Trial Magazine Issue 78 December 2019-January 2020

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

78

SCOTT TRIAL WINNER 2019

JAMES DABILL INTERVIEW

HQ VISIT

9 771753 004065 9 771753 004065

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ISSUE 78 • UK: £5.50

DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020

ADAM RAGA MONTESA ELECTRIC

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TRIAL MAGAZINE

SECTION

WELCOME

78 WELCOME FEATURES

06

NEW MODELS

14

2020 Scorpa

PRESENTATION

28

Montesa Cota 301RR

QUICK SPIN

32

Electric Motion ePure Race

INTERNATIONAL

36

FIM Trial World Championship

TRADITIONAL

14

62

Scott Trial

INTERVIEW

74

Adam Raga

VISIT

82

Montesa HQ

CLASSIC

90

1979 Dirt Bike Show

VACATION

99

Jersey Two-Day

62

SPORT

102

British Championship

SECTIONS

90 COVER PHOTO: 2019 SCOTT TRIAL WINNER JAMES DABILL (BETA) • PICTURE CREDIT: TRIALS MEDIA, JOHN HULME

CJ Publishing Limited is a Company Registered in England Number: 5947718. © 2019 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.

TALK TRIALS: TONI BOU 6 NEWS 8 SHOPPING 18 PADDOCK 24 SUPERSTORE 96 DEALER LOCATOR 110 SUBSCRIPTION FORM 112

Trial Magazine is published by: CJ PUBLISHING LIMITED 48 Albion Road, New Mills, High Peak, Derbyshire, SK22 3EX. UK

Editorial Staff Cyrille Barthe, Jean Caillou, Phil Disney, Nick Shield, Matthew Heppleston, Heath Brindley and John Moffat.

Telephone: 01663 749163 Email: england@trialmag.com

Photographers Colin Bullock, Eric Kitchen, Cyrille Barthe, Josh Turner, Yoomee, Trials Media, Barry Robinson, Don Morley, Mauri/Fontserè Collection and the Giulio Mauri Copyright, Andy Gregory, Toon Van De Vliet, Brian Holder and Leah Robinson.

Co-Managing Directors John Hulme & Charles Benhamou Executive Director Philippe Benhamou Editor John Hulme (NUJ No: 949620) england@trialmag.com

TRIAL MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020

Proof reading Jane Hulme and Davina Brooks

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 Mail Order www.trialmaguk.com TRIAL MAGAZINE: ISSN: 1753-0040.

5

TALK TRIALS TONI BOU

SHOWTIME

October most certainly was ‘Showtime’ with the launch of the new 2020 model Montesa Cota 301RR and our end-ofseason Montesa party at the running of the 19th Montesada day in Spain. The new model’s launch was well attended and enjoyed by many who wanted to see what the factory has been up to. The end result is very much a machine that can be ridden and enjoyed at all levels of ability, based around the FIM Trial2 machines ridden to so much success in the world championship series.

WORDS: TONI BOU WITH JOHN HULME • PICTURES: JOAN VALLS, REPSOL HONDA

Y

es, I am biased about the performance from the Cota 4RT four-stroke engine as it has taken me to so much success, which brings me nicely around to the Montesada day. It’s basically an end-of-season gathering to celebrate not just the world championship success but the brand of Montesa.

Many of the enthusiasts both old and new join together to talk and enjoy Montesa; it’s really good to meet and talk to them, they are genuine enthusiasts and some I have known all my life. With my fellow team riders Takahisa Fujinami, the new FIM Trial2 World Champion, Gabriel Marcelli, Matteo Grattarola and Francesc Moret in attendance, putting on a riding display it soon becomes very competitive amongst us! I have one particular hazard we can put a superb riding display on that requires jumping up and landing on a strong tree branch before riding off it. When I first discovered it, if I am honest, I crashed a few times as did that crazy Japanese ‘Kid’ Fujigas. Now we have young ‘Gabby’ Marcelli who is riding on the crest of a wave having won his first world title. After some serious leg-pulling that he could not do it, he listened to me and ‘Fuji’ before he eventually conquered it, as did Matteo and Francesc. Gabby

6

is most certainly a rider on the move and improving all the time. He is younger than me and future talent in TrialGP, let me tell you.

As we close 2019, I want to once again convey my thanks to everyone who supports me in the world championship. The success continues as a team effort; it’s not just me who rides the Repsol Honda but everyone else, including the sponsors, plays a major part in what we achieve together. As for the British fans you will no doubt be coming along to the Sheffield Indoor event, so until then have a good Christmas!

Until next time – Toni ‘Dynamite’ Bou.

DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

THE CHOICE OF CHAMPIONS.

13 26

20YM COTA 301RR REPRESENTATIVE FINANCE EXAMPLE Manufacturer’s Recommended Retail Price (Cash Price) £7,999.00 Deposit

£2,175.25

Amount of Credit

£5,823.75

36 Monthly Payments

£179.00

Total Amount Payable

£8,619.25

Representative APR

6.9%

Fixed Interest Rate p.a.

6.69%

6.9% APR REPRESENTATIVE VPL ON 20YM MONTESA COTA 301RR MODELS

INTRODUCING THE NEW COTA 301RR - THE MOST RACING-ORIENTED TRIAL BIKE. Dominate the competition with the new 2020 Montesa Cota 301RR — a racing-oriented Trials machine built to take you to the top step.

An enlarged 298 cc engine with a new ECU and redesigned crankcase help make the machine feel lighter and more controllable.

The higher rear fender, new slimmer and more angular fuel tank and new LED headlight all add to the more aggressive and sharper lines, giving the Cota 301RR a sportier look and a modern touch. The new Montesa Cota 301RR: How high will you take it?

Visit your local dealer to find out more.

honda.co.uk

0345 200 8000

VPL Terms & Conditions: *New Montesa Cota 301RR 20YM orders from 01 November 2019 to 02 January 2020 and registered by 02 January 2020. Subject to model and colour availability. Representative Example based on 3 years 6.9% 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.

NEWS

TRIAL NEWS ROUND-UP

25th Anniversary

Sheffield Indoor Trial

Make a date for your diary over the Christmas period: Saturday 28th December 2019, when South Yorkshire is the place to be when the Sheffield Indoor Trial celebrates its 25th anniversary at the FlyDSA arena, Sheffield.

Headlining the show will be the most dominant riders in the FIM X-Trial World Championship led by the undisputed world number one from Spain Toni Bou (Repsol Honda), with his constant rival Adam Raga (TRRS) who, no doubt, will once again want to taste the Sheffield champagne. They will be joined by one of the ‘hottest’ young trials riding talents on the planet, Jaime Busto, and making his return to the event after a two-year absence is Jeroni Fajardo.

Great Britain’s top two riders on the world stage, James Dabill and Jack Price, will no doubt want to give the home crowd something to cheer about, with the remaining two riders still to be announced.

The event promoters, Avondale Management, are also promising to add some exciting young talent to the established cast to compete against the best indoor riders in the world.

Ticket prices are held again at the same level as the previous editions: £32.50 for adults and £22.50 for under 14s. Standard tickets can be purchased from the arena box office: 0114 256 56 56 or online at www. flydsaarena.co.uk. For all the latest event news and further event information visit www.sheffieldindoortrial.co.uk

2020 FIM TRIAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

As we went to print, the calendar for the 2020 FIM Trial World Championship had just been released, with an extended series next year taking in seven rounds and nine points-scoring days. The TrialGP and Trial2 classes will contest every round, TrialGP Women will compete over a four-round championship with five scoring days, Trial125 gets seven scoring days spread across five rounds and Trial2 Women will compete over three rounds and three days of competition. The TrialE Cup will also be decided over three rounds and three days after an extra date was added to next year’s series.

The championship gets under way on May 23–24 at Sokolov in the Czech Republic – the venue for the 2018 FIM Trial des Nations – before heading to the distant Twin Ring Motegi circuit in Japan on June 5–7 where the riders will have two days of competition. This will be the only round outside Europe in 2020. From here the series moves to Sant Julia in Andorra on June 20–21 and then it’s on to Tolmezzo in Italy on July 4–5. TrialGP Great Britain is back on the calendar for 2020 with points at stake over two days of competition at Tong, near Leeds, over the weekend of July 10–12.

After the traditional summer break, the sixth round will be at Cahors, in France, on August 29–30 before the series signs off on September 5–6 at Pobladura de las Regueras in Spain. The FIM Trial des Nations and Women’s Trial des Nations will take place at Gouveia, Portugal, on September 12–13. TrialGP Women will be in action in the Czech Republic, Japan, Andorra and Spain with the Trial2 Women class joining them at every round apart from Japan. Trial125 riders will compete in Japan, Italy, Great Britain, France and Spain, and the FIM TrialE Cup will be decided in Andorra, Italy and France.

8

FIM X-Trial World Championship The provisional 2020 FIM X-Trial calendar includes visits to Ecuador and La Reunion as the promoters consolidate the Championship’s geographical expansion.

Among the rounds that will take the world’s best X-Trial riders away from their European base in 2020 is X-Trial Quito, Ecuador’s capital city, scheduled to host the sixth round of the season on 29th February 2020. The event will also mark X-Trial’s return to Latin America, a crucial step in the planned growth of the sport that intends to include more countries in the coming seasons. The forthcoming X-Trial Quito will also create an additional challenge for the riders by visiting the General Ruminahui Coliseum next year as they will compete for the first time at an incredible altitude of 2,800 metres.

The newly released FIM X-Trial World Championship calendar also features a second venue outside of Europe with a first trip to La Reunion, located close to Madagascar to the south-east of Africa.

This 16th November date means that Toni Bou will start the defence of his title in 2019. In between these overseas fly-aways the regular European calendar is boosted by the inclusion of the new X-Trial Rennes, France, which will take place on the 23rd November 2019.

