIALS TONI BOU

A RECORD-BREAKING

100 WINS Trust me 100%, I am human and, yes, I do feel pressure like any other person. I knew the 100 wins was always possible in 2018 although with the problems from the back injury I was not sure when this would happen. Japan produced wins from Fajardo and Busto, putting the celebrations on hold, but once I had secured the success in Andorra my focus in Portugal was the big ‘100’ and, as they say, the rest is history, and it was time once again to enjoy the champagne.

WORDS: TONI BOU WITH JOHN HULME • PICTURES: MONTESA/HONDA AND TRIALS MEDIA

T

he long-haul flight to round two of this year’s championship had been a difficult one. In truth it was too long a time to be sat down, and was not good for my recovery from the injury. It was a two-day event, and on reflection I should have been happier with the points than I was, but as you all know I enter every competition with one vision only: victory.

I had a good week at home enjoying Andorra before the world round and I felt much more relaxed, having friends and family around me, which is always a bonus. I felt very strong in qualifying and the relief when I was the quickest gave me even more confidence for race day. As it happened the Andorra GP was a very close affair but I kept pushing all day, and when Fajardo stopped in the final hazard of the day I applied my mindset to take the victory. Trials is a strange sport but I believe I thoroughly deserved the win after all the problems with my back.

The week after we were back in action in Portugal, and the heat was insane! I felt very confident all weekend and when I have this sensation I am at my very best, which I was, in both qualifying and the trial. When I feel like this I can change the pressure around onto my rivals, as riding at the back from the best qualifying time it’s a case of waiting for them to make mistakes, which they did. I take nothing away from any of them and have the utmost respect for them, but this situation pushes the limits of my ability even higher. My clean passage through section ten was me at my very best, which opened the door for the 100th victory.

As always for everyone who has helped me achieve this new record, I thank you!

Until Next Time – Ride On! – Toni

6

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

EVOLUTION OF PERFECTION

0% APR

REPRESENTATIVE VPL

ON 17YM MONTESA COTA 4RT260 MODELS REGISTERED BEFORE 31 AUGUST 2018* THE JOURNEY GOES ON

Featuring a new colour scheme with white, red and blue graphics, it looks sportier than ever before. The 260cc engine has been enhanced to improve traction while minimised engine braking makes it feel even lighter. Switchable ECU ignition mapping offers dual maps for improved ridability in variable grip conditions.

The Cota 4RT260 is a machine that has evolved over time into a base platform that the amateur Trial enthusiast can get the most out of.

honda.co.uk

0345 200 8000

VPL Terms & Conditions: *New Montesa Honda RT260 17YM orders from 10 May 2018 to 31 August 2018 and registered by 31 August 2018. Subject to model and colour availability. Representative Example based on 3 years 0% VPL. Offers applicable at participating dealers and are at the promoter’s absolute discretion. Indemnities may be required in certain circumstances. Finance is only available to persons aged 18 or over, subject to status. All figures are correct at time of publication but may be subject to change. Honda Franchise Dealers are credit brokers, not lenders. Credit provided by Honda Finance Europe Plc. Cain Road, Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 1HL. Honda Financial Services is a trading name of Honda Finance Europe Plc. a company registered at Companies House No 03289418. Honda Finance Europe plc is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, Financial Services Register number 312541.

NEWS

TRIALS ROUND-UP

New Inch Perfect Trials Showroom On Saturday 9th June Inch Perfect Trials opened its brand new state of the art showroom. The spectacular new premises doubles its capacity with an even larger range of clothing, accessories, helmets and boots as well as a new range of ladies’ and casual wear.

Matthew Alpe: “The expansion was introduced so that we can offer a facility where customers can view a wide range of aftermarket accessories to change their own standard machine into a factory specification model from our wide range of parts, in stock and available to fit. In the workshop we have qualified mechanics who can transform a standard production model into one the owner can have built to suit his or her needs and, most importantly, to suit the pocket. If a potential purchaser cannot stretch to a new machine we have a good second-hand stock for them to view and, if required, have the upgrade parts fitted to. Check out the advert here in the magazine to view our new website details and find out what else we have.”

Bernie’s Back!

With the Westmorland Club’s event growing in stature year on year, a good crowd came along to the 2018 Bultaco Revival Nostalgia Trial held in late June with the added attraction of watching the 1979 World Trials Champion Bernie Schreiber in action.

The competition, which was held at Holme Farm, Middleton, Sedbergh, Cumbria in the North of the country, is well supported by Finland’s three-time world trials champion Yrjo Vesterinen on a Bultaco, and he provided the American with a Bultaco from his collection on which to compete. Other invited guests included many of the old Bultaco team riders including Spain’s Manuel Soler, with Alan ‘Sid’ Lampkin representing the famous Yorkshire family. New to the trial was a ‘Team Challenge’ for the Martin Lampkin Team Event, in which any team of three riders on any combination of machine could take part. All entry fees for the team event were paid to charity. The 100-strong entry included nearly 40 Bultacos along with many other Pre-65 and Twin-Shock machines, providing a day of reunions for friends old and new and the chance to have a ‘Flashback’ to a golden era in trials enjoyed by so many.

RESULTS TWIN-SHOCK: 1: Glen Scholey (Honda) 1; 2: Carl Batty (James) 3; 3: Stuart Blythe (Bultaco) 3; 4:

James Postlethwaite (Bultaco) 3; 5: Yrjo Vesterinen (Bultaco-FIN) 4; 6: John Lampkin (Fantic) 5; 7: Nick Shield (Bultaco) 5; 8: James Lampkin (Bultaco) 6; 9: Phil Disney (Honda) 7; 10: Chris Gascoigne (Montesa) 7.

PRE-65 UNIT: 1: Dan Clarke (Triumph) 1.

PRE-65 TWO-STROKE: 1: John Maxfield (BSA) 5.

PRE-65 TWIN CYLINDER: 1: Simon Hartley (Trifield) 14.

Dominic Feaks

21st May 1997 to 13th June 2018 Talented youth trials rider, action man, son, fiancé and all-round good young man passed away recently after a four-year battle with cancer.

Dom started riding around his 10th birthday and made quick progress. Practising at the Trials Park in Corton, often with Jack Sheppard, he started to show real talent with good throttle control and technique. He was proud of his overall sixth place in the B Class British Championships. Dom then took a break from trials to pursue other hobbies, especially his beloved skiing and anything involving a GoPro. Dom was diagnosed with bone cancer in his left leg a couple of months before his 17th birthday. Intensive chemo and operations followed over the next four years as the cancer reappeared in his lungs.

With a titanium knee and thigh he still found the energy to fill his time with many experiences including flying a helicopter, driving and working with supercars and skiing.

He still rode his motorcycles and did as much as he could even after having a lung removed. He loved his cars, especially DF55 DOM, his blue Golf R. Along with his girlfriend Cait he set off on road trips to Scotland, Snowdon, Brighton and the WTC at Tong. Nowhere was too far! Never complaining, he just got on with it.

His Celebration of Life service was a bright and modern affair with bright blue prevalent, with videos and slideshows shown on large screens some of it his own edits. Much of his legacy is available on his YouTube channel 2121 Domo.

John Hulme: “The passing of anyone and especially at such a young age is always a sad time. I got to know Dominic Feaks through his family and we became friends. His passion for trials and enthusiasm for life in general became evident and the family side of the sport shone through, they were a trials family. A magazine article was generated and through this we found we had so much in common, and as his illness appeared we kept in touch.

"I managed to organise in what turned out to be a superb day out at the Mercedes Van Experience days at the Millbrook testing facility. I am sure you can imagine what it was like to be strapped in a van as a passenger with a young, full-of-life guy showing you what it can do; burning rubber and smoke springs to mind!"

To close, here are some words his mother Sarah read out at his Celebration of Life service: “We all know that Dom loved bright blue so I ask that when you see the blue sky, you think of him. And if it’s cloudy then he’s having one of his lay-ins! I’ll finish with a quote I read recently: There’s no such thing as a sunset – it’s just an illusion caused by the world spinning”.

SPECIAL GUEST: Bernie Schreiber (Bultaco-USA) 33.

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AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

NEWS

TRIALS ROUND-UP

Congratulations: 40 years in the business

2018 S3 Parts British Championship Despite an ‘off day’ at the Wainwright Trial where Guy Kendrew took the victory, with just one round remaining at the Travers in September Richard Sadler looks on course for the Expert Class victory. In the Clubmen Class it’s a straight North versus South fight between Darren Wasley and Dave Clinkard. In the very poorly supported 125cc Class the ever happy Jake Eley is looking good for the title, while in the Non-Championship Elite Class it was Tom Minta on the Scorpa who had a smile on his face as he took the win away from the fancied Yorkshire riders back to Shropshire.

WAINWRIGHT NON-CHAMPIONSHIP ELITE: 1: Tom Minta (Scorpa) 11; 2: Dan Thorpe (JST Gas Gas UK) 19; 3: Dec Bullock (Gas Gas) 27.

When the team at Putoline Oils in the UK heard about John Hulme’s efforts to launch Trial Magazine back in September 2006, they very quickly embraced the venture, and have supported it ever since.

The driving force behind the company, John and Sally Hayden, have become good friends, sharing their passion with John for the sport. It was no surprise to learn that at the end of June John Hayden celebrated 40 years in the motorcycle business.

Starting out as an apprentice motorcycle mechanic with his first ever boss Colin Diver, John has worked his way through the business to become a director of his own empire and still loves nothing more than throwing his leg over a motorcycle.

John Hulme: “John and Sally were very supportive of me when I ventured into the magazine industry and I am eternally grateful for all their help over the years.”

TRS 2019

Spanish motorcycle manufacturer TRS hit ‘Gold’ with its limited ‘Edition’ model, which was first shown at the opening round of the 2018 FIM Trial World Championship in Spain earlier this year. The limited ‘Gold Edition’ model featured a range of high-end products associated with the machine ridden by its number one rider Adam Raga. With just 150 of the models produced in various engine capacity sizes they sold out literally overnight to the worldwide distribution network around the globe. Hot on the heels of this model, as promised, we now have the ‘One’ range for the 2019 market.

12

S3 EXPERTS : 1: Guy Kendrew (Beta-UK) 15; 2: John Crinson (Beta) 22; 3: Richard Sadler (Acklams/Beta-UK) 22; 4: Josh Brain (Gas Gas) 26; 5: Sam Yeadon (Acklams Beta) 28.

S3 CLUBMEN: 1: Andrew Jackson (Honda) 20; 2: Roger Williams (Montesa) 17; 3:

Richard Fraser (Sherco) 32; 4: Andy Tales (Beta) 25; 5: Julian Harvey (Sherco) 29.

S3 125: No Entries

CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS WITH ONE ROUND REMAINING S3 EXPERTS: 1: Richard Sadler (Acklams/Beta-UK) 132; 2: Guy Kendrew (Beta-UK) 123; 3: Luke Walker (Sherco) 82; 4: John Crinson (Beta) 74; 5: Chris Pearson (Sherco) 55.

S3 CLUBMEN: 1: Darren Wasley (Gas Gas) 64; 2: Dave Clinkard (Beta) 60; 3: Richard Fraser (Sherco) 40; 4: Andrew Jackson (Honda) 37; 5: Huw Price (Montesa) 33.

S3 125: 1: Jake Eley (Beta) 92; 2: Andrew (Eley (Beta) 88; 3: Ronnie Day (Scorpa) 20.

TRRS ONE: The third generation and evolution of the first trials model the TRRS ONE, with which TRS was born at the end of 2015 and which was later joined by the RR and Gold series models, has arrived on the market. The new TRRS ONE 2019 that has been launched will be available in four capacity displacements: 125cc, 250cc, 280cc and 300cc. This will continue to be the main model with which TRS will target its customers, and the one which will suit the majority of trials riders of all abilities, offering the best balance between performance and behaviour. It incorporates technical evolutions that allow a better performance and feedback, improving the feeling to the rider. Official UK importer Steve Saunders: “The ongoing evolution of the models is the result of the constant development of the machines in all areas of the sport. Feedback comes from the very cutting edge in the FIM Trial World Championship, right down to the people who contact me at the beginner and club level of the sport. Any constructive feedback is always much appreciated.”

TRRS ONE Changes and Improvements New graphics • The brake lever is produced by microfusion with a new design, offering easier use and better grip • The gear lever also produced by microfusion with new design, offering easier use and better grip • Forged exhaust supports with silent block fitments • New setting on the rear shock absorber • New plastic protector for the air filter box • New adjustment on front fork • New cylinder distribution • New power curve CDI program.

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

RULES

STOP OR NO STOP

The great debate It’s the question that is debated every week, at every trial across the planet: stop or non-stop.

In the pub or on the machine in the trial it’s the same old story — when is a stop a stop? As the editor of both Trial Magazine and Classic Trial Magazine I have seen a wide scope of trials in the last eleven years doing the job — one, I might add, I am very passionate about.

I am asked for my opinion on many occasions, was it a stop or not? Before we go any further with this article I would just like to point out that the hardy band of officials and observers who are all unpaid at every level of the sport do a fantastic job — fact!

WORDS: JOHN HULME • PICTURES: TRIALS MEDIA, COLIN BULLOCK, TOON VAN DE VLIET, ALAN VINES AND ERIC KITCHEN

H

aving ridden in trials since 1974, I have seen many changes in our sport as it has evolved over the years. I have ridden at every level to the best of my ability, from the very top in the World Trials Championship as it was then known down to the levels of the Wednesday night club event. Being perfectly honest I have enjoyed 99% of the events I have ridden in. I have made many good friends over the years on many continents, and the relationships have mostly endured the test of time.

The Early Days

I was fortunate to be raised in the latter days of the ‘Boom’ time for the once mighty manufacturing facility of Great British motorcycles before the cannons of the Spanish Armada fired the final blow at the industry, which fell apart and sank at the first hurdle with Sammy Miller and his well-documented move to Bultaco in 1965. Miller is no fool, and he knew where his destiny lay as his talents as an engineer and development rider was dismissed in the UK and, as they say, the rest is history.

In his day the rules were simple. If you cease forward motion, it’s a five, all day long. Very much along the lines of how it should be implemented all these years on in 2018!

With this rule, the sport ‘trundled’ along until my friend from America, Bernie Schreiber, pulled the ‘pivot’ turn on the Bultaco in the late seventies! With this new face of trials it moved forward pretty quickly; ask anyone now if they can remember their first pivot turn — I can remember mine.

Next came the ‘Bunny Hop’ and of course we all remember the televised Kickstart series.

It was ace, prime-time TV with motorcycle trials hogging the limelight, but the rules had changed. If I am honest, I cannot remember the exact year that the stop-allowed rule came into force. I am guessing it would be the early eighties? I can remember the first time I went backwards in a section feet-up and then set off again to record a clean ride; it was on my green Moto Gori in a Manchester 17 MCC trial on Hawks Nest in 1982. At first, the stop-allowed was exciting until it became boring as riders were motionless for minutes on end. Observers became confused as to what they should award riders.

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Sammy Miller and his well-documented move to Bultaco in 1965 changed the face of trials forever.

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

RULES

STOP OR NO STOP

It’s that man Schreiber again, this time on the Italjet doing a ‘Bunny Hop’ at the televised Kickstart series. It was ace, prime time TV with motorcycle trials hogging the limelight, but the rules had changed.

Full Circle America Bernie Schreiber pulls the ‘pivot’ turn on the Bultaco in the late seventies.

Time Gentlemen Please

Machine development changed and when the mono-shock era started with the single shock Yamaha TY in 1983, the nature of the hazards would change with it. What the new generation of machines could do quickly finished the twinshock era in the mid-eighties as your average rider would soon improve beyond their wildest dreams. They could balance, roll backwards, skip sideways, and all in their own time as the development of the machinery available encouraged them to attempt the hazards.

Pretty soon everyone become bored watching a rider remain stationary for minutes on end; the answer was easy, put a time limit on them! This introduction of a time limit in the hazards was implemented at the world and national adult championships. Soon passing through the hazards became a ‘race’ and not an observation event as we all knew it. It was a case of ‘Time Gentlemen, Please’.

The first ripple of change came at the 1997 Scottish Six Days Trial. With the club not receiving the entries, it needed to sustain such a commitment to running the prestigious event in 1996 the club made a bold, brave move, with the backing of the Hamilton Yamaha Team boss Peter Stewart who had suggested a return to the ‘No-Stop’ ruling. It was supported by the new Clerk of the Course Willie Dalling. It was an instant hit as the entries increased by 30 to 222 starters for the 1997 event. The event continues to prosper, with the entries massively oversubscribed every year.

Although you can’t compare the events, the British Trials Championship had also seen a reduction in numbers, and with the support of the UK machine importers, the championship moved back to no-stop in 2012. This trend was followed by the FIM and the World Trials Championship in 2013. Initially, rider entries increased, but during the last few years at the British Championship numbers have once again started to decline at the top level.

At the very cutting edge of the sport in the re-titled FIM Trial World Championship, they have remained firm believers in the no-stop rule. There is no easy fix on this, but once again it’s down to the unpaid observer to stand out in all kinds of weather to be the judge.

With the support of the UK machine importers the championship moved back to no-stop in 2012 with James Dabill (Beta) winning the title.

The first ripple of a change in the rules came at the 1997 Scottish Six Days Trial where Steve Colley (Gas Gas) is seen in full ‘No-Stop’ mode.

TRIAL MAGAZINE • AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018

15

RULES

STOP OR NO STOP

The trend set by the ACU was followed by the FIM and the World Trials Championship in 2013 moved to No-Stop; the winner remained the same, Toni Bou (Repsol Honda-ESP).

As Jack Peace (JST Gas Gas UK) fights to continue with forward motion the debate remains, did he stop or not?

Why Observe

Observing can be terrific fun. It can involve all the family as a way of everyone enjoying a day out at an event. Mum and dad can observe while the other family members compete, which is how I got my introduction to the sport. It can include clubs who, in groups on many occasions, officiate and observe at world rounds.

At the SSDT it’s quite common to find a club officiating and observing an entire group of hazards. Many riders when they come to the end of their riding career choose to observe to remain involved.

Motorcycle trials is a sport full of enthusiasts, and it’s these people who I approached over a period of three months to ask them the question as to which rules do they like to see in use. I asked riders, spectators and general enthusiasts, and below you will see the results.

Before we close, please remember when you do not agree with an observer’s decision it is their sport as much as it is yours.

Your Opinion Counts Observing can be very good fun. At the SSDT it’s quite common to find a club officiating and observing an entire group of hazards.

Observers are there to work with the riders.

The rider may be under the spotlight of many cameras, in this case it’s Toni Bou, but it’s the observer’s descision which is final.

16

Over a three-month period at various events, I asked a broad audience of people at different competitions, just over 100 in total, their thoughts on the debate, Stop or No-Stop or Not sure. The results are quite impressive! Stop: 57 No-Stop: 41 Not Sure: 11. Maybe it’s time for the various governing bodies to carry out their own surveys.

A new young breed of riders including Aniol Gelabert (Scorpa-ESP) show just how to ride on the back wheel – which makes it even harder for the observers to make their decision!

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

SHOPPING WHAT’S NEW

Putoline Directors Chair

Putoline Towel

Hebo XTR Jacket

Hebo XTR Protector

www.putoline.co.uk

www.apico.co.uk

www.apico.co.uk

Wulfsport Easy-Up Event tent www.wulfsport.info

18

Putoline Beach Chair

www.putoline.co.uk

www.putoline.co.uk

Hebo XTR Shorts

www.apico.co.uk

DVD 2018 Pre-65 SSDT Trial Review www.trialmaguk.co.uk

Hebo XTR Knee Guards www.apico.co.uk

DVD 2018 SSDT Trial Review www.trialmaguk.co.uk

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

SHOPPING WHAT’S NEW

Jitsie Rear Wheel Sprocket Protection www.jitsie.com

Jitsie Moto Sticker Kits Beta/GasGas/TRS www.jitsie.com

Jitsie Frame Stickers – All Brands www.jitsie.com

Apico Elite Brake and Clutch Lever Blades

Braketec Fitment in Blue and Grimeca in Red www.apico.co.uk

Stylmartin Impact ‘Pro’ Boots www.trialendurodirect.com

TRIAL MAGAZINE • AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018

S3 Team Gas Gas JST UK Kit

www.trialendurodirect.com

Jitsie Gas Gas Complete Sticker Kit www.jitsie.com

19

PADDOCK

CAUGHT ON CAMERA

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY

ARE YOU SURE?

40 YEARS

RACING

LIGHTWEIGHT

DO NOT FEED

HAPPY MOUSE 20

CLEAN! I DID IT!

BETA BOX AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

PADDOCK

CAUGHT ON CAMERA

ALL TOGETHER NOW

KAMBE

COLLECTION

ON THE EDGE

TWIN RING

SOME BOY TRIAL MAGAZINE • AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018

PREPARATION

TEAM 21

INTERNATIONAL FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Round 2: Japan

THE

HEAT IS ON

At the halfway point of the 2018 series, as we say goodbye to the Trial 125 Championship until Italy, the action in TrialGP and Trial2 is as hot as ever.

WORDS AND PICTURES: JOHN HULME AND JOSH SPRINTALL

24

Round 3: Andorra AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

INTERNATIONAL

FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Manufacturers: Montesa versus Gas Gas

Round 5: France

Round 4: Portugal

2018 TRIALGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

2018 TRIAL 125 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

We have already had some shocks in TrialGP, starting with Jeroni Fajardo’s win in Japan on day one and Jaime Busto’s maiden class win on day two, but the simple question is ‘who can stop Toni Bou?’ as the winning man – and machine – goes on and on.

Strong, calculated riding from Great Britain’s Billy Green has put him at the head of the championship as the series takes a break until the last round in September in Italy. The points margin from first to second may look unbeatable but you can be sure that Billy will be making sure he takes no chances to give Beta the 2018 title on home soil.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: 1: Toni Bou (Repsol Honda-ESP) 110; 2: Jeroni

Fajardo (Gas Gas-ESP) 97; 3: Jamie Busto (Gas Gas-ESP) 91; 4: Adam Raga (TRRS-ESP) 78; 5: Albert Cabestany (Beta-ESP) 69; 6: Jorge Casales (Vertigo-ESP) 54; 7: Takahisa Fujinami (Repsol Honda-JPN) 53; 8: James Dabill (Beta-GBR) 51; 9: Miquel Gelabert (Sherco-ESP) 43; 10: Jack Price (Gas Gas-GBR) 32.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: 1: Billy Green (Beta-GBR) 91; 2: Martin Riobo (Gas Gas-ESP) 73; 3: Pablo Suarez (Gas Gas-ESP) 72; 4: Eric Miquel (TRRS-ESP) 67; 5: Hugo Defrese (Gas Gas-FRA) 58; 6: Arthur Rovery (Sherco-FRA) 57; 7: Fabien Poirot (Gas Gas-FRA) 51; 8: Vold Gunvaldsen (TRRS-NOR) 38; 9: Pau Martinez (Gas Gas-ESP) 32; 10: Marco Mempoer (Beta-AUS) 27.

2018 TRIAL2 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

MANUFACTURERS

With a change in the rule book that allows TrialGP riders to drop down to Trial2 it’s no surprise that last year’s top ten TrialGP finisher Matteo Grattarola from Italy leads the way. We had to wait until round four in Portugal for a two-stroke win, from Dan Peace on the Gas Gas. In round five Toby Martyn proved he is on a mission to win the championship as he closed the gap on series leader Grattarola.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: 1: Matteo Grattarola (Honda-ITA) 93; 2: Toby Martyn (Montesa-GBR) 92; 3: Gabriel Marcelli (Montesa-ESP) 88; 4: Dan Peace (Gas Gas-GBR) 73; 5: Jack Peace (Gas Gas-GBR) 67; 6: Francesc Moret (MontesaESP) 52; 7: Aniol Gelabert (Scorpa-ESP) 51; 8: Luca Petrella (TRRS-ITA) 40; 9: Marc Riba (TRRS-ESP) 39; 10: Lorenzo Gandola (Scorpa-ITA) 36.

TRIAL MAGAZINE • AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018

When the FIM World Trials Championship was introduced in 1975 from what had been the European Championship, individual riders’ scores were rewarded with points for the manufacturers’ championship. Trial World Championship promoter Sport7 changed that in 2017, when nominated riders from TrialGP and Trial2 were paired to score the points. For 2018 it’s the highest placed manufacturer’s rider in each class that decides the points calculation from TrialGP and Trial2. Can Gas Gas topple Montesa in 2018? We will have to wait and see.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: 1: Montesa 214; 2: Gas Gas 201; 3: TRRS 130; 4:

Honda 98; 5: Beta 90; 6: Scorpa 90; 7: Vertigo 90; 8: Sherco 62; 9: Jotagas 22; 10: Yamaha 9.

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INTERNATIONAL FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

QUALIFYING

Andorra – Portugal – France: Toni Bou (Repsol Honda-ESP)

2018 TRIALGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING

Japan: Jamie Busto (Gas Gas-ESP)

For 2018 the qualification process changed from the format on its introduction in 2017 to include three passages along a demanding hazard unique to each event. This included a timed practice ride to determine the start positions for Q1. The riders then participated in this process, with the fastest time giving the rider the chance to start Q2 last while the rider with the slowest time started first. In Q2 the race for the pole position gave many riders the chance to make up for a poor performance in Q1, which inspired some very brave riding.

A new-for-2018 Gas Gas team rider Jaime Busto took the first pole of the season in Spain at round one before the action continued in Japan, Andorra, Portugal and France. Toni Bou remains the ‘Boss’ in TrialGP, and Matteo Grattarola in Trial2. In Trial 125 it’s a totally different scenario with four different winners.

2018 THE FASTEST TRIALGP: Toni Bou (Repsol Honda-ESP) 3; Jaime Busto (Gas Gas-ESP) 2 TRIAL2: Matteo Grattarola (Honda-ITA) 3; Loris Gubian (Gas Gas-FRA) 1; Marc Riba (TRRSESP) 1

TRIAL125: Arthur Rovery (Sherco-FRA) 1; Pablo Japan: Marc Riba (TRRS-ESP) 26

Suarez (Gas Gas-ESP) 1; Hugo Defrese (Gas GasFRA) 1; Eric Miquel (TRRS-ESP) 1

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

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Andorra – Portugal – France: Matteo Grattarola (Honda-ITA)

QUALIFYING: JAPAN A stray mark put Toni Bou out of the top ten in TrialGP as Jaime Busto set a clear quick time in the dry and dusty conditions. In Trial2 it was much closer as Marc Riba looked quick and confident, followed by Hakan Pedersen. Pablo Suarez edged out Eric Miquel in Trial125 by the closest of margins. Great Britain’s Jake Eley did himself proud with his first ever clean lap.

TRIALGP: 1: Busto 33.86; 2: Cabestany 36.57; 3: Dabill 37.10; 4: Miquel

Gelabert 38.31; 5: Bincaz 38.31; 6: Casales 38.88; 7: Kadlec 39.25; 8: Raga 40.88; 9: Price 41.60; 10: Fujinami 44.70.

TRIAL2: 1: Riba 30.58; 2: Pederson 30.93; 3: Marcelli 31.94; 4: Dan Peace 31.95; 5: Martyn 32.12; 6: Petrella 32.13; 7: Kira 33.77; 8: Haga 34.08; 9: Aniol Gelabert 34.22; 10: Faude 34.52.

TRIAL125: 1: Suarez 29.64; 2: Miquel 29.84; 3: Green 30.31; 4: Rovery 31.93; 5: Defrese 32.18.

Japan: Pablo Suarez (Gas Gas-ESP)

QUALIFYING: ANDORRA Despite intense heat on the streets in front of his home crowd, Andorra resident Toni Bou blew everyone away to head TrialGP in a very confident display of speed and control. It was the same in Trial2 and Trial125 with clear leads from Matteo Grattarola and Hugo Defrese, who were in a class of their own.

TRIALGP: 1: Bou 25.03; 2: Busto 26.88; 3: Dabill 27.70; 4: Cabestany 28.43; 5: Raga 29.54; 6: Bincaz 30.40; 7: Fajardo 30.62; 8: Price 30.73; 9: Casales 30.89; 10: Gelabert 31.41.

TRIAL2: 1: Grattarola 26.10; 2: Haga 28.03; 3: Pedersen 28.71; 4: Dan Peace 28.91; 5: Faude 28.94; 6: Martyn 29.07; 7: Gandola 29.38; 8: Moret 29.75; 9: Marcelli 30.08; 10: Petrangeli 31.70.

TRIAL125: 1: Defrese 31.52; 2: Poirot 35.43; 3: Green 35.57; 4: Riobo 36.25; 5: Medinya 42.04.

Andorra: Hugo Defrese (Gas Gas-FRA)

QUALIFYING: PORTUGAL It was a very warm day that welcomed Toni Bou’s smooth ride to his second pole of the season in front of a spectacular Jaime Busto. In Trial2 Grattarola was very much in command, and in Trial125 on the new 125cc TRRS Eric Miquel became the latest winner.

TRIALGP: 1: Bou 39.35; 2: Busto 41.10; 3: Fujinami 35.09; 4: Noguera 47.26; 5: Price 49.24; 6: Casales 51.95; 7: Cabestany 42.31 + 1; 8: Kadlec 45.26 + 1; 9: Dabill 5; 10: Bincaz 5.

TRIAL2: 1: Grattarola 38.75; 2: Martyn 42.23; 3: Gandola 42.26; 4: Dan Peace

42.93; 5: Petrella 43.62; 6: Marcelli 43.93; 7: Moret 44.24; 8: Petrangeli 45.69; 9: Aniol Gelabert 47.40; 10: Faude 48.11.

TRIAL125: 1: Miquel 38.29; 2: Riobo 38.87; 3: Defrese 39.43; 4: Green 39.37; 5: Suarez 40.83.

TRIAL MAGAZINE • AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018

Portugal: Eric Miquel (TRRS-ESP)

QUALIFYING: FRANCE At this high-altitude venue four-stroke machines ruled with Toni Bou at his very best, as was Matteo Grattarola. The man-made hazard was very dry with the dust proving quite intense in the red-hot sun.

TRIALGP: 1: Bou 29.08; 2: Dabill 30.60; 3: Fajardo 31.00; 4: Fujinami 31.36; 5: Busto 31.65; 6: Bincaz 32.21; 7: Noguera 33.13; 8: Raga 33.19; 9: Miquel Gelabert 33.43; 10: Price 33.44.

TRIAL2: 1: Grattarola 27.29; 2: Martyn 28.21; 3: Petrella 28.52; Pedersen 29.15;

5: Moret 29.92; 6: Marcelli 30.48; 7: Aniol Gelabert 30.75; 8: Poli 31.06; 9: Dan Peace 31.13; 10: Riba 31.32.

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INTERNATIONAL FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

JAPAN

Happy Days: Team Gas Gas

Jeroni Fajardo (Gas Gas-ESP) TrialGP: Taking only his second world round winner; no one was ever going to beat him on day one.

Kenichi Kuroyama (Yamaha-JPN) TrialGP: Keeping the four-stroke Yamaha in the world points, Kenichi will ride the new TYE electric machine in Europe.

2018 TRIALGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Chasing that 100th Grand Prix victory, it would remain elusive for Toni Bou in Japan as he was totally overshadowed by the wins of the Gas Gas team-mates Jeroni Fajardo on day one and Jaime Busto on day two.

After a bad qualifying Fajardo was the first man away on day one, but he rode every hazard clean to record a clean opening lap on his way to only his second career victory.

On day two Bou was riding like a man on a mission but so was his younger rival Jaime Busto. Section thirteen would decide the winner, and it was unlucky for Bou as he parted with the two five-mark penalties compared to Busto’s two.

For the young Gas Gas rider it was elation though as it secured his maiden TrialGP victory.

Jaime Busto (Gas Gas-ESP) TrialGP: Turning talent into results Busto scored his first FIM TrialGP win on day two.

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DAY 1: 1: Fajardo 11; 2: Raga 23; 3: Fujinami 28; 4: Bou 30; 5:

Busto 35; 6: Casales 44; 7: Cabestany 46; 8: Dabill 46; 9: Kuroyama 56; 10: Miquel Gelabert 57.

DAY 2: 1: Busto 19; 2: Bou 22; 3: Raga 24; 4: Fajardo 28; 5: Cabestany 34; 6: Dabill 34; 7: Casales 38; 8: Miquel Gelabert 51, 9: Fujinami 51; 10: Bincaz 53.

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

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Toby Martyn (Montesa-GBR) Trial2: Looking very comfortable with four-stroke power.

2018 TRIAL2 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP In this class it was a case of four-stroke domination as the Cota 4RT engined machines from Montesa and Honda dominated the podium. The rain stayed away on both days as first Great Britain’s Toby Martyn took the win followed by Italian Matteo Grattarola on day two.

Martyn held his nerve in a tense three-way fight for victory to score his first major win for the RG satellite trials team on day one over Grattarola and Dan Peace, with one single mark making all the difference.

On day two it was time for revenge from the Italian who has moved down from TrialGP, who took a clear victory over Gabrielle Marcelli with Martyn making it an all four-stroke podium.

DAY 1: Martyn 11; 2: Grattarola 12; 3: Dan Peace 12; 4: Marcelli

20; 5: Jack Peace 21; 6: Pederson 22; 7: Aniol Gelabert 24; 8: Riba 27; 9: Gandola 29; 10: Tsuyoshi Ogawa (Beta-JPN) 31.

Matteo Grattarola (Honda-ITA) Trial2: Having moved from riding in TrialGP in 2017, the Italian looks a very strong rider in Trial2.

DAY 2: 1: Grattarola 5; 2: Marcelli 11; 3: Martyn 13; 4: Dan Peace 16; 5: Riba 16; 6: Moret 22; 7: Ogawa 23; 8: Haga 23; 9: Akira Shibata (Vertigo-JPN) 27; 10: Pederson 27.

2018 TRIAL 125 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP After a dominating performance at round one in Spain, Great Britain’s Billy Green got a wakeup call in Japan finishing fifth on the opening day. Not showing any signs of cracking under the pressure though it was a very mature ride to the victory from Green on day two as he won the tie decider.