Meanwhile four of last season’s venues are retained including: X-Trial Budapest (19th January), X-Trial Barcelona (2nd February) and X-Trial Bilbao (15th February) that keep their dates in the diary. X-Trial will also make a welcome return to Austria after a two-year absence for the fourth X-Trial Wiener Neustadt on 21st March 2020.

Once again the honour of closing the 2020 FIM X-Trial World Championship falls to Andorra la Vella, the spectacular scene of last season’s finale, which is back in the calendar on the 25th April.

CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS

Apart from the obvious gift of the Trial Magazine subscription we have two new products that will make ideal stocking fillers. We have these superb quality drawstring gym bags which are ideal to carry a set of waterproofs, for example, just in case it rains when you have your summer kit on.

Also, at the request of our readers, we can now supply these highquality protective binders to keep your Trial Magazine collection safe, to enjoy time after time.

Both of these products are available to order in the magazine or at our international website: www.trialmaguk.com DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

THE CHOICE OF CHAMPIONS

TONI BOU 13 x FIM X-Trial World Champion (Indoor) 13 x FIM Trial World Champion (Outdoor)

To discover the MICHELIN Trial range visit: moto.michelin.co.uk

NEWS

TRIAL NEWS ROUND-UP

TRS 2020

CASALES AND GAS GAS

The big news from the fast-moving Spanish manufacturer TRS is the move into the youth market with its new electric model. To complement the new machine they have also introduced a youth riding kit. Also new is the One Raga Racing 2020 model; flip back a page and check out TRS’s advert.

TRS One Kids – E 2020

After several years in the Trial market, TRS Motorcycles presents its first electric motorcycle design, which is focused on the youngest riders.

This new model will be marketed in December 2019 in the 20’ version for riders aged between six and ten years of age, and in 16’ for the younger rider from February 2020.

WHAT’S NEW Aluminium monocoque frame: At first glance, an innovative integration of all the electrical components in the cycle part can be seen. The 48V, 17.5A lithium-ion battery integrated in the frame allows weight distribution to be optimized, guarantees its tightness and provides total protection. It’s claimed to provide up to three hours of use on one charge.

4A battery charger: Provides fast charging in less than three hours. 48V 1.350W electric motor: Located in the lowest and centred part of the frame to obtain a better centre of gravity. Power: 3.000 RPM with a torque of 32Nn. Swinging Arm: Casting in aluminium. Control unit: 100A Controller: located inside the self-supporting sub frame, to achieve the least visual impact and obtain an optimum level of tightness. Bluetooth Connectivity: Programmable from the Android app with different modes of power delivery to adapt the motorcycle to each rider depending on their driving level.

FOUR RIDING MODES PROGRAMMED AS STANDARD: Mode 1: docile and safe for the youngest with less experience; Mode 2: optimal for trial initiation; Mode 3: the most performance and effective; and Mode 4: aggressive and powerful to face the biggest obstacles.

SUSPENSIONS: Rear suspension with 115mm progressive linkage system and Dnm hydraulic shock absorber, adjustable in extension and spring preload. 250lbs spring. Front suspension RST 26 ‘tapered’ 100mm travel pneumatic aluminium adjustable in extension and locking.

COMPONENTS Wheels: 20’ front wheel with TRS machined hub and Rebel Trial tyre. 19’ rear wheel with TRS machined hub and Rebel Trial tyre. Brake System: Shimano MT400 and 160mm brake discs. Rear sprocket: Z98 machined and Iris 219 chain. Footrest: TRS Grip. Handlebar Grips: Hebo with ODI plugs. Headset: Necco 1.5 / 1 1/8’. Handlebar: TRS Kids. Kill button: Leonelli. Protectors: front and rear disc, as well as rear sprocket.

12

The young Galician rider, and the Spanish brand from Girona, have reached an agreement whereby Jorge Casales will defend the colours of Gas Gas for the next two seasons. Since its inception, Gas Gas has always believed in young talent, supporting many of the future great riders of the trials world over the past 30 years.

Jorge Casales, with seven years of experience in the FIM Trial World Championship, is undoubtedly one of the best and most talented athletes of the new generation of trial riders. Today, he is the second youngest rider on the TrialGP grid. As a Gas Gas rider Jorge won the European Trial Championship in 2010, became TR2 Spanish Champion in 2011 and Junior World Trial Champion in 2013. Now he returns home to expand his riding career. His debut with Gas Gas took take place on the inaugural event of the 2020 FIM X-Trial World Championship in Reunion Island.

Jorge Casales: “I am very happy to sign for Gas Gas. Since the age of five, when I began to ride motorcycles, it was Gas Gas. My best victories were also on a Gas Gas. I am very motivated to come back to my home and to begin this new project. I feel that the brand really trusts in me and they treat me very well. I hope to return this trust with victories.”

KTM: GAS GAS Gas Gas officially launched as the new brand to the KTM ‘group’ in Milan.

John Shirt Jnr, the official Gas Gas UK importer: “It was a very worthwhile visit to EICMA where KTM officially added the Gas Gas brand to the ‘group’ and unveiled a ‘red’ Gas Gas 2020 TXTRACING model on the stand. This was a very positive message showing that Gas Gas is the new brand to their already successful group of manufacturers and it will remain as ‘Gas Gas’. There will be some very exciting and positive news coming soon.”

He added: “It’s great news that Gas Gas is now in the hands of the ultimate Off-road group and will give confidence and security to the brand.”

DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

CHAMPIONS RISE • 6 7 3 FAT B A R ® • T O N I B O U • 2 6 W O R L D T I T L E S •

www.renthal.com

PHOTO CREDIT : TRIAL MAGAZINE

NEW MODELS 2020

Scorpa Factory A call from the official UK importers for Scorpa motorcycles Nigel Birkett or his wife June is always welcome at the Trial Magazine HQ. I was more than happy to pick up the telephone and talk to ‘Birks’ about the new 2020 ‘Factory’ model range from Scorpa. Tried and tested products are always a sure-fire way to sell, and the question asked on many occasions is why change something when it isn’t broke, just evolve it; and that’s very much the case with the Scorpa three-machine range that makes up the ‘Factory’ models with the 125cc, 250cc and 300cc.

WORDS: TRIALS MEDIA WITH NIGEL BIRKETT • PICTURES: SCORPA

14

DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

NEW MODELS 2020

T

he Scorpa UK success story continues, and from their base in Broughton in Furniss, they run a small but dedicated team of riders who are always feeding back valuable information. Nigel then suggests to the factory in France the changes that he thinks would suit the machines for the UK market. As he says, it’s always very satisfying when you see them come to life as new machines arrive. Here we have a look at the success and changes to each of the 2020 ‘Factory’ machines.

Scorpa SC FACTORY 125 The year has been an enormous success as the French rider Kieran Touly took the much sought-after FIM Trial125 World Championship title, sealing the victory on home ground in France. Nigel’s own UK supported rider Alice Minta has set the Ladies’ Trial2 class on fire by finishing on the same points as the winner but losing out on the tie break for the title. The muchtravelled Recce Gazzard finished 2nd in the Youth ACU A Class British Championship as well as winning the Mintex Time and Observation Trial.

Chassis: REIGER Shock absorber – Adjustable aluminium TECH front forks – Z42 rear sprocket for improved traction – 2020 Factory graphic kit.

Engine: The Clutch evolution continues, with the springs and lever redesigned for better feel and increased reliability; interchangeable cylinder TRIAL MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020

head dome for compression adjustments; new CDI curve; new VERTEX RACING piston giving stronger and better performance at low revs; and NGK spark suppressor for better combustion and a stronger spark Scorpa SC FACTORY 250 & 300 In the FIM Trial2 World Championship, Spain’s Aniol Gelabert has continued to impress, finishing in 6th position. The ACU British Championship title in the Ladies’ Class for Jess Bown has to be the highlight of the year for the UK team. Fellow team riders Andy Chilton and Thomas Minta have also had respectable results during the year in British championship action. In the SACU, Scorpa had two riders in the top three positions in the Experts’ Class with Andrew Anderson second and Duncan McColl third.

Chassis: REIGER Shock absorber; adjustable aluminium TECH front forks; removable rear exhaust support; and 2020 Factory graphic kit.

Engine: Cylinder head, the continuous evolution of the compression ratio and dome shape for better engine performance; and interchangeable cylinder head dome for compression adjustments.

Head to Scorpa's advert on pages 10-11 for contact details.

15

SHOPPING WHAT’S NEW

CHRIMBO IDEAS, ANYONE?

MOTS XLIGHT Jacket Black

Web: www.trialendurodirect.com

Hebo Camo Trials Kit

Including CE protection Web: www.apico.co.uk

MOTS MEMBRANE Gloves

Web: www.trialendurodirect.com

18

DVD 2019 Trials Review

MOTS XLIGHT Jacket Red

Web: www.trialmaguk.com

Web: www.trialendurodirect.com

Hebo Vintage Trials Kit Including CE protection Web: www.apico.co.uk

S3 SPIDER ‘BLACKJACK’ Gloves

Web: www.trialendurodirect.com Web: www.s3parts.com

S3 Alaska Winter Sport Gloves

Various Colour Ways Web: www.trialendurodirect.com Web: www.s3parts.com

DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

SHOPPING WHAT’S NEW

S3 BLACKJACK Cap

Web: www.trialendurodirect.com Web: www.s3parts.com

S3 Vest Body-Warmer Technical Racing Team Various Colour Ways Web: www.trialendurodirect.com Web: www.s3parts.com

Wulfsport Impact Crash Helmet

Various Colour Ways. Sizes: XXS - XXL Web: www.wulfsport.com

S3 Vest Technical Windy 75

Light Weight 75Gr. Various Colour Ways Web: www.trialendurodirect.com Web: www.s3parts.com

Apico T1 Fat-Bar Pads

Pad available in three colour ways Web: www.apico.co.uk

Trial Magazine Gym Bag

Web: www.trialmaguk.com

OSET – Limited Edition Jersey Ages: 3 – 12 – Sizes: XS – XL Web: www.osetbikes.com

TRIAL MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020

Hebo Mono Crash Helmet Various Colour Ways Web: www.apico.co.uk

19

SHOPPING WHAT’S NEW

S3 SPIDER ‘BOSCO’ Gloves

Web: www.trialendurodirect.com Web: www.s3parts.com

MOTS STONE 4 Jacket Red

MOTS STONE 4 Jacket Black

Web: www.trialendurodirect.com

Web: www.trialendurodirect.com

TRS Balance Bike

Web: www.trsmotorcyclesuk.com

Putoline Bio Action Kit

An environment friendly full service kit.