Losing out on his first ever Trial125 victory for himself and TRRS was Spain’s Eric Miquel. Green came away at the head of the championship table followed by Martin Riobo on the Gas Gas from Spain.

Martin Riobo (Gas Gas-ESP) Trial125: A strong, confident rider.

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Billy Green (Beta-GBR) Trial125: It was an impressive, mature ride which put him on the top spot of the podium on day two.

DAY 1: 1: Riobo 7; 2: Dufrese 9; 3: Suarez 11; 4: Miquel 11; 5: Green 13.

DAY 2: 1: Green 12; 2: Miquel 12; 3: Suarez 17; 4: Rovery 17; 5: Poirot 19.

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

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ANDORRA Toni Bou was very happy!

Toni Bou (Repsol Honda-ESP) TrialGP: A man on a mission.

Jeroni Fajardo (Gas Gas-ESP) TrialGP: An unusual stop in the last hazard of the day denied him another victory.

2018 TRIALGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Still struggling with the effects of his back injury, Toni Bou will class this win as one of the most important in his career. He carried the momentum from the quickest time in qualifying into the trial. On a scorching hot day and with so many similar hazards on the steep rugged hillside above Andorra, any one of four riders could have taken this win, with the biggest loss to Busto, in fourth.

Albert Cabestany proved just how good he still is with second position, with Jeroni Fajardo coming third. After the first lap it was a slender single mark that separated Bou from Busto in second position. As Fajardo fived the final hazard Bou had to make a rapid repair to a split rear tyre to secure the victory and he executed the clean ride with perfect precision; he was very happy!

Albert Cabestany (Beta-ESP) TrialGP: It may say #37 on his helmet but the veteran rider rode like a much younger man to second place.

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RESULTS: 1: Bou 16; 2: Cabestany 18; 3: Fajardo 20; 4: Busto 24; 5: Raga 29; 6: Casales 46; 7: Dabill 47; 8: Miquel Gelabert 56; 9: Bincaz 56; 10: Price 61.

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

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Gabrielle Marcelli (Montesa-ESP) Trial2: This was a strong ride from the young Spanish rider.

Jack Peace (Gas Gas-GBR) Trial2: Juggling school exams with a riding career is very difficult. With support from his minder Jaime Millers the trials results are getting better.

Emma Bristow (Sherco-GBR) Trial2: Encouraged by Sport7, the promoters of the FIM TWC, the Ladies’ World Champion made an appearance in this male dominated class. She did not disappoint, showing some truly inspired riding.

2018 TRIAL2 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP The four-stroke winning trend continues with yet another victory for Matteo Grattarola. Looking good from the word go he parted with a mere two marks on the first lap and, having found a perfect rhythm on his second, he kept his feet firmly on the footrests.Gabrielle Marcelli tried all he knew but he could not close the gap to Grattarola despite a second lap score of two marks.

In a low scoring event Jack Peace knew that after parting with eleven on his first lap he needed an excellent second lap — and he delivered, as simple as that. The final step on the podium was just reward for some very good riding as he lost just two more marks.

RESULTS: 1: Grattarola 2; 2: Marcelli 7; 3: Jack Peace 13; 4: Moret 15; 5: Martyn 19; 6: Poli 20; 7: Gandola 21; 8: Gubian 23; 9: Pedersen 25; 10: Petrangeli 28.

TRIAL MAGAZINE • AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018

Eric Miquel (TRRS-ESP) Trial125: Continuing to impress the trials world, this young Spanish rider looks very confident on the new 125cc machine.

2018 TRIAL 125 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP The 125cc machines always struggle for power at Andorra and with the intense heat this made for a hard day for all the riders. After the first of their two laps Billy Green was on a score of seven marks lost, level with Eric Miquel, as they both pushed for victory. It was Green though who stole the advantage on the second, with an excellent solid ride parting with no marks. After a school exam on Friday he had arrived late in the night as his mother drove him to the event and the result was just reward for his hard work!

RESULTS: 1: Green 7; 2: Miquel 10; 3: Suarez 11; 4: Rovery 16; 5: Riobo 20.

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INTERNATIONAL FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Friends and rivals: Toni Bou and Jaime Busto discuss the line.

One hundred wins for Toni Bou!

PORTUGAL He may be a little off form but expect Adam Raga (TRRS-ESP) to soon be ready to win again.

2018 TRIALGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

James Dabill (Beta-GBR), still Great Britain’s number one world round rider, he remains at every event focussed on a top five finish.

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Pressure, what pressure? In what was one of the hottest trials contested in more recent times in Portugal, the undisputed number one trials rider in the world Toni Bou took the Repsol Honda to his 100th Grand Prix win. Looking super cool and confident in the Saturday qualifying, he carried his form into race day to record this memorable victory. From 200 starts in the FIM World Championship his 50% success rate speaks for itself.

The intimidating section ten with its huge steps set out on the hillside looked impossible to the human eye. Jaime Busto was the first to come the closest to passing through the ends cards, and the crowd waited in silence to see if Bou could get through it. Not only did he get through it but he put on a display in a real spectacular demonstration of his skills to record the only clean!

RESULTS: 1: Bou 9; 2: Fajardo 21; 3: Busto 31; 4: Cabestany 39; 5: Raga 62; 6:

Dabill 65; 7: Noguera 67; 8: Fujinami 74; 9: Casales 77; 10: Miquel Gelabert 79.

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

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Riding in the Trial2 class Aniol Gelabert (ScorpaESP) is the younger brother of TrialGP rider Miquel.

It’s been a disappointing year for Spain’s Francesc Moret (Montesa) but he will still be a rider to watch in the championship race.

Working hard all day with his friend and minder Josh Sprintall, the elder of the two Peace brothers Dan took a well-deserved victory in Portugal.

Supported by his proud father Mark, young Jake Eley (Beta-GBR) shows that world trials is a sport open for riders of all abilities.

2018 TRIAL 125 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2018 TRIAL2 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Taking a strange downturn from his early-season form witnessed the runaway championship leader Matteo Grattarola finish way down the order in tenth position. After the first lap it was very close, with low scores from the surprise leader Aniol Gelabert on five followed by Dan Peace and Luca Petrella on six each.

Under pressure to take the victory Dan Peace stayed calm and controlled and knew exactly what he had to do to take the win, and when he stayed feet-up through the difficult final two hazards he knew he had the victory in his hands. What is interesting is that this is the first two-stroke victory in this class in 2018.

RESULTS: 1: Dan Peace 13; 2: Aniol Gelabert 16; 3: Marcelli 17; 4: Martyn 19; 5: Gandola 21; 6: Moret 22; 7: Petrella 22; 8: Jack Peace 24; 9: Riba 27; 10: Grattarola 30.

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Looking a little tired and lethargic on his first lap Great Britain’s Billy Green tied on thirteen marks with Spain’s Pablo Suarez, giving hope to his rivals of a chance of pulling the championship leader closer to them. After some ‘Wake Up’ pasta his second lap score of just a single mark on the difficult section eleven which he had stopped in on the opening lap put him firmly at the top of the podium, and with it he further extended his championship lead. With the remaining round in Italy he will have his eyes set on delivering the championship to Beta on their own doorstep in September.

RESULTS: 1: Green 14; 2: Suarez 17; 3: Riobo 20; 4: Miquel 21; 5: Dufrese 27.

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

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INTERNATIONAL FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

FRANCE Who can stop Toni Bou?

Japan’s Takahisa Fujinami refuses to give up on the podium and the top-five finish will be most welcome for him.

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Benoit Bincaz (Scorpa-FRA) will be very disappointed with his performance in front of his home crowd.

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

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FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

2018 TRIALGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP The rain that threatened never came to this high-altitude event in the ski resort town of Auron in the French Alps. Surrounded by the scenic mountains the sun shone on Toni Bou once again as he outpointed his fellow Spanish rivals Jeroni Fajardo and Jaime Busto. In the early part of the event Fajardo was in fantastic form, and Bou knew he had a fight on his hands if he was once again going to be victorious. The eleven-time outdoor world trials champion led the way on the predominantly dry rocks with a low score of 13 to Fajardo’s 16 but, as we have seen on so many other occasions, Bou has the skill to always raise his game and this is what he did on the second lap with the only single-figure score of seven marks lost making it his 101st world round win.

RESULTS: 1: Bou 22; 2: Fajardo 29; 3: Busto 39; 4: Raga 41; 5: Fujinami 50; 6: Cabestany 57; 7: Miquel Gelabert 60; 8: Ferrer 65; 9: Noguera 69; 10: Price 72.

He may be one of the older TrialGP riders but Albert Cabestany (Beta-ESP) continues to give every event his very best.

Spain’s Gabrielle Marcelli (Montesa-ESP) was on form in France.

For the first time in his young career Great Britain’s Jack Price (Gas GasGBR) took the scalp of his fellow countryman James Dabill.

Jack Peace (Gas Gas-GBR) put one over his elder brother Dan as he continued his progress up the championship table.

2018 TRIAL2 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP The fast-emerging talent of Great Britain’s Toby Martyn shone through with a well calculated ride in a very low-scoring event. On the opening lap it was section nine where the marks were lost as Martyn parted with a one, followed by a two on section ten making up his first lap score of three marks lost. The young Spanish talent of Aniol Gelabert was hot on Martyn’s heels as he lost just two marks on his opening lap to take a small lead. On the second lap in a true test of nerves Martyn, Gabrielle Marcelli and Jack Peace all replicated their first lap scores to make up the top three at the close of the second lap. For young Gelabert the chance of victory disappeared with a stop — and the five marks it comes with — on section nine to deny him his first Trial2 victory. Series leader Matteo Grattarola had a disaster of a day to come home in sixth position.

Tony Martyn and his minder Sam Decoux celebrate a crucial victory in the Trial2 World Championship.

TRIAL MAGAZINE • AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018

RESULTS: 1: Martyn 6; 2: Marcelli 8; 3: Jack Peace 8; 4: Dan Peace 9; 5: Aniol Gelabert 11; 6: Grattarola 14; 7: Petrella 18; 8: Moret 18; 9: Haga 21; 10: Poli 31.

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INTERNATIONAL FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Emma Bristow (Sherco-GBR)

Berta Abellan (Vertigo-ESP) 40

Sandar Gomez (Gas Gas-ESP) AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

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2018 TRIALGP WOMEN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Neus Mercia (Beta-ESP)

Head and shoulders above the rest, Great Britain’s Emma Bristow lets her riding do the talking. The challengers come and go but her positive mental attitude is still one of her strongest assets. Despite not being the best in qualifying she can turn this negative into a positive when it comes to Race day. Testing the ground on the first of the two laps on the second run you can see her become more confident with her riding, which is reflected in the final result.

New challengers are emerging in the shape of Spain’s Berta Abellan and Neus Mercia. These young talents are beginning to become more confident with their riding but it’s the sheer consistency of her riding that keeps Bristow at the top of her game, and this is what the young challengers must focus on if they are going to continue to improve and close the gap on Bristow. Sandra Gomez may have the art of turning the qualifying sessions into her game play but as yet she has not converted these into wins, which has allowed Bristow to put one hand on the 2018 world championship trophy with one round remaining in Great Britain. The double points-scoring days in Japan were crucial to opening up a good start to the season and Bristow knew this as the TrialGP women made their first trip to this far away destination.

Great Britain’s other contender in this class Jess Bown is sitting in ninth in the championship, which does not reflect the true picture of her riding.

Very determined, she will be looking to finish the season off with a strong result at the final round on the Scorpa in the UK.

ROUND 1, JAPAN (A TWO-DAY SCORING ROUND) QUALIFYING: 1: Sandra Gomez (Gas Gas-ESP) 33.47; 2: Emma Bristow

(Sherco-GBR) 34.34; 3: Neus Mercia (Beta-ESP) 35.83; 4: Sarah Bauer (ShercoDEU) 41.97; 5: Ingveig Hakonsen (TRRS-NOR) 42.35; 6: Aya Nishimura (Beta-JPN) 43.00; 7: Theresa Baeuml (Montesa-DEU) 35.69 + 1; 8: Maria Giro (Montesa-ESP) 37.08 + 1; 9: Berta Abellan (Vertigo-ESP) 38.62 + 1; 10: Huldeborg Barkved (Gas Gas-NOR) 39.91 + 1.

RESULTS, DAY 1: 1: Bristow 7; 2: Gomez 20; 3: Abellan 28; 4: Baeuml 34;

5: Hakonsen 36; 6: Mercia 36; 7: Barkved 37; 8: Giro 48; 9: Bown 48; 10: Trentini 71.

RESULTS, DAY 2: 1: Bristow 16; 2: Giro 32; 3: Abellan 34; 4: Hakonsen 36;

5: Mercia 37; 6: Baeuml 44; 7: Gomez 45; 8: Barkved 48; 9: Trentini 52; 10: Bauer 56.

ROUND 2: FRANCE QUALIFYING: 1: Sandra Gomez (Gas Gas-ESP) 37.14; 2: Theresa Baeuml

(Montesa-DEU) 39.92; 3: Huldeborg Barkved (Gas Gas-NOR) 40.52; 4: Neus Mercia (Beta-ESP) 43.78; 5: Maria Giro (Montesa-ESP) 47.04 + 1; 6: Emma Bristow (Sherco-GBR) 5; 7: Ingveig Hakonsen (TRRS-NOR) 5; 8: Jess Bown (Scorpa-GBR) 5; 9: Berta Abellan (Vertigo-ESP) 5; 10: Sarah Trentini (Montesa-ITA) 5.

RESULTS : 1: Bristow 15; 2: Mercia 30: 3: Gomez 31; 4: Abellan 42; 5: Barkved 60; 6: Bown 61; 7: Baeuml 62; 8: Hakonsen 64; 9: Giro 74; 10: Trentini 82.

2018 TRIALGP WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS AFTER 2 ROUNDS OF 3: 1: Emma Bristow (Sherco-GBR) 60; 2: Berta

Theresa Baeuml (Montesa-DEU)

TRIAL MAGAZINE • AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018

Abellan (Vertigo-ESP) 43; 3: Sandra Gomez (Gas Gas-ESP) 41; 4: Neus Mercia (Beta-ESP) 38; 5: Maria Giro (Montesa-ESP) 32; 6: Ingveig Hakonsen (TRRSNOR) 32; 7: Theresa Baeuml (Montesa-DEU) 32; 8: Huldeborg Barkved (Gas Gas-NOR) 28; 9: Jess Bown (Scorpa-GBR) 22; 10: Sara Trentini (MontesaITA) 19.

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INTERNATIONAL FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Madeleine Hoover (Gas Gas-USA)

2018 TRIALGP WOMEN2 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Alex Brancati (Beta-ITA)

Erika Melchior (Sherco-NOR)

Sophia Ter Jung (TRRS-DEU)

Introduced as a new class in 2017, this class remains very well supported in 2018. The girl on form with a full house of wins is Italy’s Alex Brancati. In Japan in the qualifying she was second behind her nearest championship challenger in the shape of American Madeline Hoover, but in France it was a disastrous qualifying session leaving her right at the front of the entry. However, she did not let this distract her the day after in the trial. Her opening lap over the predominantly rocky landscape put her in front of everyone else as she parted with just four marks lost.

Her nearest challenger was the qualifying winner Erika Melchior from Norway, a further three marks behind on seven, with Madeline Hoover next on 14. On the second lap of the 15 hazards though it was a totally different story as Brancati was at her very best, with just a single mark lost with a foot down in section nine. This put her well out of the reach of the chasing pack, with a very strong show of riding putting her well on her way to her first major trials victory.

Great Britain has two other riders in the championship top ten with Alicia Robinson and Victoria Payne, both on 22 points each having contested the long-haul round in Japan. No doubt they will both be looking at strong performances in the final round on home soil in Yorkshire in September..

ROUND 1, JAPAN (A TWO-DAY SCORING ROUND) QUALIFYING: 1: Madeleine Hoover (Gas Gas-USA) 33.14; 2: Alex Brancati

(Beta-ITA) 33.55; 3: Caroline Moreon (Sherco-FRA) 33.88; 4: Mona Pekarek (Sherco-DEU) 39.55; 5: Alicia Robinson (Beta-GBR) 42.97; 6: Maria Eck (BetaDEU) 43.89; 7: Erika Melchior (Sherco-NOR) 33.43 + 1; 8: Hanne Haga (TRRSNOR) 36.32 + 1; 9: Sophia Ter Jung (TRRS-DEU) 37.67 + 1; 10: Martinia Gallieni (TRRS-ITA) 38.76 + 1.

RESULTS, DAY 1: 1: Brancati 16; 2: Hoover 25; 3: Pekarek 27; 4: Ter Jung 31; 5:

Melchior 47; 6: Moreon 48; 7: Victoria Payne (Sherco-GBR) 52; 8: Haga 54; 9: Marine Aurieres (Gas Gas-FRA) 56; 10: Robinson 60.

RESULTS, DAY 2: 1: Brancati 16; 2: Hoover 19; 3: Ter Jung 21; 4: Pekarek 21; 5:

Melchior 22; 6: Aurieres 48; 7: Gallieni 50; 8: Payne 50; 9: Haga 50; 10: Moreon 51.

ROUND 2: FRANCE QUALIFYING: 1: Erika Melchior (Sherco-NOR) 26.40; 2: Sophia Ter Jung

(TRRS-DEU) 27.47; 3: Caroline Moreon (Sherco-FRA) 28.28; 4: Lenna Volpe (Sherco-FRA) 31.10; 5: Mona Pekarek (Sherco-DEU) 32.85; 6: Victoria Payne (Sherco-GBR) 33.35; 7: Alicia Robinson (Beta-GBR) 33.92; 8: Martinia Gallieni (TRRS-ITA) 34.54; 9: Hanne Haga (TRRS-NOR) 37.24; 10: Alex Brancati (BetaITA) 28.21 + 1.

RESULTS : 1: Brancati 5; 2: Melchior 25; 3: Hoover 31; 4: Aurieres 43; 5:

Robinson 45; 6: Ter Jung 48; 7: Moreon 48; 8: Pekarek 49; 9: Haga 52; 10: Gallieni 55.

2018 TRIALGP WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS AFTER 2 ROUNDS OF 3: 1: Alex Brancati (Beta-ITA) 60; 2: Madeleine

Alicia Robinson (Beta-GBR) 42

Hoover (Gas Gas-USA) 49; 3: Erika Melchior (Sherco-NOR) 39; 4: Sophia Ter Jung (TRRS-DEU) 38; 5: Mona Pekarek (Sherco-DEU) 36; 6: Marine Aurieres (Gas Gas-FRA) 30; 7: Caroline Moreon (Sherco-FRA) 25; 8: Alicia Robinson (Beta-GBR) 22; 9: Victoria Payne (Sherco-GBR) 22; 10: Hanne Haga (TRRSNOR) 22.

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

INTERNATIONAL FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Kenichi Kuroyama (Yamaha-JPN)

An electrifying start for

TrialE

The timeline is France 2017, at the introduction of the FIM TrialE Cup at Laudes as a single round event.

The promoter of the FIM Trial World Championship, Sport7, dipped their toes in the water to gauge reaction to these new generation electric powered machines. As it happened it proved a huge hit with the public, in both the qualifying and the event itself the following day. Spanish manufacturer Gas Gas had embraced this opportunity and produced a game-changing new electric trials machine to be ridden by the 1996 FIM Trial World Champion and three-time FIM Indoor Trial World Champion Marc Colomer; he is now the manufacturer’s Competition Racing Manager. The victory went to Marc on the Gas Gas and quite rightly so, based on the amount of effort and innovation that had gone into the new machine. Wind the clock forward to 2018 and it’s now a two-event world championship, with this first round in France followed by the second round in Belgium one week later. Has the series got a future, you may ask? Yamaha certainly think so, as the new Yamaha TY-E model from Japan was unveiled for the first time in Europe with its number one rider Kenichi Kuroyama holding the handlebars. I must take this opportunity to apologise to the readers because, due to production schedules, we had to go to print before round two, so the next time you read the magazine we will have a new TrialE World Champion; will it be from Japan?

ARTICLE: TRIAL MAGAZINE

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AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

INTERNATIONAL

FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

The moment Loris Gubian lost the trial on the very first hazard, when he parted with three marks. The opening hazard was pretty difficult as an opener for the E class.

The sun was out on the new era of the Trial-E championship for the first of the two-round championship in France. Riding on home soil Loris Gubian had the home support but after cruising through qualifying one, which would have given him the better starting position, an unexpected stop was rewarded with no time recorded and five marks putting him as the second rider to start behind fellow countryman Bastien Hieyte in qualifying two. As it happened this played into the hands of Yamaha and Japan’s Kenichi Kuroyama. Many of you will remember the Japanese rider from when he was resident in Europe riding a factory Beta in the world championship before an indoor accident stalled his career. His usual mount is the development four-stroke Yamaha on which he has already scored TWC points. In qualifying two he set the fastest time, putting a huge smile on the factory personnel who had travelled from Japan to see their new creation in action.

The only casualty of the timed qualifying sessions was Takumi Narita, who retired from the event having aggravated an old back injury he carries from his world championship days.

Using all his years of experience in world championship events Loris Gubian came home a close second on the new Gas Gas.

First away Riding any trials competition with an early start number can either work for you or against you, and in Gubian’s case it went the wrong way. The opening hazard was quite a severe exposed jumble of rocks on a steep hillside. Bastien Hieyte opened the action parting with two marks before Gubian followed his line and had to part with three marks to keep forward motion. Kenichi Kuroyama made his attempt on the hazard, taking a new line and with it the advantage of keeping his feet firmly on the footrests to record a clean ride. Christophe Bruand opened his day also with a clean passage through the hazard. Gaining confidence on every section ridden, the Japanese rider recorded a clean lap parting with no marks followed

by Gubian on that solitary three marks lost and Bruand with his only loss which was a five on section twelve.

Looking very different in his black and white riding kit, Christophe Bruand certainly entered into the spirt of the event. He also made his way to the podium with some inspired riding on the Electric Motion machine.

Having been involved in electric trials machines for some time now Bastian Hieyte (Electric Motion-FRA) will be disappointed with his result.

No way back Knowing he had the advantage Kuroyama rode a very calculated second lap, parting with just two marks in the knowledge that Gubian was the one under pressure. Gubian parted with one more mark on section four but he knew riding against the Japanese top rider there was no way back from his earlier disaster. Looking very different in his black and white riding kit Christophe Bruand came home, pretty happy with his day’s riding, in third.

The other big loser of the day was the unfortunate Joan Cordon on the Mecatecno. The Spanish rider had some issues with the mechanics of the machine and struggled to finish, but at least he scored some points before the action moves to Belgium in one week’s time.

The terrain in France was very dry with wheel grip at its very best, but we will have to wait and see what happens in Belgium as last time the Trial World Championship visited this same venue the heavens opened!

TRIAL MAGAZINE • AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018

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INTERNATIONAL FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Jerome Delair (Electric Motion-FRA) looked very colourful.

Looking very much a prototype, Spain’s David Oliver Blasco rode the On Racing Trial-E machine.

Joan Cordon on the Mecatecno from Spain knows all about world championship events as he used to be the minder to Toni Bou.

Takumi Narita retired from the event after qualifying, having aggravated an old back injury he carries from his world championship days.

2018 TRIALE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING: 1: Kenichi Kuroyama (Yamaha-JPN) 28.12; 2: Christophe Bruand (Electric Motion-FRA) 29.40; 3: Jerome Delair (Electric Motion-FRA) 39.18; 4: Takumi Narita (Electric Motion-JPN) 39.36; 5: Joan Cordon (Mecatecno-ESP) 31.49 + 1; 6: David Oliver Blasco (On Racing TrialE-ESP) 43.32 + 1; 7: Loris Gubian (Gas Gas-FRA) 5; 8: Bastien Hieyte (Electric Motion-FRA) 5.

RESULTS: 1: Kenichi Kuroyama (Yamaha-JPN) 2; 2: Loris Gubian (Gas Gas-FRA) 4; 3: Christophe Bruand (Electric Motion-FRA) 11; 4: Bastien Hieyte (Electric Motion-FRA) 52; 5: Jerome Delair (Electric Motion-FRA) 52; 6: David Oliver Blasco (On Racing TrialE-ESP) 65; 7: Joan Cordon (Mecatecno-ESP) 147.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS: 1: Kenichi

Loris Gubian with the latest Gas Gas electric machine.

It’s expected to go into production pretty soon.

46

Kuroyama (Yamaha-JPN) 20; 2: Loris Gubian (Gas Gas-FRA) 17; 3: Christophe Bruand (Electric Motion-FRA) 15; 4: Bastien Hieyte (Electric Motion-FRA) 13; 5: Jerome Delair (Electric Motion-FRA) 11; 6: David Oliver Blasco (On Racing TrialE-ESP) 10; 7: Joan Cordon (Mecatecno-ESP) 9.

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

REMEMBERING ALAN CLEWS

ROLLING THUNDER When we heard the sad news that Alan Clews had passed away in May, my immediate thoughts were just how fortunate I was to have lived through the entire ‘Rolling Thunder’ years. A true ‘British ‘Bulldog’ spirit had lived with him during his long life. He came into my life when I first witnessed Alan Clews and his Clewstroka in the flesh at the Northern Motorcycle Show at Belle Vue, I would imagine around 1972. My father commented, “That’s some machine, born off the back of the demise of BSA in the motocross world”. I was as shocked as everyone when, the day after the British Motocross Grand Prix in 1971, BSA had announced they were closing their competition department and one of the casualties would be the motocross team. Alan Clews had ridden motocross for years and looked on this as an opportunity to fulfil his ambition of building a machine to challenge the world; the years of ‘Rolling Thunder’ were about to begin in earnest. The four-stroke noise and the aroma of Castrol ‘R’ hammering around the motorcycle world in motocross, road racing and trials would leave a lasting impression on everyone who witnessed it.

WORDS: JOHN HULME AND THE CLEWS FAMILY PICTURES: CCM ARCHIVE, DAVE DEWHURST, BILL LAWLESS, TMX, YOOMEE ARCHIVE, MAURI/FONTSERE COLLECTION AND THE GIULIO MAURI COPYRIGHT. We are not always able to give credit to photographers for the images used due to the passing of time.

Please feel free to contact Trial Magazine if, by mistake, we have used an image without the owner’s copyright permission.

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AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

REMEMBERING ALAN CLEWS

From the pages of the superb Rolling Thunder book

by Bill Lawless: the CCM engine assembly line.

The CCM on display at the Northern Belle Vue Show in the early seventies.

The Dream

As true a motorcycle enthusiast as you can get, Alan Clews, as with so many good motorcycle riders, started off-road with both trials and motocross where he became successful. Either enjoying the home-based events or travelling around Europe with his wife and young family he was very competitive, not just as a competent rider and racer but also in his dream of building his own machines. He had grown up amongst the once mighty manufacturing of motorcycles in the UK but he wanted to build not just replicas of the mighty BSA works machine but his own, with better handling and more power to compete with the ‘Big Boys’. This opportunity came along off the back of the BSA competition department closing. His chance had come and he purchased all the parts he could afford, 100 tonnes in total. Engines, suspension components, front forks, wheels, seats, mudguards, you name it — he wanted it.

The original Clewstroka emerged from his small workshop at home, made from massive improvements to the four-stroke BSA engines. Word soon got around of the machines he was building that could challenge and compete with the new and more dominant two-strokes. This would be the start of the adventure that would take him to CCM motorcycles and the world motocross championship.

Standing proud: the 350 CCM trials models were priced at £1,280 and went on sale in September 1978, and the 105 produced were sold out by Christmas.

This CCM production picture captures the true ‘British Bulldog’ spirit of the proud company based in Great Britain.

The proud British crowd would get behind the CCM riders and boy did they rattle some cages as the likes of John Banks, Vic Eastwood, Norman Barrow, Bob Wright and Jimmy Aird to name but a few gave Clews and his factory some excellent results in the 500cc World Championship.

TRIAL MAGAZINE • AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018

Always looking for new markets this is the Honda XR500 engined CCM Enduro model from 1980.

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REMEMBERING ALAN CLEWS

Looking ‘brutal’ even though it’s standing still, this fourstroke 620cc CCM motocross machine is from May 1980.

After winning almost every international event in 1981 with the 250cc racing model, in 1982 they went a step further and produced this two-stroke 350cc in-line disc-valve twin.

A Return to Trials Competition Time

The new ‘Rolling Thunder’ CCM machines were racing at the very cutting edge of the sport in motocross, and with his sheer grit and determination and a strong workforce he would take on the massive ‘Big Four’ from Japan, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha. The proud British crowd would get behind the CCM riders and, boy, did he rattle some cages as the likes of John Banks, Vic Eastwood, Norman Barrow, Bob Wright and Jimmy Aird to name but a few gave Clews and his factory some excellent results in the 500cc World Championship. Always looking for new areas to support the business, it would be a return to trials in the late seventies.

During the quiet winter months when the motocross season was virtually over he needed some way of giving his experienced workforce some work to do. The CCM brand was well established in the motocross world so why not trials?

When Sammy Miller had split from Honda after Rob Shepherd’s winning year in 1977, he had approached Clews with regard to producing a new four-stroke trials engine as Miller wanted to build his own machines. Clews knew it was possible but not financially viable. The motocross machines were sold through a network of enthusiastic dealers and so why not put the trials machines in with them as well to extend the model range and hopefully bring in more profit!

Looking very confident in the rain in Spain John Lampkin made Armstrong CCM very proud when he scored the company’s first ever FIM World Trials Championship points on the Hiro-engined CMT 310 model.

TRIAL MAGAZINE • AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018

Previously, having ridden for Honda, Nick Jefferies was contacted by Alan Clews, and he made a visit to the CCM factory and agreed a contract to use all his four-stroke trials experience to develop a new four-stroke trials machine. The Honda trials machine made a ‘secret’ visit to the Vale Street factory occupied by CCM and Clews went for a hybrid B44/B50 with a bore and stroke of 79mm x 70mm giving an engine capacity of 343cc, which was the same as the old B40.

From the initial discussions about what was required in late 1977, the new machine was presented to Nick Jefferies on Saturday the 4th February 1978. He took it away to test and returned with it on the Monday with a list of changes he would suggest to Clews. The new machine made its debut at the opening round of the world championship, which was a very proud day for Alan Clews and Nick. This was a massive The Armstrong CM36 350cc road racing model effort by any standards, and the paddock interest was full of engineering innovation. was incredible.

With the Scottish Six Days Trial getting closer by the day a new machine was built for the event, with all the new modifications incorporated which would be the production prototype. The SSDT was a real test and by Wednesday Nick was up to twelfth position but, on day four, it all went wrong in a very short space of time.

First, the fuel tank split and then, unknown to Nick, a valve cap had come off allowing all the Highland dirt into the engine which wore it out in minutes, and the trial was over as he was forced to retire.

In August 1981 a new two-stroke generation of trials models was introduced using the Sammy Miller developed Italian Hiro engines.

53

REMEMBERING ALAN CLEWS

It’s a very busy Armstrong factory in February 1984 after the company secured a contract to produce the Rotax-engined Armstrong MT500 model for the British Jordanian and Canadian Army, and through overseas sales won a Queen’s Export Award.

Using the World Trials Championship as a true test of any machine this prototype Rotax-engined 350cc trials machine was ridden by John Lampkin in 1985.

Steve Saunders arrived at the company in 1983 and won two consecutive British Solo Trials Championship titles as well as continuing to score world championship points.

Success

Clews decided to start a production run totalling 105 machines. The 350 CCM trials models were priced at £1,280 and went on sale in September, and were sold out by Christmas. With the BSA supply now virtually nonexistent Clews would turn to both Rotax and Hiro engines to power his range of machines.

In trials the Hiro-engined Armstrong/CCM took both John Lampkin and then Steve Saunders to their first ever world championship points, Saunders would also win two British Championship titles. The production trials models proved a success amongst riders of all abilities.

During the eighties and nineties, production reached a peak of 3,500 machines annually. Between 1983 and 1985 over 4,000 CCM motorcycles were exported to North America badged as Can-Am machines. In 1984, the company secured a contract to produce the Rotax-engined Armstrong MT500 model for the British Jordanian and Canadian Army, and through overseas sales won a Queen’s Export Award.

In 2004 the company ceased operations, and its assets were bought back by the original owner Alan Clews. The ‘new’ company was soon once again in production with new models in 2005 and, in 2009, they returned to motocross in the FIM World Championship. In 2010 the company began working with the military once again to supply 3,500 machines, headed by his son Russell Clews. Success also came with their first ACU British Indoor Motocross Championship with Tom Church on board a CCM. 54

Proud

Alan, Austin and Russell Clews were very proud of the CCM brand, and quite rightly so. As the market changed direction so did CCM with an exciting adventure motorcycle emerging as the place they wanted to be.

In 2013 CCM announced plans for a GP450 machine to meet market demand for a road-legal middleweight adventure model. The frame was fabricated from ‘Bond-Lite’ aluminium which CCM claimed was a world first.

Using BMW power with a four-stroke single-shock, it was very well received.

Alan was still involved in the new development models, including the Spitfire, right up until his untimely death. The CCM years added a new dimension to the once proud Great

British motorcycle industry. Alan Clews was always ready to address any issues with the production of the machines, including their development and the tough business world.

Alan left the company with over 1000 UK orders for its new Spitfire range on 2nd May 2018. His legacy has been recorded in the history of motorcycle manufacturing, and long may it live on in the new models emerging from the company he originally formed all those years ago.

Alan left the company with over 1000 UK orders for its new Spitfire range on 2nd May 2018. His legacy has been recorded in the history of motorcycle manufacturing, and long may it live on in the new models emerging from the company he originally formed all those years ago.