For Off Road Air Filters.

Web: www.neodistribution.co.uk

TRS 26’ Cycle Trials Bike

Web: www.trsmotorcyclesuk.com

TRS 20’ Cycle Trials Bike

Web: www.trsmotorcyclesuk.com

Wulfsport HL Trials Boots

Web: www.wulfsport.com

22

DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

SHOPPING WHAT’S NEW

TRS 2020 Riding Kit

Youth and Adult Sizes XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL Web: www.trsmotorcyclesuk.com

OSET Kids ‘Electro’ Jumper Youth: XS, S, M, L, XL Web: www.osetbikes.com

Putoline Action Air Filters

Available for most models In both, Pre-oiled and Non-oiled Finishes Web: www.neodistribution.co.uk

OSET ‘Infinity’ Trials Kit OSET ‘Pulse’ Hoodie – Youth Youth: XS, S, M, L, XL Web: www.osetbikes.com

TRIAL MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020

Shirt: Ages: 3 – 12. Available in sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL. Pant: Ages 3 – 12. Waist sizes 16”, 18”, 20”, 22”, 24”, 26” and 28”.

Web: www.osetbikes.com

Putoline Body Warmer

Web: www.neodistribution.co.uk

23

PADDOCK

CAUGHT ON CAMERA

GOTCHA

TEAM KIA

JUST THE ONE?

RACE DAY

THE SCOTT

SUPER COOL 24

TIME

HAPPY DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

PADDOCK

CAUGHT ON CAMERA

HERE

IN IT TO WIN IT

AND PULL

RULE BRITANNIA @leah robinson

PHEW!

THIS WAY

LET'S GO

PROUD DADS

ITS' OVER

TRIAL MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020

THUMBS UP FOR CLASSIC 25

PRESENTATION MONTESA

THE RACE REPLICA

COTA 301RR

When you see the title Cota 301RR, you can assure yourself that you are purchasing a genuine Montesa ‘Race Replica’. The RR is based around the machine of the 2019 FIM Trial2 World Championship winner from Spain, Gabriel Marcelli, and the 2018 world champion from Italy, Matteo Grattarola. Yes, it’s an evolution of the long-standing Cota 4RT model, but one which includes an increase in the engine capacity to 298cc which is the maximum displacement allowed in the FIM Trial2 class. As with all the Montesa Cota models like 4RT 260 and 4RIDE, the Montesa Cota 301RR is manufactured for worldwide distribution in the Montesa-Honda facility at Santa Perpetua de Mogoda, Barcelona, Spain.

FEATURE: TRIAL MAGAZINE WITH STEVE COLLEY • PICTURES: MONTESA

28

DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

PRESENTATION

MONTESA

I

t’s a fact that all the trials manufacturers are evolving their current models as opposed to producing brand new ones, and the latest Montesa Cota 301RR 2020 model is no different. Since 2003, the company’s successful CRF 250cc motocross engine (a 250cc singlecylinder four-valve OHC liquid-cooled engine), has been developed to provide a well-proven and reliable power unit that has taken Toni Bou to his 26 FIM world titles. The engine is currently in the process made more compact and lighter in weight.

The engine capacity grew from the 250cc in 2013 with the introduction of the 260cc model before moving to the 300RR model with its engine capacity of 288cc in 2015 as we arrive at the Cota 301RR and its 298cc for 2020. It also enjoys a lightweight, simple integrated fuel injection system (PGM-FI) with a lower volume than a conventional carburettor. It comes in a single piece together with the throttle body and the ECU that performs instantaneous calculations of a wide range of variables such as the environment, engine temperature and atmospheric pressure.

Presentation: Steve ‘showtime’ Colley We are pretty sure that many people in the trials world and beyond will be familiar with our Steve Colley, aptly named ‘Mr. Showtime’ by the Sheffield Indoor Trial promoter, the late Neil Crosswaite. He has ridden factory-supported two-stroke machines from Fantic, Beta and Gas

TRIAL MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020

Gas, having won at world championship level.

He can add multiple British titles and Scottish Six Days Trial and Scott Trial victories to his name too! He needs no introduction.

Steve retired from mainstream trials a few years ago but is ever-popular with his trials demonstrations and shows which he carries out on a pair of Montesa Cota 300RR machines.

Steve Colley: “Not so long ago, moving from two- to four-stroke machines was a massive change for me but one I soon came to enjoy. The engine noise is enough to give you that feel-good factor; twist the throttle and enjoy.

I have watched the success of Toni Bou, and his 26 world titles, with much admiration therefore naturally delighted when I was invited to join him, and fellow test riders, at the official presentation of this new model in October with my good friend, and Trial Magazine editor, John Hulme.

Cool: “This is how I would describe the new grey ‘look’ for 2020. With the new modern aesthetics, the Cota 301RR has a more ‘racing’ and aggressive look, further endorsed by its angular lines and real ‘get on me and ride’ approach to its presentation.

“It starts for me with the new LED racing headlight moulding, and further new design has been applied to the rear mudguard, which is slightly higher than before. With two litres of fuel available in the aluminium tank, it’s been redesigned and, left behind, are the rounded shapes giving it once again that ‘racing’ theme.

“The model we have on test here is presented 29

PRESENTATION MONTESA

in the grey colour scheme, which I believe is what will come to the UK market, but for the more nostalgic supporters of the Montesa Cota range, a red and black option will become available. The excellent aluminium frame and swinging arm are retained, giving it an overall weight of 73 kilos.

Quality: “The standard of build quality and components is second to none. In the clean, modern Barcelona factory all the processes are carried out by a team of dedicated and experienced engineers and fitters whose duties include the assembly of the engine, injection moulding of the plastics, the fabrication of the aluminium frame, swinging arm and fuel tank and final assembly. The fact that this is carried out in-house guarantees a high level of build quality in all areas. You only have to have a look at a Montesa that’s a few years old; they still sound good and with high-level components fitted they also last well. The strong point on any Montesa purchase has to be the residual value, which remains very strong even after all these years of production.

“To protect the crankcase, a new rubber has been placed between it and the sump shield to absorb impact. Sturdy and reliable Tech branded 39 Ø front forks offering 175mm of adjustable travel in preload and extension are fitted, while at the rear, the Showa shock absorber provides 170mm of travel and is also adjustable.

Performance: “Many people find the ‘braking’ effect of a four-stroke engine very intrusive in their riding style, but on this new engine the diameter of the crankcase breather is now 2.25mm, whereas before it was 1.9mm. It is identical to the machines ridden by Bou and Fujinami. Engine performance is more than ample but very controllable. The engine mapping was arrived at after many hours of testing. It also benefited from a series of changes in the ECU department, together with a redesign of the crankcase gas decompression system in favour of an apparent reduction of the engine brake to make it lighter and more manageable. It is very much tuned to suit all riders. I felt that the power was very usable, smooth and controllable.

“The new aluminium silencer has more back pressure which has been achieved by increasing the volume of the inner tube. All this, together with the other changes in the engine has resulted in a notable increase in torque, benefiting from up to 16% more power and torque in low and medium revolutions.”

Conclusion: “I loved it; from the super-smooth power delivery to the ‘plush’ feeling from the excellent suspension package to the powerful brakes. A very light feel to the clutch operating system propels you forward with a firm, strong, tractable feel, and the tried and tested gearbox selection with a choice of five gears has a very ‘slick’ operating feeling.

“I do one day want to return to the Scottish Six Days Trial without the pressure of knowing I have to win and, when I do, I can assure you it will be on a Montesa Cota 4RT — they are superb where reliability comes as standard.”

COTA 301 RACE REPLICA SPECIFICATIONS

Engine Single cylinder, 299cc, four-stroke, 4 valves, SOHC, liquid cooled Bore & Stroke 81.5mm x 57.2mm

Fuel system Electronic fuel injection PGM-FI Fuel capacity 2.0 litres

Air Filter Wet urethane foam element Electrics Ignition System, electronically-controlled digital transistorised Clutch Wet multiplate type with coil springs Clutch Hydraulic Transmission 5 gears Frame Diamond-shaped aluminium twin spar Suspension Front: 39mm Ø TECH Cartridge type telescopic fork with pre-load and extension adjustments, 175mm stroke; Rear: Pro-Link, Showa damper with pre-load and extension adjustments, 170mm stroke Brakes Front: 185 × 3.5mm hydraulic disc with 4-piston calliper and sintered metal pads; Rear: 150 × 2.5mm hydraulic disc with 4-piston calliper and sintered metal pads Tyres Michelin Wheelbase 1,320mm

Dry Weight 73kg Price £7,999

Price includes VAT. Price correct at time of print.

CONTACT

HONDA

www.hondauk.co.uk 30

DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

NEW & WATERPROOF!