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

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MY VIEW MICK WREN

Grafter To get to the recent British Championship round in the Lake District at the exposed Tow Tops venue, I decided to depart early from home for the twohour journey as parking is at a premium in the field which, with the recent wet weather, I knew would be sodden. I arrived at around eight o’clock for the nine-thirty start. The food wagon had struggled to get to the top of the hill to its location and got stuck! The first guy I noticed helping was Mick Wren, with brute force and a shovel; he wielded the shovel until it was in place. Mick Wren is dedicated to our sport of trials and an all-round motorcycle enthusiast. Out-spoken and with a constructive opinion always at hand he is one of a small band of enthusiasts who works on the ACU Trials and Enduro committee. He also holds a 2018 FIM Super Licence which qualifies him to be a Trial World Championship Clerk of the Course, and an FIM Officials Licence until 2020. I come across Mick on many occasions in trials locations not just around the UK but also in Europe. Always working, including in a full-time self-employed job, he still has time for some lively ‘banter’ in between doing just about everything that needs doing at a trial — Mick is one of life’s true ‘Grafters’.

WORDS: JOHN HULME WITH MICK WREN • PICTURES: TRIALS MEDIA, SUZUKI, ERIC KITCHEN AND THE WREN COLLECTION

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The next few years are going to be busy!

Why Motorcycles?

My dad was into motorcycles but not as a competitor. To be honest, by the time I came along they needed every penny to raise my sister and me.

I think for my part, motorcycles was just something that was in me, like genetics, but not in a Lampkin way because I didn’t have the ability. It was just what gave me the ‘buzz’. Even now when we go skiing, which we do a lot, I love it, but it doesn’t give me that need to push beyond my capabilities, but with motorcycles, I would try anything.

When did you first compete in trials?

I had no idea what trials were. I used to think that they were something invented by MCN to fill the pages in the winter when there was no road racing.

I started going to school on the bus and met Sid Ormerod and Richard Wall. Sid knew somebody who took part in this strange sport. It was Wym Harrison, who was to feature quite a bit in my early career. He was the foster father of two talented youth trials riders, Kevin Bleasdale and Andy Bell, in the eighties — who remembers them? Sid sold me a AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

MY VIEW MICK WREN

Proud to wear the ‘Team ACU GBR’ trial shirt.

98cc James, which I spent hours trying to start. We then found a guy who had a Suzuki 80 in a garage just up the road which we got for £12.50. It had been converted to trials specification but needed an engine, so we got a spare machine for £10 out of one of Eddie Crooks’ many backstreet houses that were used as stores.

The first event was a Westmorland Scramble, which was a disaster, but they announced that their next trial would have a ‘Schoolboy’ class. The trial was in June or July, and it was red hot and bone dry. It was held on a piece of scrubland and was mostly climbs through gorse bushes, and I spent most of the next two weeks pulling thorns out of my body. It was in the very early days of schoolboy trials and lead by a character called Kefty Watson.

The Westmorland club then announced that they would hold a series of these events, and I was hooked.

Mick rates the Nigel Birkett works prepared Suzuki 325 as few the best hetohas TheRL next yearsmachine are going beever busy!ridden.

Were you an academic at school?

Without being too cocky, I can say I am reasonably intelligent but back then I was just a daft lad; they couldn’t make anything of me.

I remember one physics lesson where we learnt about the internal combustion engine, and we were offered a Polo mint for every correct answer. Glen Wilson and I had the entire packet! I did a year in the sixth form, basically re-sitting what I had failed, but spent most of it in the common room playing darts. In the end, I got five O Levels including getting Biology twice.

Where did life after school take you?

I had a job lined up with a local garage. It was quite small, but it had a special reputation. People used to bring Rolls Royces and other luxury cars to get them serviced. Then, at the last minute, they said I would have to go to Bolton one day a week to Technical College. “No sorry”, I replied “I’ve left school and don’t want any of

A normal Sunday for Mr Wren. Over the years he has been a Club Trials Secretary, Club Secretary, Club Chairman, Centre Trials Recorder and Centre Secretary.

TRIAL MAGAZINE • AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018

Looking as young as ever in 1974 on the Bultaco.

63

MY VIEW MICK WREN

In 2003 at an early Nostalgia Trial, we are not sure about the green Bultaco, now there’s a story!

that.” I told my dad that I wanted to work at home and, although we never made a big thing of it, I knew he was delighted.

By a strange quirk, I then started going to Barrow Technical College to study joinery and woodwork. We did day and night school on the same day, so we had a one-and-a-half hour’s break at lunch and one hour before night school. This time was happily filled in at the workshop at Eddie Crooks Motorcycles, which is where Nigel Birkett and John Wren worked.

I’ve been an undertaker all my life. On the day of my christening the police came, and my dad had to go and collect a body out of a local town, so it started from there, and I love it.

Who else influenced you in your early motorcycling days?

Wym (William) Harrison worked for the water board and looked after the reservoir up the road, so he had access to the land round about. He and his wife Doreen were foster parents, and they raised and eventually adopted Kevin Bleasdale, who had one of the first three monoshock Yamaha machines along with Nigel Birkett and Tony Scarlett. They also fostered twins Andy and Donna Bell who were both too pretty useful trials riders.

My first recollection of you was in the late seventies on a Bultaco in Northern Centre events.

Promoting the ACU at the International Dirt Bike Show is all in a day’s work.

TRIAL MAGAZINE • AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018

We swapped the 80cc Suzuki for a Gaunt Suzuki which we fitted some REH Forks too. It was exchanged for a 250cc Bultaco from a mate. The big highlight was when we went with Wym to Jim Sandifords and came back with two boxes of Bultacos: a 250cc for me and one of the first 325cc models for Wym. I loved his 325cc, but despite being well over six feet tall he had also once had a 170cc Cotton Minarelli — and I loved that too.

The first trial of the year was always at Low Newton, near where the recent British Championship Trial was held. On my 16th birthday, I won, but they told me I wasn’t allowed to be the overall winner and I got the best youth award.

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MY VIEW MICK WREN

Checking the ‘Punch cards’ at the 2009 Lakes Two Day Trial.

How did you first become attracted to the clerical side of motorcycle trials?

Wym taught me that trials didn’t grow on trees; somebody had to make them happen. I was a member of the Barrow club at 14-years-old. All members got a letter from John Pratt stating that a new club was being formed and we all had to attend the next meeting as the future of our club depended on it. The room was packed, and my dad and I started to attend regularly. Over the years, I have been Club Trials Secretary, Club Secretary, Club Chairman, Centre Trials Recorder and Centre Secretary — and I’m currently getting grief because I don’t attend Centre meetings!

When did you become part of the Trials and Enduro Committee?

The way the ACU system works is you serve a three-year term. After this, you can seek re-election along with others. At this time the Trials and Enduro Committee was very stable and settled so

the only time you had a chance of election was if somebody created a vacancy. I had a few attempts at the election and eventually made it when Derek Clampin reached the age of 70 and had to step down; that’s a long time ago now!

What is your current status with the ACU?

I was recently elected as Vice Chairman of the Trials and Enduro Committee. Under the 70-year rule, John Collins will step down at the end of this year.

It’s a privilege working with John even though, as, in any group of eight people, we often have differences of opinion, but we always respect each other.

I became Vice Chairman on the understanding that I wouldn’t automatically become Chairman next year. Being Chairman of a committee also means you become a Director of the ACU and I need to be sure whether I feel I can give the extra time to this, especially as the political/business side doesn’t interest me that much.

2016: Section inspection in Great Britain for the World Championship round.

Same trial, the following year, I had helped mark it out so was at the back of the entry. With four sections to go had lost 25 marks and suffered a rear puncture. In a hurry to let the observers go home, I managed to ‘five’ the remaining four sections and still only lost four more marks than the winner. That seemed to set the tone for my career.

I developed a knack of having early models of machines that weren’t quite ready. The first SWM, the first JCM in between several Bultaco, Montesa and Suzuki models. The most amazing machine I ever rode was Nigel Birkett’s ‘works’ 325cc Suzuki, it was pure magic. I rode the Scottish, entered by Eddie Crooks in 1976. Eddie had an entrants licence due to his involvement with road racing, so that was probably my one and only ‘works’ ride. Peter Quinn was the source of the JCM, and of much amusement. I rode a 350 Montesa for the absolute legend Bill Brown. For my 60th birthday, Judith bought me an air-cooled Yamaha, and I recently treated myself to a 300RR Montesa.

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World Trials is going through a transition with the introduction of a promoter. Much of what is happening is good, and I particularly like the technology and communications.

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

MY VIEW MICK WREN

Does the ACU do a good job?

Having been an ACU man for over 50 years, I believe we do. We don’t get everything right, but we do the job for the right reasons. We have many people who are very quick to tell us we should have done this, that, or the other, but quite often they only see their point of view, or they personally have something to gain. We try to make decisions for the good of the majority and the sport as a whole.

How much are you involved with the riders?

I get a lot of banter about VIP travel and accommodation etc., but I know that they appreciate what I do and they know they can contact me whenever and I will do what I can for them. I think this comes from the Undertaking career: I am available 24/7/365, and that’s how I live my life.

Right from my first time as Jury Delegate in Belgium, I knew I was there for the riders and not to have a jolly weekend away. I always made a point of treating our younger riders and top lads the same as I travelled the paddock, hungry, late at night, telling them their start times or any changes.

One of the best changes with Sport7 has been the information and the App. The mobile noticeboard gets the information out there, and this side of things excites me greatly.

Being on the Trials and Enduro Committee I also went to several World Enduros and. even though I knew nothing about it, I learnt the sport and managed to gain respect from the Enduro lads too.

Enjoying good times with the wife, Judith. Mick has one word to describe her: ‘phenomenon’.

One weekend in France getting Graham Jarvis through administration at a World Enduro could fill a full article on its own. I try not to inflict myself on them but instead take half-a-step back and let them come to me.

I coordinate the ACU under-23 Trials squad.

It started out as a training squad, but now we financially assist riders who contest the European Championship. Despite the many claims that ‘the ACU do nothing for our riders’ or ‘why don’t the ACU support our riders like the Spanish and Italians do’, well, since the inception of this squad, riders have received close to £1million from the ACU with Enduro riders receiving a similar amount.

Tell us about your involvement with the FIM.

Being a Jury Delegate was part of what was expected as a Trials and Enduro Committee member. My first time was a strange trip to Bilstain in Belgium.

Despite this, I loved being part of this side of the sport. Again, from the Undertaking business, I have a natural interest in communicating with people, and this has led to an ability to speak and communicate in several languages.

I have been quite outspoken about the no-stop rule issue, which was wrong, not just on a rules basis, but in the way it was done. It ended up as a political decision by the FIM management after

Emma Bristow is an exceptional lady and has opened the door for so many other female trials riders.

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Time for a pint with Judith, Mrs Wren since 1982. Mick: “She has the drive, ambition, brains, inspiration and is the perfect antidote to me, so we balance out really well”.

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

MY VIEW MICK WREN

pressure from the manufacturers. From my side, I saw many good devoted Trials people who became demoralised or were cast aside, and one that we lost was Dave Willoughby. Dave and I have shared opinions on the sport and its governance for many years. Dave left the FIM Europe (UEM as it was then) and the ACU needed a representative on the UEM Commission, so I was nominated and appointed in 2011 at the Congress in Treviso Italy.

I absolutely love this. I now have the possibility to work with some more amazingly dedicated people.

Anders Minken was one of the initial people who pushed for women’s involvement at this level, and I find him inspirational.

To know that I can work with former SWM works rider Danilo Galeazzi on equal terms and that he respects my opinion is very humbling. It has also given me a chance to meet some of the younger riders from other countries, and at the recent European round in Spain, it was gratifying how many of them were happy to see me and share opinions.

What are your thoughts on the current state of the sport, both in the UK and at the European and world championship?

In the UK the number of registered trials riders continues to grow. Despite this, there is a massive range of abilities and requirements. For a large majority of people, trials is a leisure activity rather than a sport. We have recently heard of events with no observers and no awards, where the course is set out, and riders go off in small groups and have a great day out; bums on seats and happy people.

The job of the Trials and Enduro committee is to try to provide a framework for all to take part and enjoy and, most importantly, to listen. Many innovations come from clubs and work their way up rather than the other way round, which is a good thing.

I love the European Championship as it provides the chance for riders to push themselves but the atmosphere is still relaxed and enjoyable.

World Trials is going through a transition with the introduction of a promoter. Much of what is happening is good; I particularly like the technology and communications. This year I have spent two days attending a Superlicence Seminar in Geneva

and a weekend in Rugby obtaining a normal FIM Licence, and then the FIM, Sport7 and the manufacturers have a meeting to decide what the rules are going to be — sometimes it makes me feel a bit irrelevant!

Are you a stop or no-stop man?

How long have you got? Basically, I’m not a nostop man; partly for the political reasons I already mentioned but mainly because it doesn’t work.

As stated, rider participation in the UK is on the increase, and many believe this is because no-stop has made events easier and more accessible, but I would like to know how many of them would be happy if the rules were actually enforced and they were always given five marks for a stop as they should be.

At world level, the standard is so high and the margins so small that these rules are unworkable. It is a very emotive subject, and even within the Trials and Enduro Committee, we have had some heated debates, up to a point where I believe that some of the other members came to doubt my intentions. I do however believe that ‘going back’ to stop permitted is not the answer. The problem is we never get time to sit down and really think about a solution.

Do you enjoy all motorcycle sports?

Sure do. I would love to go to more but Trials, and Enduro commitments restrict what I can do. I try to get to Oulton Park when BSB is in town, but the first one clashed with the Scottish. I also try to get to Manchester to watch Belle Vue speedway. The meetings are now on a Monday which is better for me, but the crowds are smaller, and it’s not good for the club.

If I were involved in Moto GP, Marc Marquez would be spending some time at home pondering the error of his ways!

Can you tell us about the other success story in your life?

Anyone involved in motorcycling as much as I am spends a lot of time ‘playing out’, and the only way you can do this is to be a multi-millionaire or have a solid base at home.

Judith, my wife since 1982, is a phenomenon.

She has drive, ambition, brains, inspiration and is the perfect antidote to me, so we balance out really

Yes Mick is quite rightly so very proud of his wife’s Kin Vodka success story.

TRIAL MAGAZINE • AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018

well — even though she is also very capable of some extreme ‘muppetry’!

Her brand, Kin Vodka, is a brilliant example. We had something similar in a bar in Tignes on holiday.

She decided she could make it, so she played about with the blending and came up with something we both agreed was pretty damned tasty. She spent a couple of years giving it to the family for birthday presents and local events for raffle prizes.

In Judith’s world, things don’t stop there. She got a business start-up help from Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, and we were underway. We started by mixing in a five-gallon barrel, bottling, labelling and selling, sometimes working 14- to 16-hour days. The problem was that she was in full-time employment and I was making it all day. She would come home from work full of enthusiasm, and we would start again all evening. We now do several hundred events in the year including Car Fest North and Manchester Christmas Markets, and I don’t have to do joinery any more!

Have we got a future world trials champion in Great Britain?

In short, yes, we do…the brilliant Emma Bristow.

Unfortunately, in the near future, the answer is no.

James Dabill is currently riding at a different level to most of the others, and he could easily finish higher in the Trial World Championship than previously, but I can’t see him winning it. We have some brilliant riders, as the Trial2 class has demonstrated in recent years, but the next level is so much higher.

I don’t say this easily as I know how hard these lads work and how committed they are. Nobody could ask more of Jack Price who works his bits off.

The Peace lads are driven and vastly talented, as is Toby Martyn, and I feel so sorry for Iwan Roberts that he has been struck with this illness at this stage in his career.

Sometimes it seems strange that we have riders who can compete to the top level in the European and Trial2 Championships then really struggle with the next step, unlike Jaime Busto and Miquel Gelabert, for example, who continue to rise up the ranks. As I have implied, this level of competition is what floats my boat and why I do what I do, and I hope that all of these riders will get the rewards they deserve. Harry Hemingway: now there’s a thought!

Sometimes he has a day off!

69

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INSURANCE WHAT TO DO

Have you had an accident?

I

Just over three years ago I was at stationary, in my van, at a set of pedestrian crossing lights when my world was suddenly invaded by a large explosion of noise. I was thrown violently forward and the seatbelt did its job as I had been hit from behind by a car. At first I did not realise I had been injured until a few hours after the accident; did I know what to do, who to contact? No! I then received a barrage of phone calls from the insurance industry, it was a minefield. Fortunately, it all had a very positive outcome. In this article generated with Trial Magazine we have used Thorneycroft Solicitors to give you a better insight into the industry with regard to recovery, which should always be your first priority, through to legal representation to pursue a compensation claim.

WORDS: TRIAL MAGAZINE AND THORNEYCROFT SOLICITORS PICTURES: GETTY IMAGES, TRIALS MEDIA AND SNR

f you’ve been involved in a car or motorcycle accident it can be extremely traumatic but, while focusing on your recovery is your first priority, ensuring the best legal representation to pursue a compensation claim is also important.

If you’re looking for legal representation in the wake of your motorcycle accident or need advice about whether you have legitimate grounds to make a claim, the Serious Injury team at Thorneycroft Solicitors are on your side.

Who are Thorneycroft Solicitors?

Initially formed in 1991, Thorneycroft Solicitors have grown to be one of the leading law firms in the UK. Over the years the firm has developed an outstanding reputation for providing their clients with the highest level of client care, and they always ensure that every legal need is met.

As one of the biggest teams of solicitors in the North West, Thorneycroft Solicitors practice in various areas of law; however, their Catastrophic Injury team has developed a particular specialism in representing clients who have been seriously injured in motorcycle accidents, and they have recovered settlements from £1,000 to £10,000,000 in compensation for their clients following accidents on the road.

The team

The Thorneycroft Solicitors team.

72

The Serious Injury team takes a unique approach, placing equal importance on both securing the medical rehabilitation their clients need to make the best possible recovery as well as helping them secure the maximum amount of compensation possible.

Thorneycroft’s Catastrophic Injury team is led by Mark Belfield, a Director at the firm who has more than 25 years’ experience of dealing with catastrophic injury claims. He has a highly successful reputation in this field, which ensures he has access to the best resources to maximise AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

INSURANCE

WHAT TO DO

Many people of all ages enjoy motorcycling.

claims for damages and ensure the optimum recovery for all of Thorneycroft’s serious injury clients. The team is made up of experienced and passionate individuals who are qualified solicitors and legal executives. Some members of the team have been with the firm for many years while newer members have brought with them the knowledge and expertise they gained in their roles working for some of the country’s biggest law firms. Mark prides himself on ensuring both he and his team always go the extra mile for their clients, which often requires staff members to travel nationwide to meet with their clients ensuring they are getting the rehabilitative treatment they need and if necessary meeting with their caseworkers.

Thanks to the extensive experience that the Serious Injury Team has accrued over many combined years of legal practice the firm has

Thorneycroft’s Catastrophic Injury team is led by Mark Belfield.

TRIAL MAGAZINE • AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018

recognised that it is not only the person involved in a motorcycle accident that is affected but their families and loved ones too. They ensure that your family and loved ones are also given the information and support that they need.

From day onem, you will have a dedicated legal professional who will act on your behalf and will be immediately accessible by phone, to give your family the information and support that you need so that you will feel confident in the claims process. Their all-encompassing approach means that every aspect of your claim is carefully considered, from liability to rehabilitation.

Even in the safe, slow-speed sport of trials accidents will happen.

If you are racing – you will crash!

Enduro racing gives off-road riders some ‘hairy’ moments!

73

INSURANCE WHAT TO DO

Who will pay the wages when someone gets hurt?

Liability for motorcycle accidents

When it comes to establishing who is to blame for the motorcycle accident, Thorneycroft’s specialist team will discuss liability in detail with you, helping you to obtain police reports, independent witness statements, and even instruct accident reconstruction experts to determine who was at fault for the accident.

The Serious Injury team is renowned for their tenacious approach to establishing liability. Often where other firms have rejected claims Thorneycroft Solicitors have pursued them to a successful outcome even when clients may have believed that they were at fault for the accident.

Injuries

Having represented clients who have sustained a variety of motorcycle accident related injuries, Thorneycroft’s Serious Injury team understands that motorcyclists are vulnerable motorists and unfortunately can sustain significant injuries should an accident occur. They are specialists in all serious injuries, including but not limited to the following: Head Injuries including complex,

The early days of an accident can sometimes be the hardest.

74

The Thorneycroft Serious Injury Team knows that when you suffer a serious injury it can often be a traumatic and lonely experience. That is why the team always aims to maximise your recovery by assisting in your rehabilitation process from the outset.

life-changing brain injuries; Spinal cord injuries including paraplegia and quadriplegia; Amputation; Serious Orthopaedic injuries including complicated fractures; De-gloving injuries; Internal Injuries; Psychological Injuries; Chronic Pain; and Scarring.

In order to assess the level of the damages that you should receive you would be examined by a specialist in the field of your injuries. Following an examination, they will provide a detailed report on your injuries and the future implications and effect of the same on your life in the future.

Fatal accidents

Should the worst happen and you are fatally injured in an accident, your dependent family can claim against the at-fault party for financial losses and dependency. For example, they can claim for the costs of the funeral, damaged equipment and, dependant on qualification, financial awards for bereavement and dependency.

In cases involving fatal accidents, Thorneycroft has developed an excellent reputation for handling sensitive matters with unrivalled compassion, understanding and professionalism.

Rehabilitation

Having worked alongside riders and motorcycle clubs and organisations for many years the Thorneycroft Serious Injury Team knows that when you suffer a serious injury, it can often be a traumatic and lonely experience, even with the support of your family. That is why the team always aims to maximise your recovery by assisting in your rehabilitation process from the outset.

Where appropriate, they’ll employ a case manager who will assess your treatment requirements and liaise with your treating physicians, as well as arrange private treatment which can significantly speed up your recovery. When you return home, they will assess your home environment and consider whether you require aids and equipment to assist in your daily life. Examples of the type of assistance we can offer are as follows: In-house brain trauma rehabilitation at a specialised private brain injury unit; Spinal injury intensive rehabilitation support; Prosthetic specialists following amputation; Specialised physiotherapy; Counselling; Occupational Therapy; Adapted vehicles; Aids and Equipment; and Workplace assessments.

Following examination they will provide a detailed report on your injuries and the future implications and effects on your life.

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

INSURANCE WHAT TO DO

The purpose of your claim is to put you back in the position you were before the accident.

At Thorneycroft’s, the solicitors understand that for many riders riding a motorcycle is not just a form of transport but a passion and a way of life. That is why, wherever possible, they will work closely with specialist adaptation experts who can potentially make riding after an accident a reality.

Financial losses

The purpose of your claim is to put you back in the position you were before the accident; this includes ensuring you recover your loss of earnings, travel expenses, money for damaged equipment, medical expenses and also more personalised losses such as gym membership fees. Thorneycroft’s can even help you claim for the cost of the care and assistance provided to you by friends and family members.

Future losses

Even when the claim is concluded you still have the rest of your life to live, and for this reason Thorneycroft’s Serious Injury Team will ensure that the evidence they obtain will take in to account any future implications of your injuries, to ensure you have the best possible quality of life after your accident.

The Thorneycroft Solicitors’ commitment to you

Whoever you are, and wherever you live, you can be assured that a legal advisor will visit you in person to discuss your case. The more serious cases can take several years to settle, and Thorneycroft Solicitors pride themselves and are honoured that, by the conclusion of the case they are often considered as friends by their clients. They are committed to each of their clients and provide a friendly, approachable and down to earth service while being one of the most experienced teams of motorcycle accident specialists in the country.

At Thorneycroft’s, the solicitors understand that for many riders riding a motorcycle is not just a form of transport but a passion and a way of life. That is why, wherever possible, they will work closely with specialist adaptation experts who can potentially make riding after an accident a reality. They will do their utmost to ensure that you are put back into the position you were in financially, practically and emotionally had the accident not occurred.

Everyone needs support.

76

Should you wish to discuss an accident you can contact a member of the Thorneycroft Solicitors’ Serious Injury Team by calling: 0800 1979 345 or visit www.thorneycroftsolicitors.co.uk

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

SPORT

ACU BTC SOLO

James Dabill (Beta)

ACU BTC SOLO

Halfway House With four rounds of the proposed eight now contested, the 2018 ACU British Championship is giving us some good indications as to who has their eyes on the titles. In the championship class James Dabill (Beta) continues to stamp his authority with a full house of wins, the same as Ross Danby (TRS UK) in the new-for-2018 Masters class. It is not the case in the Expert class, but with two wins to his name Richard Sadler (Beta-UK/Acklams) has opened up a clear lead. Another new class in 2018 is the Youth Elite, and it’s the bright young talents of Mitch Brightmore (JST Gas Gas UK) and Gus Oblein who have locked horns in the battle for supremacy. The Kelly’s Farm venue hosted round four, the Antony Rew Trial run by the West of England Motor Club, in very humid overcast conditions taking in the usual three laps of twelve hazards.

ARTICLE: TRIALS MEDIA

78

Iwan Roberts (TRS UK) AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

SPORT

ACU BTC SOLO

Dan Peace (JST Gas Gas UK)

Championship Class Having the ability to always raise your game is a talent that James Dabill has shown over his younger rival Jack Price. It was highly evident at round four at the heavily wooded Kelly’s Farm venue as he put him under pressure from as early as the opening lap. It was the rugged outcrop of rocks on section seven where Dabill gained his advantage, as Price stopped and Dabill parted with three marks lost. They both lost two on time, but on the second lap Dabill put the hammer down with a lap score of four compared to his rival’s eleven. Price fought back to close the score on the final lap with four marks lost, but the damage had been done, and Dabill remains well clear at the top of the championship table with win number four.

The elder of the two Peace brothers Dan remains a constant threat, but it’s the lack of consistency he needs to address before he can challenge for the win that no doubt will come.

After a huge crash on section seven on the first lap, it was a slightly ‘detuned’ Toby Martyn who was the biggest loser in the championship chase, finishing in seventh position. It was good to see Iwan Roberts back in action, and no doubt when once back to full fitness he will be able to start challenging for the top positions.

CHAMPIONSHIP CLASS RESULTS: 1: James Dabill (Beta) 20; 2: Jack Price (JST Gas Gas UK) 26; 3: Dan Peace (JST Gas Gas UK) 45; 4: Jack Sheppard (MRS Sherco) 61; 5: Jack Peace (JST Gas Gas UK) 66; 6: Iwan Roberts (TRS UK) 69; 7: Toby Martyn (RG Montesa/Honda UK) 73; 8: Andy Chilton (BMS Scorpa Andy Metcalfe) 84; 9: Sam Connor (Beta-UK) 100; 10: Tom Minta (BMS Scorpa) 119; 11: Billy Green (Beta-UK) 122; 12: Dec Bullock (Gas Gas) 136; 13: Hugo Jervis (AB TRS) 146.

CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS AFTER FOUR ROUNDS RESULTS: 1: Dabill 80; 2: Price 64; 3: Dan Peace 60; 4: Martyn 50; 5:

Jack Peace 44; 6: Sheppard 43; 7: Chilton 37; 8: Minta 26; 9: Connor 19; 10: Green 18; 11: Bullock 16; 12: Alexz Wigg (JST Gas Gas UK) 16; 13: Jack Challoner (Craig’s Montesa) 14; 14: Roberts 10; 15: Jervis 10.

TRIAL MAGAZINE • AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018

Jack Price (JST Gas Gas UK) 79

SPORT

ACU BTC SOLO

Ross Danby (TRS UK)

Masters Class It’s TRS mounted Ross Danby who continues his total domination the Masters class, who ride the easiest half of the Championship sections and the hardest half of the Expert sections. In its first year as a championship class, it’s not attracted many riders, but this takes away no credit from the vastly experienced Ross Danby on the TRS. The first three wins might have been closer, but he was bang on form in Devon, winning by a healthy margin from Sam Haslam. Tom Affleck remains second in the championship as he still chases that elusive win.

MASTER CLASS RESULTS: 1: Ross Danby (TRS UK) 37; 2:

Sam Haslam (JST Gas Gas UK) 65; 3: Tom Affleck (180° Vertigo) 97; 4: Oliver Smith (Gas Gas) 121.

2018 CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS RESULTS: 1: Danby 80; 2: Affleck 62; 3:

Haslam 51; 4: Gwynedd Jones (Beta) 39; 5: Duncan McColl (Beta) 15; 6: Smith 13.

Sam Haslam (JST Gas Gas UK) 80

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

SPORT

ACU BTC SOLO

Joe Baker (Active Sherco)

Richard Sadler (Beta-UK Acklams)

Expert Class Some would call it a home advantage, but I would call it a rider on form as Joe Baker dominated the class at Kelly’s Farm. It was very much the case for the other winner in this class Ben Morphett at round one, but championship leader Richard Sadler is very much a man of consistency. His two runnersup positions have put him clear at the top of the championship as his nearest rival, and good friend Guy Kendrew looks for his first win in the championship in 2018. Baker was a man on a mission at round four as he rode off into the distance to claim the victory. Not even the difficult section seven held any fears for him as he recorded three cleans; he was the only rider to record single-lap scores during the day’s action.

Holding onto third in the championship is Dan Thorpe. He had an off day finishing a lowly 10th, which has lost him quite a lot of ground in the championship. Chris Stay managed to split James Fry from his partner Emma Bristow, who once again had a good day battling for the top five positions.

Luke Walker remains in fourth position, but you can bet that the battle to make the top five at the close of the championship will become much closer as the season progresses.

Chris Stay (TRS UK)

EXPERT CLASS RESULTS: 1: Joe Baker (Active Sherco) 13; 2: Richard Sadler (Beta-UK/Acklams) 27;

3: Guy Kendrew (Beta-UK) 30; 4: James Fry (Sherco) 31; 5: Chris Stay (TRS UK) 40; 6: Emma Bristow (Sherco) 45; 7: Luke Walker (Sherco) 46; 8: Kieran Child (Colin Appleyard Gas Gas) 50; 9: Sam Yeomans (JST Gas Gas UK) 51; 10: Dan Thorpe (JST Gas Gas UK) 58; 11: Conrad Atkinson (Sherco) 65; 12: Thomas Moss (Gas Gas) 87; 13: Iwan Jones (TRS) 87; 14: Lloyd Price (AB Motorcycles TRS) 90; 15: Tom Culliford (BVM TRS UK) 98.

2018 CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS RESULTS: 1: Sadler 74; 2: Kendrew 60; 3: Thorpe 47; 4: Walker 43; 5: Fry 39; 6: Stay Guy Kendrew (Beta-UK) TRIAL MAGAZINE • AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018

37; 7: Bristow 34; 8: Yeomans 31; 9: Baker 20; 10: Ben Morphett (Montesa) 20; 11: Pearson 13; 12: Child 13; 13: Conrad Atkinson (Sherco) 13; 14: Starmer 11; 15: Price 9.

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SPORT

ACU BTC SOLO

Charlie Smith (Inch Perfect Beta)

Elite Youth Gus Oblein (Sherco)

Riding the 125cc machines on the steep wooded hillside which is Kelly’s Farm is a big ask, but the Youth Elite riders put on a fantastic show of their skills. Round one winner Gus Oblein was knocked off the top spot at rounds two and three by the current championship leader Mitch Brightmore, but he came through at round four to take the victory. On the opening lap, it was Brightmore who held the advantage, but Oblein came fighting back on the second lap with a score of 26 marks lost to his rival’s 31 — it was game on for the last lap! As it happened Oblein slightly opened up the advantage once again to take the victory.

Not far off the pace all day was Charlie Smith on 98, who came home a clear third. Brightmore holds a six-point advantage at the top of the table at the halfway stage of the championship over Oblein with Smith next. The championship looks like it will go all the way to the wire, and do not put Brett Harbud or Smith out of the fight yet as they both will be looking at taking a win before the close of the championship.

ELITE YOUTH RESULTS: 1: Gus Oblein (Sherco) 89; 2: Mitch Brightmore (JST Gas

Gas UK) 93; 3: Charlie Smith (Inch Perfect Trials Beta) 98; 4: Brett Harbud (BVM Beta) 132; 5: Joshua Wright (Beta) 145.

2018 CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS

RESULTS: 1: Brightmore 74; 2: Oblein 68; 3: Harbud 58; 4: Smith 54; Mitch Brightmore (JST Gas Gas UK)

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5: Ryan Brown (Beta) 39; 6: Joshua Wright (Beta) 31; 7: Adam Juffs (TRS) 28.

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

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AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

SPORT

ACKLAMS BETA BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIP

Ben Dignan (Gas Gas)

ACKLAMS BETA BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIP

Young talent

If you look around in the adult side of the trials world Great Britain’s presence at the very front is quite obvious, and it’s no wonder when you look at the abundance of talent that is currently being produced once again in the youth British Championships. From the younger classes on the new generation of electric machines through to the A class, the talent is unbelievable. The only question mark is the separation of the A class Championship, with some riders electing to ride with the adults in the ‘Elite’ class. Have the ACU made the correct decision here? Only time will tell. One thing is sure though: in the other classes the standard of riding is very high.

ARTICLE: TRIALS MEDIA • PICTURES: JAXX LAWSON

A Class It’s always good when any championship series goes to the final round to find the winner.

The two lads in this poorly supported class are talented, that’s for sure, but it will be a case of who can perform at the final round with the pressure element involved to give us the 2018 A class champion. Slack held the advantage at round three with Faunthorpe very strong in Scotland; yes it will be a very interesting finale.

ROUND 3: SHEFFIELD & HALLAMSHIRE RESULTS: 1: Daniel Slack (Sherco) 20; 2: Joe Faunthorpe (Beta) 40; 3: Adam Harris (Gas Gas) 52; 4: William Dalton (Beta) 60; 5: William Clarke (Beta) 95.

ROUND 4: EAST LOTHIAN RESULTS: Joe Faunthorpe (Beta) 4; 2: Daniel Slack (Sherco) 21.

2018 CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS

RESULTS: 1: Slack 74; 2: Faunthorpe 72; 3: Harris 45; 4: Dalton 41; 5: Clarke 11.

TRIAL MAGAZINE • AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018

Daniel Slack (Sherco)

B Class Holding his nerve all day has given Scotland’s Ben Dignan the advantage he may need in this very close championship race with his ‘home’ victory. Maybe it’s the world championship experience which has given him the edge, but both Reece Gazzard and Jack Dance are not going to give him the title without a fight at the final round. The fight for the remaining top five positions should also prove interesting with the younger riders in this class.