AVAIL ABLE AT

WWW.APICO.CO.UK

QUICK SPIN ELECTRIC MOTION

Let’s get serious Progress in sales of electric powered trials motorcycles in the adult sector has been progressive, with the introduction and exposure of the FIM TrialE World Championship in 2017. Gas Gas has paved the way in this world championship with three consecutive wins despite the threat from Yamaha with their radical and innovative prototype model. In the shadows and with no ‘Bells and Whistles’ the French Company Electric Motion has been gaining ground as the market leader with the introduction of its new ePure 2020 model range. When we asked Electric Motion for their thoughts on this new model the reply was: “Let’s get serious”. We invited John Sunter to put the new ePure Race model through its paces in early October.

TEXT: TRIAL MAGAZINE WITH JOHN SUNTER • PICTURES: TRIAL MAGAZINE

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DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

QUICK SPIN ELECTRIC MOTION

T

he new Race model arrives from the development of the prototype ridden by the French rider Christophe Bruand and expands on the Sport model with the inclusion of a fully functional hydraulic diaphragm clutch as found on its two-stroke petrol-fuelled counterparts. Both have a lightweight tubular frame, fabricated using 15CDV6 steel, which is only 1mm Ǿ and weighs less than 5kg. An aluminium engine guard acts as a stressed member, and the swinging-arm is also made of the light alloy.

Both models share M4 air front forks with CNC machined triple clamps and an R16V Olle rear shock, making it a very competitive package.

Engine power is controlled by the three options of different electrical maps: blue is for everybody offering good usable all-round power, green is the easiest to use and is for riders who are starting in the sport of trials; and the red setting is the one to make you stand up and take note, with plentiful power on hand at the slightest twist of the throttle.

Quick Spin – John Sunter Our ‘Quick Spin’ test pilot is John Sunter, who is better known for his ‘speed’ exploits on the fourstroke Montesa machines at the famous Scott Time and Observation Trial. As an instructor at the Inch Perfect Trials centre, John has a good knowledge of all the available machines on the trials market.

John Sunter: “Electric trials bikes or motorcycles have been a very successful tool TRIAL MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020

in our sport to encourage more riders at all levels of abilities to be introduced to the joys of trials riding. If I am honest, on the adult scene, we have seen very little serious commitment from a manufacturer to bring these models to the showroom floor — that was until Electric Motion made the bold move with its new and exciting four-model range for 2020.

“With a new official UK importer and with models in stock, it’s an exciting time for the French manufacturer that offers these four

machines to a wide target audience of off-road riders. Before I start to ride the machine, I will explain about the all-important battery.

Location is by way of three secure points which make it easy to change. Its physical size is much smaller than before, but in return, it offers more power. The manufacturers claim that it can cover six miles on a full charge and so should be able to do a majority of the twelve-section four-lap trials that we find in the UK, whatever power setting you choose.”

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QUICK SPIN ELECTRIC MOTION

Dropping the clutch “With no gearbox to worry about, it’s the power setting that you have to choose for the change in the machine’s performance output and, as we have explained, this is by way of three coloured lights found on the handlebars. Once on the move, it’s a case of getting used to the lack of engine noise and gear changing, it is that simple.

“Coordination from the rider between the throttle and rear brake takes a little getting used to as you can ‘load’ the engine power up just like on a petrol engine before ‘dropping’ the clutch; yes, it is strange at first, but once you have adapted to the required technique it all works very well. When you release the clutch lever, the drive selection is very smooth, due to the new motor mounting and superior quality of the frame and the transmission products. Our main hazard would not have been out of place in a Yorkshire centre event, up a very steep rock-filled river gully. The secret here is to ride the EM just like a four-stroke, using the clutch and the electric torque to your benefit, slow your riding down and pick the line up the hazard. Pretty soon, you will be rewarded with your new-found skills.”

Mass location The very neutral feel of the machine’s balance is achieved as the dimensions, and mass location is very close to that of a fuel aspirated model. Excellent brakes and suspension come as standard, they are that good. The suspension package encourages you to ‘roll’ the throttle off and feel for the traction. On the steep downhill hazards where we tested, the coordination of the clutch and brake is the same as your petrol models.

“The power and torque at the bottom end of the power range can catch you out with the setting on the highest output, but then this is where the super-efficient hydraulic diaphragm clutch comes into play. A four-stroke engine on full power spits out rocks, whereas the inertia from an electric motor is more linear, allowing you to feel through the clutch for the traction. The low seat height allows for perfect body positioning, and as the machine feels very light, it’s easy to ‘flick’ and ‘pivot’ turn. By the way, the weight is bang on the FIM limit at 70kg.”

Electric experience “Priced at £7,995, an electric machine does have its advantages. Just consider the engine maintenance — there is none! No more changing cylinder barrels and pistons and cleaning out air filters and carburettors. The transmissions have proved very reliable, as have the batteries.

“I enjoyed my ‘Electric Experience’, and I am sure you will too; try and ‘blag’ a ride on one when you get chance or maybe organise a test ride with the distributor Inch Perfect Trials. Before I close, I just wonder how long it will be before someone enters the Scottish Six Days Trial or Scott on one — watch this space.”

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ELECTRIC MOTION RACE 2020 SPECIFICATIONS

Motor Nominal Power: 6kW; Peak Power: 11kW; Wheel Torque: 600Nm; Cooling: Air; Transmission: 1 Forward Gear; Electrical Settings: 3 Maps; Hydraulic Controlled Diaphragm Clutch and Flywheel; Maximum Speed: 65km/h.

Battery Li-ion; Voltage: 50.4V; Capacity: 1,875Wh; Weight: 10.5kg; Charger: 15A; Charging Time: 100% – 3 Hours 20 Minutes; Range: 100–240 Minutes @ 43km.

Chassis Tubular Steel 15CDV6; Front Suspension: Lite Only: Tech 39mm Ǿ; Travel: 175mm; Sport and Race Only: M4 39mm Ǿ; Travel: 175mm; Rear Suspension: Olle 16V; Travel: 170mm; Brake Rotors: Front: 180mm Ǿ; Rear: 142mm Ǿ; Wheels: Front 2.75” x 21”; Rear: 4.00” x 182; Tyres: Michelin X11.

Dimensions Weight: Race: 70kg; Wheelbase: 1,325mm; Seat Height: 670mm; Ground Clearance: 320mm.

Price £7,995

Price includes VAT. Price correct at time of print.

CONTACT

INCH PERFECT TRIALS

T: 01200 448130 E: info@inchperfecttrials.co.uk W: www.inchperfecttrials.co.uk DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

INTERNATIONAL FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

SPAIN

TRIAL GP: KING BOU It was a case of Toni Bou (Repsol Honda-ESP) once again winning in Spain and in doing so equalling the 14-consecutive world-round victories record set by Jordi Tarres. Bou is the undisputed king, you cannot argue that fact; this latest victory was his 112th in the premier league of the world of motorcycle trials. Add this to the 26 consecutive world titles, 13 indoor and 13 outdoor, and we find the word ‘king’ sits very well on his shoulders.

2019 TRIALGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS: 1: Toni Bou (Repsol Honda-ESP) 160; 2: Adam Raga (TRRS-ESP) 134; 3: Takahisa Fujinami (Repsol Honda-JPN) 112; 4: Jamie Busto (Vertigo-ESP) 96; 5: Jorge Casales (Vertigo-ESP) 81; 6: James Dabill (Beta-GBR) 80; 7: Benoit Bincaz (Beta-FRA) 69; 8: Miquel Gelabert (Sherco-ESP) 66; 9: Franz Kadlec (TRRS-DEU) 64; 10: Jack Price (Gas Gas-GBR) 49; 11: Dan Peace (Sherco-GBR) 30; 12: Arnau Farre (Jotagas-ESP) 26; 13: Jeroni Fajardo (Gas Gas-ESP) 13*; 14: Oriol Noguera (Jotagas-ESP) 12; 15: Andrea Riva (TRRS-ITA) 12; 16: Kenichi Kuroyama (Yamaha-JPN) 9; 17: Tomoyuki Ogawa (Honda-JPN) 5; 18: Fumitaka Nozaki (Yamaha-JPN) 5. * Jeroni Fajardo (Gas Gas-ESP) was stripped of his world championship points from rounds one to six following an FIM investigation.

MACHINES: TRRS 3; Beta 2; Gas Gas 2; Jotagas 2; Repsol Honda: 2; Sherco 2; Vertigo 2; Yamaha 2; Honda 1.

NATIONALITIES: ESP 8; GBR 3; JPN 3; FRA 1; ITA 1.

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DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

INTERNATIONAL

FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

TRIAL2: MAGIC MARCELLI

Gabriel Marcelli (Montesa-ESP) is a man on a mission and he took one mighty step in his young motorcycling career with his first and well-deserved FIM Trial2 World Championship victory at the final round. This victory has not come easy, such is the competitiveness in this class, but the young Spanish rider remained focussed and was rewarded with the much sought-after title.

2019 TRIALGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS: 1: Gabriel Marcelli (MontesaESP) 135; 2: Matteo Grattarola (Honda-ITA) 127; 3: Alexandre Ferrer (ShercoFRA) 106; 4: Toby Martyn (Beta-GBR) 106; 5: Francesc Moret (Montesa-ESP) 89; 6: Aniol Gelabert (Scorpa-ESP) 82; 7: Jack Peace (Sherco-GBR) 79; 8: Luca Petrella (Beta-ITA) 77; 9: Hakon Pedersen (Gas Gas-NOR) 41; 10: Lorenzo Gondola (Vertigo-ITA) 39; 11: Sondre Haga (TRRS-NOR) 38; 12: Teo Colairo (Gas Gas-FRA) 31; 13: Billy Green (Montesa-GBR) 29; 14: Pablo Suarez (Gas Gas-ESP) 24; 15: Julien Perret (Gas Gas-FRA) 11; 16: Akira Shibata (VertigoJPN) 10; 17: Sergio Piardi (Beta-ITA) 9; 18: Eric Miquel (TRRS-ESP) 7; 19: Pietro Petrangeli (Sherco-ITA) 3; 20: Sergio Ribau (Sherco-ESP) 2; 21: Seiya Ujikawa (Gas Gas-JPN) 2; 22: David Avendano (Vertigo-VEN) 1.