ROUND 3: SHEFFIELD & HALLAMSHIRE RESULTS: 1: Ben Dignan (Gas Gas) 16; 2: Reece Gazzard (Scorpa) 30; 3: Jack Dance (Gas Gas) 39; 4: Harry Turner (Gas Gas) 52; 5: Harvey Taglione (Gas Gas) 68.

ROUND 4: EAST LOTHIAN RESULTS: 1: Ben Dignan (Gas Gas) 3; 2: Reece Gazzard (Scorpa) 4;

3: Jack Dance (Gas Gas) 9; 4: Brett Stein (Beta) 17; 5: Harry Turner (Gas Gas) 26.

2018 CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS

RESULTS: 1: Dignan 74; 2: Gazzard 69; 3: Dance 65; 4: Turner 48; 5:

Bowyer 37; 6: Ross Galloway 36; 7: Jaime Galloway 36; 8: Taglione 31; 9: Minta 25; 10: Smith 23.

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SPORT

ACKLAMS BETA BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIP

Joe Drysdale (OSET)

D Class – Medium Wheel

Harry Hemingway (Beta)

C Class – Standard Wheel The Hemingway brothers continue to dominate this class, with Harry taking a full house of wins. George looks in a secure second position in the championship but the battle for the final spot on the podium between Charlie Crossland and Max Agar is where the focus will be. Crossland may have slipped off the pace in Scotland but both he and Agar will come to the final round very much looking at that third position.

ROUND 3: SCARBOROUGH RESULTS: 1: Harry Hemingway (Beta) 1; 2: George Hemingway (Beta) 28; 3: Max Agar (Beta) 59; 4: Charlie Crossland (Beta) 62; 5: Corey Peters (Beta) 69.

ROUND 4: SHEFFIELD & HALLAMSHIRE RESULTS: 1: Harry Hemingway (Beta) 1; 2: George Hemingway (Beta) 20; 3: Charlie Crossland

Holding the advantage is Elliot Smith, who has won the previous two rounds to this one, which he backed up with a runner-up position. The question is, despite winning in Scotland has Joe Drysdale let Smith slip away from him in the championship race as we enter the final round?

ROUND 3: SCARBOROUGH RESULTS: 1: Elliott Smith (OSET) 15; 2: Joe Drysdale (OSET) 25; 3: William Sagar (Beta) 30; 4: Max Dance (Beta) 38; 5: M Vasey (OSET) 51.

ROUND 4: SHEFFIELD & HALLAMSHIRE RESULTS: 1: Elliot Smith (OSET 72; 2: William Sagar (OSET) 77; 3:

Stanley Cubbon (OSET) 86; 4: Joe Drysdale (OSET) 97; 137; 5: Max Dance (Beta) 107.

(Beta) 70; 4: Max Agar (Beta) 72; 5: Corey Peters (Beta) 82.

ROUND 5: EAST LOTHIAN

ROUND 5: EAST LOTHIAN

RESULTS: 1: Joe Drysdale (OSET) 81; 2: Elliott Smith (OSET) 93; 3:

RESULTS: 1: Harry Hemingway (Beta) 1; 2: George Hemingway (Beta) 20; 3: Charlie Crossland (Beta) 70; 4: Max Agar (Beta) 72; 5: Corey Peters (Beta) 82.

RESULTS: 1: Harry Hemingway 100; 2: George Hemingway 85; 3: Crossland 69; 4: Agar 67; 5: Peters 58.

C Class – Medium Wheel Barring an absolute disaster, Jasper Fox looks on target to take the championship crown with three wins from the five contested. In the other two rounds a second and a third have kept him at the top of the table. Both Euan Sim and Toby Shaw also look confirmed to round off the top three in the championship, having both taken an individual round win.

ROUND 3: SCARBOROUGH

RESULTS: 1: Jasper Fox (Beta) 45; 2: Toby Shaw (Beta) 53; 3: Euan Sim (Beta) 53; 4: Ross Allen (Beta) 69; 5: H Skelton (Beta) 71.

ROUND 4: SHEFFIELD & HALLAMSHIRE RESULTS: 1: Toby Shaw (Beta) 86; 2: Jasper Fox (Beta) 86; 3: George Clarke (Beta) 121; 4: Euan Sim (Beta) 130; 5: Jonathan Fannon (OSET) 141.

ROUND 5: EAST LOTHIAN RESULTS: 1: Jasper Fox (Beta) 46; 2: Euan Sim (Beta)

84; 3: Ross Allen (Beta) 92; 4: Summer Peters (OSET) 97; 5: Jonathan Fannon (OSET) 124.

2018 CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS

88

2018 CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS

RESULTS: 1: Smith 89; 2: Drysdale 82; 3: Sagar 65; 4: Cubbon 63; 5:

2018 CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS

Jasper Fox (Beta)

Stanley Cubbon (OSET) 98; 4: Max Dance (Beta) 101.

RESULTS: 1: Fox 92; 2: Sim 80; 3: Shaw 71; 4: Fannon 56; 5: Allen 28.

Dance 59.

D Class – Small Wheel Consistency in the trials game usually pays dividends, and this has been the case with championship leader Ellis Barton. In second place in the championship Ruari Younie holds a very close advantage over Jacob Wilson, which will be interesting to watch. Despite contesting only three rounds and taking two wins Archie Bremner holds fourth position from Charlie Crossland

ROUND 3: SCARBOROUGH RESULTS: 1: Archie Bremner (OSET) 13; 2: Ellis Barton (OSET) 40; 3: Ruari Younie (OSET) 51; 4: Jacob Wilson (Beta) 65; 5: H Dixon (OSET) 73.

ROUND 4: SHEFFIELD & HALLAMSHIRE

RESULTS: 1: Ellis Barton (OSET) 44; 2: Archie Bremner (OSET) 45; 3: William Sparks (OSET) 78; 4: Ruari Younie (OSET) 86; 5: Jacob Wilson (OSET) 94.

ROUND 5: EAST LOTHIAN RESULTS: 1: Archie Bremner (Oset) 18; 2: Ruari Younie (OSET) 79; 3: Ellis Barton (OSET) 86; 4: Jacob Wilson (OSET) 98; 5: Corey Shepherd (Mecatecno) 104.

2018 CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS

RESULTS: 1: Barton 92; 2: Younie 73; 3: Wilson 71; 4: Bremner 57; 5: Shepherd 50.

Please note that due to print schedules, we could not include the final round of the championship in this issue.

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

SPORT

LADIES AND GIRLS BTC

Catherine Alford (Gas Gas)

Beth Dunning (Beta)

Elizabeth Tett (Beta)

LADIES AND GIRLS BTC

It's a scorcher The undisputed Ladies world number one Emma Bristow continues her winning ways at round three of this year’s championship held by the Yeadon and Guiseley club at its popular Dab Park Venue. With a good entry of 31 riders competing over 12 hazards, to be ridden three times, the biggest challenge was the scorching heat. Other clear championship leaders with maximum points after three of the proposed six rounds include Catherine Alford, Sarah Bell, Summer Peters and Matilda Arbon.

ARTICLE: TRIALS MEDIA • PICTURES: MIKE RAPLEY

Kaytlyn Adshead (TRS)

ROUND 3 RESULTS LADIES ROUTE 1: 1: Emma Bristow (Sherco) 15; 2:

Jess Bown (Scorpa) 34; 3: Donna Fox (Honda) 57.

LADIES 50/50 ROUTE 2: 1: Bethanie Dunning (Beta)

57; 2: Jennifer Stephen (Gas Gas) 70; 3: Chloe Baker (TRS) 74.

GIRLS A CHAMPIONSHIP 50/50 ROUTE 2: 1: Alice

2018 CHAMPIONSHIP WITH 3 ROUNDS COMPLETED

LADIES ROUTE 1: 1: Bristow 60; 2: Bown 51; 3: Hannah Styles (Vertigo) 41.

LADIES 50/50 ROUTE 2: 1: Baker 52; 2: Stephen 52; 3: Dunning 52.

GIRLS A CHAMPIONSHIP 50/50 ROUTE 2:

Minta (Beta) 18; 2: Olivia Brooksbank (Gas Gas) 48.

1: Brooksbank 57; 2: Alice Minta (Beta) 37.

LADIES INTERMEDIATE ROUTE 2: 1: Catherine Alford

2: Hammond 51; 3: Kimber 30.

(Gas Gas) 27; 2: Jazz Hammond (Sherco) 37; 3: Olivia Pearson (Beta) 82.

GIRLS A INTERMEDIATE ROUTE 2: 1: Sarah Bell (Beta) 53; 2: Molly Mayhew (Beta) 98; 3: Amy Clarke (Sherco) 119.

GIRLS B ROUTE 2: 1: Elizabeth Tett (Beta) 22; 2: Katlyn Adshead (Beta) 31; 3: Amelia Mayhew (Beta) 67.

LADIES INTERMEDIATE ROUTE 2: 1: Alford 60; GIRLS A INTERMEDIATE ROUTE 2: 1: Bell 60; 2: Clarke 47; 2: Mayhew 34.

GIRLS B ROUTE 2: 1: Tett 54; 2: Adshead 47; 3: Parsons 40.

GIRLS C ROUTE 3: 1: Peters 60.

GIRLS D ROUTE 4: 1: Arbon 60; 2: Brooksbank 34.

GIRLS C ROUTE 3: 1: Summer Peters (Beta) 8; 2: Poppy Fletcher (Beta) 54; 3: Chloe McKay (Beta) 55.

Molly Mayhew (Beta) 90

GIRLS D ROUTE 3: 1: Matilda Arbon (Beta) 22; 2: Summer Brooksbank (Beta) 50.

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

Andy Metcalfe Trial Mag 0318.pdf

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AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

YOUTH

MINTEX TROPHY

Joe Faunthorpe (Acklams Beta)

Ryan Brown (Beta) Reece Gazzard (Scorpa)

W Time and observation MINTEX TROPHY

ith youth riders in attendance the club control the course with radio linked travelling marshals who are supported by the Swaledale Fell Rescue team in the case of any incidents. By the smiles on the young faces of the riders they most certainly enjoyed the fine weather and the superb event organisation.

Path picking

It was once again time for the Scott Trial future riders to compete in the Richmond Motor Clubs national Mintex Trophy Trial held at Hurst, near Reeth in deepest North Yorkshire. This unique event is run as a scaled down Scott Trial to give the youth riders the chance to embrace the nature of the time and observation element of motorcycle trials. The event is as true and traditional as its elder brother, The Scott, which is run every year in October. Whereas the adult version contains around 80 hazards and covers a similar amount of miles the Mintex is contested over twenty miles with thirty hazards to be ridden. With start area just half a mile from the once famous Green Dragon Public House fifty seven A and B class youth riders departed from the start area at 10.30 prompt at thirty second intervals to take in some of the hazards used in the Octobers Scott trial.

WORDS: TRIALS MEDIA • PICTURES: LORENZO BURNETT AND ERIC KITCHEN

TRIAL MAGAZINE • AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018

The event always throws up some surprises but there was none for the eventual winner 16-year-old Ryan Brown (Beta). The apprentice Plumber took the entire course in his stride as he demonstrated a very mature attitude to the event by arriving at the hazards and taking a quick good look at them before making his attempt.

Ryan’s father Peter, a former Scott Trial competitor, was more than happy with his son’s performance which was rewarded with the best time and observation score and with it the Mintex Cup and the NLS Contracts Trophy and a set of tyres from one of the event sponsors Michelin. His efforts on the moors were well worth it with a time two minutes faster the Ben Dignan from Scotland with Joe Faunthorpe a further minute behind.

On observation, Lincolnshire’s Daniel Slack was second with a score og 23 marks lost but with machine problems, marks lost on time pushed him down the order to third overall.

Once again flying the Scorpa flag Reece Gazzard took the award for the best under 15-year-old rider as GasGas-mounted Jack Dance was the best first time rider.

Buxton’s Harry Turner, was probably the youngest and smallest rider, took it all in his stride as did Elliot Laws. And just remember the event is not just for the boys as the talented Alice Minta finished 17th overall and with it the best lady rider award.

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YOUTH

MINTEX TROPHY

6 Harry Turner (JST Gas Gas UK)

Jack Dance (JST Gas Gas UK)

A good days sport The trials course is no easy ride round the splendid Swaledale countryside and in fact is always very challenging but, as always, provides an excellent days sport.

Those 45 finishers from the start entry who finished in the allocated time allowance of the ‘Standard Time’ at 02.36.45 set by Ryan Brown plus two-and-a-half hours can boast that they competed and finished in what was around half of a Scott Trial.

Such iconic Scott trial section names as Dry Gill, Braithwaite’s Gill, Cold Bank, Whiskey Gill, Moresdale and Ridleys all played a part in the trial. The Ridley’ waterfall was very ‘Green’ and slippery, as were many of the early hazards for the early runners but the slime soon polished off and all the hazards were very rideable.

Richmond Motor Club President Paul Terry presented all the awards after the results team calculated all scores and times at record speed.

Keep an eye out for next year’s date as the verdict from everyone at this excellent event in superb weather was a ‘Cracking’ trial.

Alice Minta (Inchperfect Beta)

Daniel Slack, Ryan Brown and Joe Faunthorpe

MINTEX TROPHY RESULTS: 1: Ryan Brown (Beta) 18; 2: Joe Faunthorpe (Beta) 36;

3: Daniel Slack (Sherco) 38; 4: Robert Weatherill (Beta) 56; 5: Ben Dignan (Gas Gas) 61; 6: Reece Gazzard (Scorpa) 69; 7: Gus Oblein (Sherco) 69; 8: Mitchell Brightmore (Gas Gas) 75; 9: Guy Stones (Beta) 78; 10: Jack Dance (Gas Gas) 84.

BEST ON TIME: Ryan Brown (Beta) 02.45.36 BEST ON OBSERVATION: Ryan Brown (Beta) 18 BEST UNDER 15: Reece Gazzard (Scorpa) 69 BEST GIRL: Alice Minta (Beta) 137 BEST FIRST TIME: Jack Dance (Gas Gas) 84 Sam Russel (Gas Gas) 94

LAST OFFICIAL FINISHER: Sam Russel (Beta) 05.06.20 AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

BVM Trial Mag 0318.pdf

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EAST NEUK

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SALES • SET UP • SERVICE 95 22/05/2018 12:42

DEALER VISIT CRAIGS MOTORCYCLES

A family success story At this year’s hugely popular Telford Classic Off-Road Show the news that Jeff Smith, the ex-BSA works rider, would be presenting his new autobiography was welcome news.

Having a trade stand ourselves I was in the hall early, with Jeff Smith sat right next door where he would be signing copies of his new book.

Craig Holmes turned up nice and early too, and we began chatting.

The conversation turned to the success story of his business, Craigs Motorcycles. He told me that the business would be 10 years old in September and my answer to that was ‘Maybe it’s time to do a dealer visit’; and so the invitation was made and we arrived in Dewsbury to meet the family-run business to generate this article.

WORDS AND PICTURES: JOHN HULME

96

Aaron has successfully followed in his father’s footsteps, endorsing the family success story.

T

he move to open a new motorcycle shop was a brave but well thought-out plan.

It was not a rational decision, but one that Craig believed in and that would work. He had 40 years of experience in the trade and was a former director of another well-known motorcycle business in the Yorkshire area.

A new Start

Having worked in the industry, Craig knew what direction he wanted to move in, and with it came

his then young son Aaron who, despite his young age, had already gained five years’ experience. He was fresh and ready to move into the big wide world of the motorcycle industry, knowing that for any advice he only had to turn to his father.

The beginning of Craigs Motorcycles was in September 2008 when they opened the doors on the Dewsbury store. The first franchise they would look at and then take onboard was with Honda and KTM, two huge players in the motorcycle world.

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

DEALER VISIT CRAIGS MOTORCYCLES

Jack Challoner can be found at the end of the telephone for all trials enquiries or working in the busy showroom.

The modern showroom covers a multitude of machines and products all on display in a very relaxed environment.

Working with Aaron Holmes at Craigs Motorcycles Graham Foster-Vigors the Honda (HME-UK) Off Road Sales Manager, seen here on the right, has been very instrumental in getting Jack Challoner back to riding in the British Trials Championship on Montesa.

Workshop facilities are second to none, available for servicing and the fitting of upgrade parts.

With many contacts in the trade, they would soon attract the clothing and accessory side of the market and soon started to stock all the major brands, who wanted to be part of an overall bigger picture further down the road with this new venture.

Expansion

Customer care is paramount; here Jack can be seen working with a valued customer.

TRIAL MAGAZINE • AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018

After the first five years and, with a healthy order book, the decision was made to expand the business. With daughter Natasha now working the accounts department, the second branch was opened in Shipley, Bradford, at the former Alan Jefferies BMW shop for a Honda Road franchise run by Craig’s other son Matthew.

Now with two outlets to offer to the growing order books Yamaha, Kawasaki, Montesa and Husqvarna franchises were added to the Dewsbury store. The Montesa name is very much a part of the trials scene and also associated with Honda and, at the end of 2013 just as the updated Cota 260cc model was introduced, it was added to the other wide range of machines on offer. Since this was added, it’s allowed the trials side of the business to expand.

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DEALER VISIT CRAIGS MOTORCYCLES

The sales counter is where many people make their first point of contact with Craigs Motorcycles.

The Husqvarna franchise is one of the latest additions to the Dewsbury store.

Still Growing

The two shops have a spread of over 30 staff, who all have a passion for the company and its products. Many of the team can be found competing in Enduro, Motocross and Trials on most weekends, which is good as they can talk about what they are selling with passion as they really understand the products.

The Montesa trials side of the business has a certain Jack Challoner at the end of the telephone, or he can be found working in the busy showroom; he was as high as seventh in the Trial World Championship having won a Junior World title and also a European one in his younger days. His skills are also put to good use with his friend Martin Crosswaite when they perform at shows on the Montesa, representing the ‘On The Edge’ show team. Now a family man, Jack is very much a part of the business but still competes on a regular basis with Aaron and, naturally, on the Montesa trials machines.

With a massive stock of over 300 new and used machines and a multitude of aftermarket parts accessories and clothing at the Dewsbury store, it has to be worth visiting either of the shops to see what they have in stock for you. www.craigsmotorcycles.com

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Aaron likes nothing better than riding in a trial (on a Montesa, naturally) with his good friends Martin Crosswaite and Jack Challoner.

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

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Representative Example based on 2 years 2.9% VPL. Offers applicable at participating dealers and are at the promoter's absolute discretion. Indemnities may be required in certain circumstances. Finance is only available to persons aged 18 or over, subject to status. All figures are correct at time of publication but may be subject to change. Honda Franchise Dealers are credit brokers, not lenders. Credit provided by Honda Finance Europe Plc. Cain Road, Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 1HL. Honda Financial Services is a trading name of Honda Finance Europe Plc. a company registered at Companies House No 03289418. Honda Finance Europe plc is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, Financial Services Register number 312541

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AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

CLASSIC

Friends

ALVIE TWO DAY

B

ack in 2013, the club lifted the level of the trial with the introduction of the Bultaco Edition when famous riders of the marque were invited to attend. Following on from the Thorpe Edition, the Tenth Edition, the Yamscot Edition and the Honda Edition, this year it was the Montesa Cota Edition, and in 2019 it will be the SWM Edition.

Viva Montesa John Moffat with Douglas Bald

The sub-heading on the programme as “the friendliest trial in Scotland” says it all about the Inverness Club’s Highland Classic Two Day Trial, held on the wonderful Alvie Estate just a few miles south of the Highland town of Aviemore. Each year the trial grows in stature, from being very much a tiny club event to one of the highlights of the classic trials rider’s year. The result was a full-house entry of 150 who filled the entry list within a day or so way back in February, and a further small number of guest riders invited by the club to add even more exceptional status to the trial.

WORDS: MIKE RAPLEY • PICTURES: ERIC KITCHEN

TRIAL MAGAZINE • AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018

There was a significant number of twin-shock Montesas entered, most of them very smart rebuilds, and it was former British Expert Trial winner Clive Smith who was the guest of honour to represent the marque. He had done the invite justice as his Montesa was an immaculate Cota 247 version cobbled together from three machines that he’s owned since his days when he was supported by Jim Sandiford some 30 years ago. His brother Steve was also there, as was his son, but unfortunately the other two brothers of the famous trialling family Eddie and Ray are no longer with us.

The Alvie Estate’s Laird, Jamie Williamson and his staff have been welcoming trials riders to the land for a good number of years, and his

Clive Smith (1975 247 Montesa Cota) speech at the riders’ gathering before they tackled the two laps of 18 sections each day proved once again how much the estate values the attendance of the trial. The club has the trial entirely correct for a classic trial; there are no tight turns, everything can be ridden without the use of the clutch if so desired, and the classic rocky streams provide a level of grip that is rarely found outside of the Highlands.

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CLASSIC ALVIE TWO DAY

Jim Tennant (1964 250 Francis Barnett)

Andrew Chandler (1982 242 Montesa Cota)

‘Mac’ Zero There are two routes: a slightly more difficult A route and the more popular B route, though to be fair the entire entry could well have tackled the A route and not been fazed by the severity, for there was nothing to crash off and nothing even remotely hazardous.

This year’s Scottish Pre-65 Trial winner, Gary Macdonald from Kinlochleven, was the clear winner on a zero score repeating his success of 2017, with guest rider Phil Disney second on one mark lost, while the best performance on a Montesa was by top Scottish expert ‘Chips’ — Alan Crayk.

On the B route the overall winner, with another clean sheet, was Jim Tennant in front of Nick Jefferies who lost three, proving that the former TT winner, Honda and CCM factory rider and British ISDT team rider has retained all the ability that has made him arguably the best all-around motorcyclist of the current generation. The scores varied from zero to well over 100, but it mattered not a jot to the riders who were there to enjoy the friendliest trial in Scotland, and just as it ‘says on the tin’, that is exactly what they enjoyed.

Hanna Vesterinen (1965 185 Bantam)

John Charlton (1966 500 Triumph 5TA)

HIGHLAND TWO DAY TRIAL 2018 INVERNESS AND DISTRICT MOTOR CLUB

A ROUTE

BEST MONTESA: Alan Crayk (Montesa) 10 POST-77 TWINSHOCK: Phil Disney (Honda) 1 PRE-77 TWINSHOCK: Stephen Robson (Montesa) 11 TWO-STROKE: Tim Blackmore (James) 9 UNDER 35/PRE-65: Gary Macdonald (Triumph) 0 UNDER 35/TWINSHOCK: Robbie Weir (Yamaha) 11 UNIT: Kevin Chapman (TriField) 30

B ROUTE TWINSHOCK: Owen Hardisty (Honda) 4 PRE-72 TWINSHOCK: Ross Edgar (Bultaco) 123 PRE-77 TWINSHOCK: Clive Smith (Montesa) 20 PRE UNIT: Gary Shaw (Ariel) 9 TWO-STROKE: Jim Tennant (Francis Barnett) 0 OLDEST FINISHER: Neil Walker (Francis Barnett) 28 UNDER 35/TWINSHOCK: Jonathan Waters (Fantic) 12 BEST FEMALE: Hannah Vesterinen (BSA) 10 UNDER 35/PRE-65: Jordan Hayes (Triumph) 8 Classic Paddock 102

UNIT: Scott Alexander (Sprite) 1 AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

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AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

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TRIAL MAGAZINE • AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018

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DEALER LOCATOR

FIND YOUR NEAREST SUPPLIER

01 AB Motorcycles Tel: 01685 382100 Email: barrie-ab@hotmail.com Web: www.abmotorcycles.co.uk Area: CF48 2SR

02 Acklams Motorcycles Tel: 07957 148588 / 07540 591410 Email: Acklams@btclick.com Web: www.acklamsmotorcycles.com Area: HG3 2BG

03 Active Bikesport Tel: 01761 241887 Email: activebikesport@gmail.com Area: BA3 4PD

04 AG Bikes Tel: 01748 886356 Email: gebrownson@f2s.com Area: DL11 6NH

05 Andy Metcalfe Motorcycles Tel: 01287 638030 Email: andymetcalfemotorcycles@gmail.com Web: www.andymetcalfemotorcycles.com Area: TS14 7DH

06 Birkett Motosport Tel: 01229 716806 Email: nigel.birkett@talk21.com Web: www.birkettmotosportukltd.com Area: LA20 6EZ

07 Bob MacGregor Trials Academy Web: Area:

www.trialsacademy.co.uk KA3 4EH

08 BVM Moto UK Tel: 01453 297 177 Email: sales@bvm-moto.co.uk Web: www.bvm-moto.co.uk Area: GL5 5EX

09 Craigs Motorcycles Tel: 01924 488117 Mail: aaron@craigsmotorcycles.com Web: www.craigsmotorcycles.com Area: WF13 1HX

10 Cloburn Trials Tel: Web: Mail: Area: 106

01228 588838 www.cloburntrialsandenduro.com tom@cloburninternational.com YO62 5LX

11 Colin Appleyard Motorcycles Tel:

01535 606311

Email: bikes@colinappleyard.com Web:

www.colinappleyard.com

Area:

BD21 5AJ

12 East Neuk Trials Motorcycles Tel:

01333 311744

Email: duncan.wood@btconnect.com Area:

KY10 2RB

13 Feetup Tel:

01723 865577

Email: alan@feetup.wanadoo.co.uk Web:

www.feetuptrialsport.co.uk

Area:

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14 Inch Perfect Trials Tel:

01200 448130

Email: sales@inchperfecttrials.co.uk Web:

www.inchperfecttrials.co.uk

Area:

BB7 3AU

15 Inta Bikes Tel:

01622 688727

Email: intabikes@btconnect.com Web:

www.intabikes.co.uk

Area:

ME15 6HE

16 John Lee & Sons Motorcycles Tel:

01933 312827

Email: johnlee.mc@btconnect.com Web:

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17 MHB Motorcycles Tel:

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www.mhbmotorcycles.com

Area:

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18 Mickey Oates Motorcycles Tel:

0141 332 7374

Email: sales@mickeyoates.com Web:

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Area:

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19 Paul Nash Motorcycles 01621 743443 Mail: nap148@aol.com Web: www.paulnashmotorcycles.com Area: CM3 6LF Tel:

20 RAS Sport Tel:

01484 711720

Email: andrew@rassport.com Web: Area:

www.rassport.com HD6 1LH

21 RCM Trialsport Tel:

01209 820896

Email: rcm-trialsport@hotmail.com Area:

TR16 5PN

22 Sandiford Offroad Tel:

01282 455697

Email: martin@sandifordracing.co.uk

www.sandifordracing.co.uk Area: BB11 5SS Web:

23 Splat Shop Tel:

01246 453336

Email: sales@splatshop.co.uk Web: Area:

www.SplatShop.co.uk S41 9RT

24 TrialEnduroDirect Tel:

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Email: sales@trialendurodirect.com Web: Area:

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25 Trail & Trials UK 01334 840414 Email: john@tytrials.com Web: www.tytrials.com Area: KY8 5TF Tel:

26 Trails Bike Breakers 07835 233083 Email: sales@tbbuk.co.uk Web: www.tbbuk.co.uk Area: BB4 8AA Tel:

27 Trials UK 0113 281 8242 Email: sales@trialsuk.co.uk Web: www.trialsuk.co.uk Area: LS18 5NX Tel:

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TRIAL MAGAZINE • AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018

107

CYCLE CATCH-UP

Josh McParland

What is your earliest recollection of cycle trials?

It’s quite funny how things catch your eye or come up in conversation, and this is how this article came about on one of cycle trials young stars Josh McParland. Many items and ideas for articles come into the Trial Magazine office, and then I spotted one with the name McParland attached to it. As I already know Josh’s dad Tim, I thought it was time to catch up with this young cycle trials star.

ARTICLE: TRIALS MEDIA WITH JOSH MCPARLAND • PICTURES: FRANCESCLLADO.CAT AND MCPARLAND FAMILY COLLECTION

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I got a Monty 202 cycle for Christmas in 2008 when I was just two years old, and I remember riding it around the living room as soon as I’d unwrapped it, and that was the start of many miles to come. I even remember going to the World Round in Ireland that year with my Monty, awesome.

When did you first start competing?

It was motorcycles first when I was four years old. I rode an electric one in a Yeadon & Guiseley trial near Bingley in 2010 and continued from there switching to a Gas Gas 50 in 2012 when I was six. I also rode my first cycle trial competition in April 2012 at Addingham Moorside and continued with both sports up until 2015.

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

CYCLE

CATCH-UP

Britain’s got talent: Adam Morewood, Josh McParland and Charlie Rolls.

It’s not just cycle trials.

Despite starting competing at such a young age, can you remember what or how you got into trials?

Ever since I remember I’ve been obsessed with cycles/motorcycles and even though I don’t remember it mum and dad told me that I tried to get out of my pushchair to get closer to the motorcycle that was pulling Santa’s sleigh through Silsden in Yorkshire!

My dad also rode trials, so I am sure that had some impact too, although I didn’t need any encouragement. Dad says I was most content riding through flags and over obstacles as flat ground was boring.

One photo shows you on your Monty push bike at the Scottish Six Days back in 2008

Yes, I remember that year too, I thought I was one of the riders! I still have my Monty with the scrutineering paint on it would you believe.

How old were you and where was your first international competition?

I was seven years old, and it was the second round of the BIU World Championships in Odena, Catalunya. We missed the first round the week before in Spain as dad only decided at the last minute to have a trip abroad to see what it was all about.

With Adam Morewood, a regular practice partner and an inspiration to all cycle trials riders.

TRIAL MAGAZINE • AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018

I was so excited when mum and dad told me we were going to a World round!

I didn’t have any expectations or knowledge of foreign events or the riders as I’d never competed in one, but as I was British Champion at that time, I’d hoped I could at least not embarrass myself. I remember dad saying “We’re off to enjoy ourselves, not to compete for places. I know you can ride, but these lads are something else so anything better than last will be a gre`at result".

The trip didn’t start that well as we had to queue for two hours for the hire car. Once we got going, I was told I was navigating and was given directions to read that dad had printed off. All was going well until we took the wrong exit off a roundabout and had to re-join the main road.

As we were doing this, we were hit by a car that was being driven by an old man. It shocked both of us as we were actually sat still at a junction, and the old man’s car carried on, out of control, up the road before hitting a barrier. Our car was going nowhere, it was quite badly damaged, but no one was hurt, and I learned some new words from dad.

Our friend Kevin Duke came to pick me up and take me to the event while dad went to pick up our second car, he gave me €10 for food and drink and off we went. Dad got sorted a couple of hours later and met us at the venue where I had bought myself a new t-shirt with the money dad gave me just to get over the day's trauma. I can still see his face!

How did you do in the Trial?

The trial itself went really well. I was coping very well with the sections and enjoying watching everyone ride, and despite the 30ºC heat, I felt good. Dad had reminded me that I would probably be last and not to be disappointed. 'Just do your best'. I went to look at the results board after the trial and saw that I had finished second — I was buzzing! Had dad relaxed me by trying to say not to worry? We were both thrilled with the result.

Representing Team Great Britain.

109

CYCLE CATCH-UP

Josh has made many friends in the world of cycle trials from around the globe.

What has been your favourite trip or competition?

I don’t have a favourite country out of those I’ve competed in as they have all been amazing, and I’ve been so fortunate to visit so many, such as Spain, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Italy, France, Belgium, Sardinia, Denmark, Poland and Germany. Along the way, I’ve made so many great new friends and memories as well as sharing some trips with my good friends Adam Morewood and Charlie Rolls.

Where do you train/practice?

I practice mainly at Shipley Glen, mostly on my own as there is no one locally who competes in bike trials. I occasionally bump into Jack Carthy (World Champion) who always takes time to help.

Recently, I’ve spent quite a bit of time over in Colne, Lancashire at a man-made bike park that my dad is helping to construct, and this has helped me to practice certain skills needed for UCI events.

I can’t wait until it’s finished. I also have a couple of places in Silsden that I’m fortunate to have permission to ride on too.

100% concentration is always given.

All dressed up with trials legend Sammy Miller.

Are you interested in any other sports?

Yes, I enjoy playing football and rugby at school, but out of school I just want to ride bikes, any time and any place will do.

You’ve competed in cycle and motorcycle trials too. If you had to choose which one would it be?

I get asked this question many times because I’m one of the few riders who has done both at the same time. I love both and would be happy doing both again, but concentrating on one helps you focus and become better in that discipline. The answer has to be bike trials as that’s what I’m doing right now and enjoying it.

One day, sooner rather than later, I’d like to return to the motorcycle as I miss riding my Beta. It will be interesting to see if riding bike trials have helped me in any way for a return to motorcycles.

Who are your favourite Bike Trial riders?

Bike trials have such a great group of people all over Europe who enjoy riding with one another and sharing tips, but my favourite riders are the best of British. Jack Carthy, who has achieved so much at the age of 22, and two riders, which I’m proud to be friends and ride with regularly, are Charlie Rolls, who like Jack has a unique and dynamic riding style and Adam Morewood who I’ve practised with regularly. I admire Adam's dedication to bike trials.

You’ve had a good year so far becoming European Champion, British Champion and National Champion, have you any plans for the rest of the year?

Yes, all the above have been a target and as is usual in bike trials when you are in your last year of the age category you are expected to win. The European Championship win was very special and has driven me, even more, to give it my all at the UCI World Youth Games in Lazzate, Italy, and the BIU World Championship in Sardinia this August. I am so pleased that it has been so hot in the UK as it offered for some temperature conditioning ahead of the competitions.

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And relax!

Who is Josh McParland?

DOB: 24/01/06 (Age: 12). Riding Since: 2008 • Bike: ONNIT Mamba • Favourite Band: Oasis • Favourite Film: Kingsman • Favourite Food: Mums Spaghetti and Meatballs • Favourite Car: McLaren P1 • Favourite Colour: Red • Favourite Drink: Water • Favourite Shoes: Adidas • Favourite Magazine: Trial Magazine

Achievements

British National Cup winner x 3; National Champion x 1; British Champion x 4; European Champion x 1; European Championship runnerup x 2; European Cup winner x 1; World BIU Championship runner-up.

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

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