MACHINES: Gas Gas 4; Sherco 4; Beta 3; Montesa 3; TRRS 2; Vertigo 2; Honda 1; Scorpa 1.

NATIONALITIES: ESP 6; ITA 5; FRA 3; GBR 3; JPN 2; NOR 2; VEN 1.

MANUFACTURERS: VIVA MONTESA In the face of the constant threat of the two-stroke machines the FIM Manufacturers World Championship, where points are collected from TrialGP and Trial2 classes, it is still dominated by the now Legendary four-stroke Cota 4RT found in the Montesa chassis.

2019 FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: 1: Montesa 295; 2: Beta 206; 3: Sherco 180; 4: TRRS 174; 5: Vertigo 147; 6: Honda 132; 7: Gas Gas 106; 8: Scorpa 82; 9: Jotagas 30; 10: Yamaha: 7.

TRIAL MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020

37

INTERNATIONAL FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

SPAIN

QUALIFYING

Despite the changes to the 2019 qualification process, Toni Bou continues his dominance in all areas of the FIM Trial World Championship. On home ground for the last round in Spain, he once again led the way in the qualification process; over the season he has only been beaten once by Adam Raga, back in Japan. Riders make two separate timed laps of the chosen hazard, without a practice lap as they had had in 2018. A ballot then decides the starting order for the Q1 timed lap, after which the finishing order in Q1 determines the starting order for Q2. The two lap times are then put together and the best average time, also taking into account any marks lost on observation, decides the starting orders, with the quickest average time determining the last starting position in the competition.

In Trial2 qualifying Great Britain’s Toby Martyn has been the man to beat, knowing exactly how to keep that throttle on the gas!

2019 – THE FASTEST

Toni Bou (Repsol Honda-ESP)

TRIALGP: No result recorded for Italy, start order was by ballot. Toni Bou (Repsol Honda-ESP) 5; Adam Raga (TRRS-ESP) 1.

TRIAL2: Toby Martyn (Beta-GBR) 4; Matteo Grattarola (Honda-ITA) 1; Aniol Gelabert (ScorpaFRA) 1; Gabriel Marcelli (Montesa-ESP) 1

SPAIN

Toby Martyn (Beta-GBR)

It may have been a little cloudy for the last qualifying of 2019, but, as expected, the action was as hot as ever on the hazards, which replicated an indoor section made up of concrete structures and rocks on the dusty orange surface.

The ballot had Bou out early and once again it was Jaime Busto who was on his case, just 1.44 seconds slower than Bou. As we have previously seen, though Bou is never slow in taking his riding to the limit, on his second attempt his time of 31.85 was well clear of the ‘Hotshot’ Busto.

Trial2 was very much a test of the nerves of the two title contenders Matteo Grattarola and the young pretender Gabriel Marcelli.

It was Italian Grattarola who threw down the gauntlet in Q1 but a very ‘On-Form’ Marcelli was having none of it, and in a well-calculated execution in Q2 he went the fastest as Grattarola succumbed to failure and the five marks which went with it! He would start ‘Race’ day in third position, giving Marcelli the upper hand as he would start last and be able to watch his rival’s every move.

TRIALGP: 1: Bou 0 + 31.85; 2: Busto 0 + 35.94; 3: Fajardo 0 + 38.20; 4: Dabill 0 + 39.46; 5: Raga 0 + 39.49; 6: Miquel Gelabert 0 + 40.48; 7: Casales 0 + 41.16; 8: Fujinami 0 + 42.32; 9: Dan Peace 0 + 42.78; 10: Bincaz 0 + 42.94; 11: Price 0 + 43.70; 12: Kadlec 0 + 44.05.

TRIAL2 1: Marcelli 0 + 28.75; 2: Aniol Gelabert 0 + 29.32; 3: Grattarola 0 + 30.72; 4: Moret 0 + 30.91; 5: Pedersen 0 + 31.18; 6: Gondola 0 + 31.37; 7: Martyn 0 + 31.41; 8: Petrella 0 + 31.41; 9: Haga 0 + 31.73; 10: Mattia Spreafico (Sherco-ITA) 0 + 32.40; 11: Ferrer 0 + 33.22; 12: Peace 0 + 33.34; 13: Sergio Piardi (Beta-ITA) 0 + 33.42; 14: Miquel 0 + 33.90; 15: Suarez 0 + 33.90 Gabriel Marcelli (Montesa-ESP) 38

DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

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INTERNATIONAL FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

SPAIN

TRIAL GP

Toni Bou (Repsol Honda-ESP).

BOU: SIMPLY THE BEST

The 2019 series would finish at La Nucia, which is only ten kilometres away from the popular tourist resort on the Northern Costa Blanca, Benidorm. It was clear from the start that it was going to be a tough day as the temperatures started to rise very early in the day. The early hazards did not test the top riders and it would be the steep rugged climb up the rocks on section nine where the competition would come to life. It proved to be too much even for Bou, and despite an attacking ride he conceded defeat in this hazard. With the time limit on his mind he also stopped in sections 13 and 14. Rushing to finish, he also incurred eight time penalties but still held the lead by seven marks in front of his constant rival Adam Raga. The TRRS rider had taken a five-mark penalty on section six and just like Bou had four marks lost on time.

On the second lap it would be once again, as we have seen on so many occasions over the years, a great battle between Bou and Raga who both raised their game and pulled away from the other riders. The end result after the two laps was still the same, with Toni a clear winner having improved his score from the first lap. In doing so he also conquered the difficult section nine.

The man on the move and up into an eventual third position was Bou’s fellow Repsol Honda team rider Takahisa Fujinami. After a disastrous opening score of 38 marks lost he never gave up the fight and was pushing all the way through the second lap to improve, with his eye on finishing third in the overall championship standings.

In the end he pushed Jeroni Fajardo into fourth on the day and in doing so secured the final step on the podium and in the championship. He and the team were delighted to say the least!

RESULTS: 1: Toni Bou (Repsol Honda-ESP) 36; 2: Adam Raga (TRRS-ESP) 43; 3: Takahisa Fujinami (Repsol Honda-JPN) 64; 4: Jeroni Fajardo (Gas Gas-ESP) 65; 5: Jamie Busto (Vertigo-ESP) 67; 6: Miquel Gelabert (Sherco-ESP) 69; 7: Jorge Casales (Vertigo-ESP) 70; 8: Benoit Bincaz (Beta-FRA) 83; 9: James Dabill (Beta-GBR) 89; 10: Jack Price (Gas Gas-GBR) 89; 11: Franz Kadlec (TRRS-DEU) 95; 12: Dan Peace (Sherco-GBR) 101.

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Adam Raga (TRRS-ESP): Proving once again to be the constant thorn in the side of Toni Bou, these two continue to push the limits of one another’s abilities to the very edge. Adam was the last rider to win the title on a two-stroke way back in 2006, and despite recurring injuries continues to be 100% committed.

DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

INTERNATIONAL

FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Takahisa Fujinami (Repsol Honda-JPN): The constant crowd pleaser brings an edge of ‘Rock Star’ status to the championship and has built up an enviable rapport with his many fans. His dedication to the sport and the constant chase for further success knows no bounds.

Jorge Casales (Vertigo-ESP): In a team with Busto on the Vertigo machines maybe they can work together to attack the top positions that have been dominated by the same riders for so long. As with his team-mate, it’s consistency that is the missing key factor.

TRIAL MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020

Jaime Busto (Vertigo-ESP): A midseason move from Gas Gas to Vertigo may have unsettled many riders but Busto continued in his constant quest to break the mould of the top three riders in the world. If he can stay focused the results will come and maybe he can be the man to take the crown from Bou – maybe, just maybe!

James Dabill (Beta-GBR): Still Great Britain’s undisputed number one world round rider, ‘Dibsta’ will be disappointed to have missed fifth in the championship by just a single mark.

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INTERNATIONAL FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Benoit Bincaz (Beta-FRA): Much was expected from the young French rider after his encouraging indoor results, but these have failed to materialise into good solid results during the outdoor season.

Miquel Gelabert (Sherco-ESP): Injuries have interrupted the progress of young ‘Mickey’.

Expect a much stronger 2020 season from him as we look towards next year; an injury free season could well see him challenging for the top five.

Jack Price (Gas Gas-GBR): The aim was for the top ten in the championship, which Jack has achieved. Problems in qualifying have left him starting at the head of the field on some very challenging hazards.

Franz Kadlec (TRRS-DEU): Two good results in Japan were the highlight of 2019, and he should not be too disillusioned with ninth overall in the championship.

Jeroni Fajardo (Gas Gas-ESP): A rider of undoubted ability, Jeroni should not be down in 13th in the overall standings. His fourth position in Spain endorses his position as a top-class rider; long may it continue.

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11: Dan Peace (Sherco-GBR): In the tough world at the cutting edge of the sport in TrialGP, the elder of the two Peace brothers Dan will have learnt so much in his first year. Let’s hope that this bodes well for 2020 and a move into the top ten positions.

The Spanish podium and the eventual top three riders in the world.

DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

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INTERNATIONAL FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

SPAIN

TRIAL 2

Gabriel Marcelli (Montesa-ESP): FIM Trial2 World Champion.

GABBY'S GOLD After the controversy of the 2018 Trial2 championship in Italy, no one wanted a repeat of this situation, and it was good to see a clear winner with the young Spanish rider Gabriel Marcelli (Montesa-ESP) taking the win and the championship in Spain. The title had literally gone to the wire in the favour of last year’s champion Matteo Grattarola by a single point in the championship standings. Grattarola had won three rounds, holding the upper hand, and Marcelli had won two rounds with the other one won by Frances Alexander Ferrer.

On the Saturday it looked like Grattarola was the man in winning form as he topped the time sheets in qualifying in Q1, but the rails came off in Q2. In contrast the young Marcelli took the overall qualification win and with it carried the confidence into Sunday and the deciding trial for the 2019 championship. It was a similar trial to the TrialGP boys in the fact that the early hazards did not really trouble the leading riders.

It was section six once again where the trial came to life, as only Aniol Gelabert took the Scorpa up for a superb clean ride, the only one of the lap as the entire entry all stopped. Marcelli continued on the lap and his opening score of 20 marks lost was made up of five-mark penalties. For

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Grattarola the championship title was slipping away with every hazard he rode after the dreaded section six, his total of 38 for the opening lap told its own story. In second was Italy’s Luca Petrella, just two marks off Marcelli.

On the second lap Marcelli did not hold back and, riding with the confidence of having one hand on the trophy, put in another good lap score, matched only by Gelabert. It was to be Gabriel’s day and the 360-degree jump out of the last section summed up his day; he was the 2019 FIM Trial2 World Champion, and he was delighted! Joining him on the podium and both having their best rides of the season was Luca Petrella and Aniol Gelabert.

RESULTS: 1: Gabriel Marcelli (Montesa-ESP) 38; 2: Luca Petrella (Beta-ITA) 42; 3: Aniol Gelabert (Scorpa-ESP) 52; 4: Francesc Moret (Montesa-ESP) 57; 5: Matteo Grattarola (Honda-ITA) 64; 6: Toby Martyn (Beta-GBR) 65; 7: Jack Peace (Sherco-GBR) 71; 8: Alexandre Ferrer (Sherco-FRA) 72; 9: Hakon Pedersen (Gas Gas-NOR) 80; 10: Eric Miguel (TRRS-ESP) 80; 11: Teo Colairo (Gas Gas-FRA) 85; 12: Sondre Haga (TRRSNOR) 86; 13: Lorenzo Gondola (Vertigo-ITA) 87; 14: Julien Perret (Gas Gas-FRA) 88; 15: David Avendano (Vertigo-VEN) 89; 16: Billy Green (Montesa-GBR) 93.

DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

INTERNATIONAL

FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Matteo Grattarola (Honda-ITA): Take nothing away from Matteo, he put up a strong title defence only to fall at the final hurdle.

Toby Martyn (Beta-GBR): The disappointment etched across this young rider’s face was very evident in Spain. Injuries have not helped his 2019 season but, as honest as ever, the young Brit openly admits he should have done better. He will be back in 2020, both mentally and physically stronger.

Alexandre Ferrer (Sherco-FRA): A big strong rider, he has struggled with the performance from a 250cc machine in this class after spending most of his career on larger-capacity machines. After his win in France the FIM checked the cylinder size to confirm it was a 250cc and removed any thoughts from the doubters’ minds — he won on ability.

Aniol Gelabert (Scorpa-ESP): Always exciting to watch, the talent is without a doubt in there and we expect much better results in 2020 from the young Spanish rider.

Francesc Moret (Montesa-ESP): On his day and with his experience he is more than capable of challenging for the wins and deserves to be higher than fifth in the overall standings.

TRIAL MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020

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INTERNATIONAL FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Jack Peace (Sherco-GBR): More than capable of winning when on form, Jack is still learning at this level of riding.

Inconsistent results have not helped this year. With the experience gained, expect him to be a real challenger for the title in 2020.

Luca Petrella (Beta-ITA): A young star from Italy, maybe the confidence gained from the second position in Spain can help to improve his riding.

Lorenzo Gondola (Vertigo-ITA): Very fresh and young, his second year in the Trial2 class has very much been a learning year.

Hakon Pedersen (Gas Gas-NOR): The highest placed Gas Gas rider in this class knows he should be finishing higher up the order.

Billy Green (Montesa-GBR): After the success of winning in Trial125 in 2018 Billy has been brought very much down to earth with a tough first year in Trial2. Never one to concede defeat, he knows what he has to do if he is to make the next level of riding.

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This podium picture from Spain tells the story of the Trial2 class; the young riders are coming!

DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

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INTERNATIONAL

FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

SPAIN

TRIAL GP WOMEN

EMMA-ZING BRISTOW Carrying so much respect from her younger riders, Emma Bristow went out and showed them why she is the defending and undisputed number one in the ladies’ trials world by blowing the cobwebs off her qualifying laps with her first quickest time this season. This was followed by yet another victory in the final round in Spain of the 2019 FIM TrialGP Ladies’ World Championship.

Competing in front of a home crowd always has its advantages, but Bristow was having none of it in the qualifying in Spain as she produced her first podium with two very quick times to put her as the last rider away on competition day. The sun had come out around the area of La Nucia and on the first lap of the 15 hazards the competition was just as hot. Of the young pretenders to Bristow’s crown it was Berta Abellan who was the lady on form. On the opening lap Bristow had gone feet-up until section ten, where she conceded a three as Abellan stopped for a five. Over the remaining hazards they were very evenly matched as Bristow finished the lap leading by just a single mark.

On the second lap Bristow’s confidence rose but for Abellan a five on section six stopped her in her tracks. After trailing on the first lap in fifth position Sandra Gomez came back up to third and on the podium on the final lap with a superb score of 16 for the lap. The podium mirrored the final championship positions and for Bristow a full house of 100 points gave her yet another world title to add to the growing collection.

Emma Bristow (Sherco-GBR)

QUALIFYING: 1: Emma Bristow (Sherco-GBR) 0 + 26.04; 2: Maria Giro (Montesa-ESP) 0 + 27.39; 3: Sandra Gomez (TRRS-ESP) 0 + 27.72; 4: Sarah Bauer (TRRS-DEU) 0 + 29.01; 5: Berta Abellan (Vertigo-ESP) 0 + 29.21; 6: Neus Mercia (Gas Gas-ESP) 0 + 29.73; 7: Madeleine Hoover (Gas Gas-USA) 0 + 30.28; 8: Ingveig Hakonsen (TRRS-NOR) 0 + 31.63; 9: Jule Steinart (TRRS-DEU) 0 + 31.71; 10: Alex Brancati (Beta-ITA) 0 + 25.52.

2019 SEASON FASTEST QUALIFIERS: Ingveig Hakonsen (TRRS-NOR) 1; Mario Giro (MontesaESP) 1; Sandra Gomez (TRRS-ESP) 1; Emma Bristow (Sherco-GBR) 1.

RESULTS: 1: Emma Bristow (Sherco-GBR) 28; 2: Berta Abellan (Vertigo-ESP) 36; 3: Sandra Gomez (TRRS-ESP) 48; 4: Sarah Bauer (TRRS-DEU) 53; 5: Ingveig Hakonsen (TRRS-NOR) 54; 6: Neus Mercia (Gas Gas-ESP) 60; 7: Maria Giro (Montesa-ESP) 71; 8: Alex Brancati (BetaITA) 76; 9: Jule Steinart (TRRS-DEU) 83; 10: Madeleine Hoover (Gas Gas-USA) 91.

2019 FIM TRIALGP WOMEN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: 1: Emma Bristow (Sherco-GBR) 100; 2: Berta Abellan (Vertigo-ESP) 81; 3: Sandra Gomez (TRRS-ESP) 75; 4: Neus Mercia (Gas Gas-ESP) 57; 5: Ingveig Hakonsen (TRRS-NOR) 56; 6: Maria Giro (Montesa-ESP) 51; 7: Alex Brancati (Beta-ITA) 48; 8: Sarah Bauer (TRRS-DEU) 45; 9: Madeleine Hoover (Gas Gas-USA) 34; 10: Jule Steinart (TRRS-DEU) 29; 11: Aya Nishimura (Beta-JPN) 14; 12: Erika Melchior (Sherco-NOR) 8.

Berta Abellan (Vertigo-ESP)

Sandra Gomez (TRRS-ESP) TRIAL MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020

Neus Mercia (Gas Gas-ESP) 49

INTERNATIONAL FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Ingveig Hakonsen (TRRS-NOR)

Alex Brancati (Beta-ITA)

Jule Steinart (TRRS-DEU) 50

Maria Giro (Montesa-ESP)

Sarah Bauer (TRRS-DEU)

Madeleine Hoover (Gas Gas-USA)

Podium Spain DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

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INTERNATIONAL

FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

SPAIN

TRIAL 2 WOMEN

WACHS WINS IT Article: Trials Media • Leah Robinson

What an interesting three rounds this has been for the Trial2 women in the 2019 season. In the qualifying, Great Britain’s Alice Minta has shown that some aggression in your riding can pay dividends, in total contrast to the slow smooth style of Vivian Wachs. With only three rounds on offer the title deservedly went to Wachs but it was pressure all the way in Spain at the final round as Alicia Robinson took her first world round win on an emotional day for the Brits.

Motorcycle trials riding is not all about competing and, in Spain, Trial Magazine welcomed the young Leah Robinson on board to take pictures and report in her new Media role.

Little did she know that her sister Alicia would be on her way to her first world round win at the close of the day on a very happy day for the family; father Stuart was in a minding role for Alicia. With a six-point advantage going into Spain, it looked very much like Vivian Wachs had one hand on the Trial2 trophy but, as we all know, anything can happen in the trials world. One girl was every much on fire — Alicia Robinson! Looking very confident from the start she took a very early lead despite a stop and a five on section ten, and finished the opening lap as the only rider in single figures on seven. Her nearest rival was fellow British rider Alice Minta on 11 marks lost with Vivian Wachs down in fourth position on 13; was an upset on the books?

On the second lap the scores came tumbling down and it was Erika Melchior who was on form, parting with just five marks. Behind her were Minta on seven, Caroline Moreon on eight and Robinson on nine. Wachs was having a really tough day and with her lap score of 11 she finished in a very tense fifth position. After a little wait she was delighted to learn that she had taken the title after tying on points with Minta!

Vivian Wachs (TRRS-DEU)

QUALIFYING: 1: Alice Minta (Scorpa-GBR) 0 + 22.31; 2: Caroline

Moreon (Sherco-FRA) 0 + 23.25; 3: Lenna Volpe (Sherco-FRA) 0 + 23.89; 4: Vivian Wachs (TRRS-DEU) 0 + 25.36; 5: Seline Melling (Beta-NOR) 0 + 26.43; 6: Gabrielle Whitham (Beta-GBR) 0 + 27.96; 7: Sophia Ter Jung (TRRS-DEU) 0 + 28.10; 8: Alicia Robinson (BetaGBR) 0 + 29.25; 9: Erika Melchior (Scorpa-NOR) 0 + 29.77; 10: Eva Munoz (Sherco-ESP) 0 + 30.12; 11: Martina Gallieni (TRRS-ITA) 0 + 30.59; 12: Sofia Porfirio (TRRS-PRT) 0 + 31.24; 13: Jenna Lupo (Gas Gas-AUS) 0 + 37.51; 14: Lillie Yiatrou (TRRS-AUT) 0 + 45.10

Alice Minta (Scorpa-GBR)

2019 SEASON FASTEST QUALIFIERS: Alice Minta (Scorpa-GBR) 2; Vivian Wachs (TRRS-DEU) 1.

RESULTS: 1: Alicia Robinson (Beta-GBR) 16; 2: Alice Minta (Scorpa-

GBR) 18; 3: Caroline Moreon (Sherco-FRA) 20; 4: Erika Melchior (Scorpa-NOR) 21; 5: Vivian Wachs (TRRS-DEU) 24; 6: Sophia Ter J ung (TRRS-DEU) 30; 7: Martina Gallieni (TRRS-ITA) 33; 8: Lenna Volpe (Sherco-FRA) 34; 9: Seline Melling (Beta-NOR) 46; 10: Gabrielle Whitham (Beta-GBR) 54; 11: Eva Munoz (Sherco-ESP) 64; 12: Sofia Porfirio (TRRS-PRT) 86; 13: Lillie Yiatrou (TRRSAUT) 91; 14: Jenna Lupo (Gas Gas-AUS) 99.

2019 FIM TRIAL2 WOMEN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: 1: Vivian

Wachs (TRRS-DEU) 51; 2: Alice Minta (Scorpa-GBR) 51; 3: Caroline Moreon (Sherco-FRA) 41; 4: Lenna Volpe (ShercoFRA) 38; 5: Alicia Robinson (Beta-GBR) 37; 6: Erika Melchior (Scorpa-NOR) 32; 7: Sophia Ter Jung (TRRS-DEU) 30; 8: Martina Gallieni (TRRS-ITA) 23; 9: Seline Melling (Beta-NOR) 15; 10: Eva Munoz (Sherco-ESP) 15; 11: Gabrielle Whitham (Beta-GBR) 13; 12: Naomi Monnier (Beta-FRA) 11; 13: Lillie Yiatrou (TRRS-AUT) 10; 14: Sofia Porfirio (TRRS-PRT) 6; 15: Leonor Moreira (Gas Gas-PRT) 6; 16: Rita Vieira (Ossa-PRT) 5; 17: Jenna Lupo (Gas Gas-AUS) 2; 18: Mariana Afonso (Sherco-PRT) 1.

Caroline Moreon (Sherco-FRA) TRIAL MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020

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INTERNATIONAL FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Lenna Volpe (Sherco-FRA)

Alicia Robinson (Beta-GBR)

Sophia Ter Jung (TRRS-DEU)

Seline Melling (Beta-NOR) 54

Erika Melchior (Scorpa-NOR)

Martina Gallieni (TRRS-ITA)

Podium Spain

Media — Leah Robinson DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

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TRADITIONAL THE SCOTT

GIVING IT WHAT IT TAKES

DABILL’S

SCOTT

It’s hard to believe that the 2019 Scott Trial victory from James Dabill was his fourth victory from 17 starts. Like so many of his rivals, he had always talked about the event. He visited it on many occasions with his proud parents, Mal and Cherry, as a schoolboy where the seed was planted to compete in it.

The first attempt at this unique event came on the Yamaha engined Scorpa with support from Neil and Martin Crosswaite in 2003 and was rewarded with the Best Newcomer award. After the early success, it was a case of learning the ropes, but the stumbling block for the victory was the names Graham Jarvis and Dougie Lampkin, who dominated the event from 2003–2009, Jarvis with five victories and Lampkin with two. In 2010 it was to be the breakthrough year for Dabill. On a memorable day, he took the scalp of Jarvis who came second as Lampkin retired with mechanical problems. He also gave the Spanish brand Gas Gas its first-ever victory at the Scott after many years of trying with different riders. It’s quite interesting to note that the 17 attempts have been rewarded with four victories, 11 Gold Spoons, three Silver Spoons, the Best Newcomer award and two DNF’S – some record, talk about commitment!

In a very well-received speech at the awards presentation in the evening, it was nice to hear James reflect on the hardship the recent storms and floods had on the local area. He thanked everyone who had helped them try and find some normality after the devastation. He also thanked all the organisers and officials and his sponsors as he once again proved that he has got what it takes to win the toughest of one day trials in the world, the Scott. Well done, that man!

ARTICLE: JOHN HULME • PICTURES: TRIAL MAGAZINE AND NIGEL PEARSON, TRIALS UK

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DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

TRADITIONAL

THE SCOTT

2010

2014

2016 TRIAL MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020

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TRADITIONAL THE SCOTT

A strong, experienced Dabill wins Reeth in North Yorkshire and the surrounding areas had suffered devastating storms and floods before the 2019 Scott Trial, and at one point the event was looking very much like a non-runner. The locals needed man-power and support to re-open some of the storm-damaged roads, and many of the regular hazards up the rivers and climbs that play such a vital part of the unique time and observation trial would require work to make them rideable. The trials ‘family’ and friends from Richmond Motor Club visited the local area. They supported the efforts to find some normality, with working parties from the surrounding areas providing man-hours and machinery. They very much welcome the support from the locals for the Scott, and it was now payback time. With the scars still visible the event went ahead and, as is typical for this event, it was so good to see the residents out and about offering their support and encouragement to the event and the riders.

Despite the threats of another wet day, come Saturday the 12th October the greatest one-day motorcycle trial in the world was welcomed by near-perfect trials riding conditions as the sun shone through from the overcast early start.

After a tough rain-sodden 2018 trial, the rider entries were slightly down but at 9.00am the assembled riders started to roll down the start ramp at Feldom Range, near Marske high above Richmond in Yorkshire, to compete over the 70 hazards on the close-on 80-mile single-lap course.

Last year’s winner Dougie Lampkin would not be competing due to injury, and so the question on everyone’s lips was who would stand proud and hold the famous Alfred A. Scott Memorial Trophy. When the news was announced that one of the event favourites, Jack Price, had missed a section and would be missing from the final results, it was not a surprise to find that a strong solid, experienced ride from James Dabill, on the Italian Beta, would be rewarded with his fourth Scott Trial victory.

ARTICLE: JOHN HULME • PICTURES: TRIAL MAGAZINE AND NIGEL PEARSON, TRIALS UK

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DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

TRADITIONAL

THE SCOTT

James Dabill (Beta): This was a good solid performance with a trouble- and puncture-free ride, and one rewarded with a fourth win.

Richard Sadler (JST Gas Gas UK): Self-belief is a major factor in the trials world, and maybe with this superb second place finish we are looking at a future Scott Trial winner. The winner of the Best on Observation award he was very happy with his reward for his day’s work.

W

ith Dougie Lampkin out, he would miss the opportunity to add to his previous six victories and challenge the overall ‘King of the Scott’ Graham Jarvis who holds the record with nine wins: 1996–1999; 2003–2005 and 2008–2009, a pretty impressive record, we think you will agree.

James Dabill is still Great Britain’s number one world championship contender followed by British Champion Jack Price, and so on paper, it looked like it would be these two fighting for the victory. Price had finished second, ten marks behind Lampkin, in 2018 and had an eye on the Scott trophy. Earlier in the year, Dabill had won the Scottish Six Days Trial and was focussed on making it a double cause for celebration at the Scott.

Throw in the experience of past winners Jonathan Richardson, Ian Austermuhle and good Scott Trial regulars Richard Sadler and Guy Kendrew, and the younger riders like the Peace brothers, Dan and Jack, could we be looking at a new winner?

With ACU Steward, Mick Wren, standing and welcoming the riders onto the start trailer, one man was missing. A strong supporter of this event, local councillor John Blackie from the Richmondshire District Council, had passed away earlier in the year.

As the Isle of Wight rider, Mark Coombes, rode his Beta down the start ramp as rider number one, he would be joining 34 other first-time riders who were about to enter into the ultimate test of man and machine in the motorcycle world. Welcome to the Scott Trial.

Into the unknown

It was a dry and bright morning that welcomed the 178 riders as they headed off into the unknown of what was lying ahead of them. The floods had very much changed the nature of both the open moors and the rivers.

It left the riders racing along with an air of caution.

In 2018, the infamous hazard at Orgate Falls had been left out due to the water level; but, even though the river was quite swollen, it was included this year. The superb team of organisers and officials had left the hazard quite wide open to allow easier passage through the water, which worked well for the majority of the entry. Even so, for some of the riders, the retirements came early; they struggled with nature of the unforgiving terrain.

TRIAL MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020

Dan Peace (Sherco): Certainly one of a new young breed of riders who is more than capable of pushing for a win in the future.

The open and exposed Fremington Edge houses the hazard named Reels Head. It is used on the way out, with one section, and on the return home has two sections to be ridden, all very difficult containing rugged slippery rocks.

The first rider to arrive was one of the 11 charity riders at 10.28 followed by number 12 David Hollands (Beta). The first dozen or so riders all benefitted by having clear runs at the hazard before the legendary Scott Trial carnage started as riders and machines became stuck one after another. Pushing, shoving and sheer strength was needed to pass through the ends cards, as is compulsory in this event if you are to claim a cherished finisher’s award. Some of the riders were deciding to pause for a few seconds for a clear run while others took advantage of the Scott Trial rules which allowed more than one rider in a hazard. It was chaos!

One of the earliest impressive riders passing through feet-up was Sam Yeadon (Beta) at 10.47; he was rewarded with a good round of applause. The hazard was now full of men and machines, and it was a wise decision to wait, but some riders chose to ignore this, and it was

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TRADITIONAL THE SCOTT

Dan Thorpe (JST Gas Gas UK): Having put some extra hours of training in, ‘DT’ will be very happy with the last of the Gold Spoons in seventh position.

Guy Kendrew (JST Gas Gas UK): Another strong consistent ride was rewarded with a Gold Spoon.

quite a while before Adam Milner (TRS) picked his moment for a clean at 10.57 for a superb clean, swiftly followed by a clean-looking professional approach from the eventual winner James Dabill (Beta) which was well executed also feet-up.

First-time rider, Billy Green, turned heads with the four-stroke noise from the Montesa as he attacked at speed and kept his feet on the footrests. Now the faster riders arrived including Richard Sadler (Gas Gas), Thomas Minta (Scorpa), Jack Stones (Beta) and a very tidy ride from Dan Peace with his younger brother Jack next one minute behind.

Jonathan Richardson (Montesa) made hard work of it as Ross Danby (TRS) was very neat and tidy, as was Guy Kendrew (Gas Gas) and Chris Stay (TRS) with Jack Price (Gas Gas) definitely a man on a mission next. At 11.02, Iwan Roberts (TRS) skipped through on the back wheel followed by Luke Walker who would eventually suffer a nasty crash, forcing his retirement with facial injuries. Sam Haslam (Gas Gas) was next as Emma Bristow needed some strong leg work to keep forward motion.

Stay strong

The riders would then head out onto the open and exposed Fremington Edge before dropping down to attempt hazards including Rawcroft before riding up to Roy’s Rocks amongst the large boulders that had moved downstream during the floods, and up to the aptly named Surrender which was greeted by a large crowd. It’s not the most difficult of hazards, which was reflected in the many cleans.

The trial now moved up a gear to separate the ones who want to finish the event from the ones who have suffered enough! Taking in the Grouse Moors is never easy, and it was a few battered riders and machines that arrived at the fuel check at By-Pass to replenish both the rider and motorcycle with much-needed refreshments.

The nature of the hazards just up from the fuel check had changed dramatically, and the once narrow stream was now a wide-open river littered with rocks. The water levels were still quite high, and sections were at the side of the river over the enormous stones, which were quite spectacular in the mid-morning sunshine. The hazards were riding

Sam Haslam (JST Gas Gas UK): With no dramatics, Sam as usual delivered a strong and consistent performance.

really well, keeping the scores of the top riders quite low as they passed through Grand Canyon, Tank Trap and the unforgiving slippery rocks at Blackhills before the entry dropped down to two hazards at Whaw Bridge.

After the deepwater of 2018, the level had dropped so that the riders could see the exposed rocks.

First on the Road

Arriving first at 12.35, and very much in ‘race mode,’ was Jonathan Richardson, who swiftly executed the two hazards with two clean rides recorded. James Dabill was next at 12.38. After cleaning the first hazard, much to his frustration, was unseated at the next to record a five. James Fry was next, holding his own and looking comfortable as Jack Price arrived as the fourth rider at 12.41 but had his feet down in the first hazard. Still going strong was Sam Yeadon as the fifth rider through, followed by Joe Forrest (Montesa), Andy Chilton and Ireland’s Michael Burton (Beta) who took the last of the Scott Silver Spoons. Welsh Trials Champion Iwan Roberts was next and feet-up at 12.46 with Richard Sadler for company.

It was now fast and furious as the riders on the hunt for the top positions continued to arrive, with Guy Kendrew followed by Dan Peace, and arriving at 12.48 was Billy Green.

The 2015 winner, Ian Austermuhle, arrived at 12.51 as Sam Haslam, Ross Danby and Dan Thorpe all looked to be going very well. Young Jack Peace was pretty far down the order, arriving at 12.53 having had footrest problems, with the FIM TrialGP Ladies World Champion Emma Bristow still holding her own arriving at 12.56 in a group with Thomas Minta and Dec Bullock (Gas Gas).

The riders would then ride back onto the moors then drop down to pass the flood devastation at Faggergill Mines before the ride over to Shaw Gutter and the vast crowd that had assembled at Bridge End. The massive rocks that had made one of the hazards in 2018 had been washed around the corner in front of Road Bridge which gives the hazards their name. It was after here that, unbeknownst to him at the time, Jack Price would miss a hazard and ultimately be excluded from the results and the win that has so far eluded him.

Jonathan Richardson (Montesa): A winner back in 2011, this was the first time on a trials machine for ‘JR’ in 2019. This was the fourth time he has set the standard time, despite problems when he smashed a footrest off.

Thomas Minta (BMS Scorpa): Having a front wheel puncture kept the likeable young rider further down the order than he would have liked.

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DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

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TRADITIONAL THE SCOTT

Jack Peace (Sherco): This young rider was slowed by problems but will be most certainly be a prospect for a win in the future.

Billy Green (Honda-UK/RG Montesa): Looking fit and full of life all day, he was a much-deserved winner of the Best Newcomer award.

Ian Austermuhle (BetaUK): Not a regular trials rider anymore, the 2015 winner looked comfortable with his pace all day.

John Sunter (Inch Perfect Montesa): Local rider ‘Sunt’ did not have one of his best Scott performances.

Iwan Roberts (TRS-UK): Looking good all day, Iwan was the highest placed TRS rider.

Homeward bound

The riders’ return ride home starts to pick up the outward loop and backtrack where they had ridden earlier in the day as they return over Fremington Edge and arrive once again at Reels Head. A four-stroke ‘boom’ in the distance told the patiently waiting crowd that local rider Jonathan Richardson was the rider coming into view and, at 13.54, he exited the first section with a superb clean ride, and he was homeward bound. At 14.00, James Dabill appeared, followed by Jack Price at just over one minute behind as fellow Gas Gas rider Richard Sadler appeared at 14.09. The question was, who would be first back to the finish?

With the sun still shining strongly on the finishing line, it was that allfamiliar four-stroke Montesa noise from Richardson; he crossed the line at 14.49 before Price appeared at 14.54 having caught and passed Dabill,

Chloe Richardson (Beta): Now a regular competitor in the Enduro world you can always rely on this strong young female rider to finish the Scott.

70

Ross Danby (TRS-UK): In full control and looking very stylish as he attacks Reels Head in the morning sunshine.

who arrived at 14.55. At this point, Price had no idea he had missed a section; it was only later he found out when the results were being calculated.

A delighted Dabill

In the evening at the local school at Richmond, the charity auction was run as the results team finalised the results and acknowledged that Price was out of the results.

With the Scott results, the special awards are read out first, before all the official finishers in reverse order. It’s then time for the Silver Spoons before it starts to get more serious with the Gold Spoons before we arrive at the top three finishers. In third position was Dan Peace followed by Richard Sadler as a delighted James Dabill was confirmed the winner.

Emma Bristow (Sherco): Setting new standards for female riders the undisputed number one trials rider in the world should be, quite rightly, very proud of her 2019 result.

Team: Setting new records, James and Emma are the first ever husband and wife team to win treasured Scott Silver spoons. James hit a few problems in the final stages of the event to finish 12th as his wife Emma finished an incredible 17th, the highest ever finish for a female rider in this male dominated event.

DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

TRADITIONAL

THE SCOTT

Hannah Styles (Vertigo): Despite finishing outside of the allocated time allowance Hannah won the Endeavour Trophy for her efforts in completing the entire course.

Harold Crawford (Gas Gas): The likeable ‘Harry’ won the award for the best performance for a rider over 40 years of age. It was quite fitting that it was presented by John Shirt Jnr as his father John Shirt Snr was one of Crawford’s original sponsors ‘Back in the Day’.

2019 SCOTT TIME AND OBSERVATION TRIAL GOLD SPOONS: 1: James Dabill (Beta) 5 + 27 = 32; 2: Richard Sadler (JST Gas Gas UK) 17 + 22 = 39; 3: Dan Peace (Sherco) 16 + 25 = 41; 4: Guy Kendrew (JST Gas Gas UK) 18 + 35 = 53; 5: Jonathan Richardson (Montesa) 0 + 61 = 61; 6: Sam Haslam (JST Gas Gas UK) 33 + 33 = 66; 7: Dan Thorpe (JST Gas Gas UK) 26 + 43 = 69;

SILVER SPOONS: 8: Ian Austermuhle (Beta-UK) 20 + 51 = 71; 9:

As the door closes on another successful running of the Scott Trial the Richmond Motor Club should be congratulated for putting on such a fantastic day for motorcycle sport and everyone involved in attending the trial: we salute you.

Felix Heller (TRS): Winning the award for the Last Official Finisher on Time, Felix was on the TRS for 7 hours 27 minutes and 40 seconds!

Thomas Minta (BMS Scorpa) 25 + 49 = 74; 10: 10: Iwan Roberts (TRS-UK) 29 + 51 = 80; 11: Jack Peace (Sherco) 37 + 45 = 82; 12: James Fry (Sherco) 32 + 52 = 84; 13: Ross Danby (TRS UK) 26 + 60 = 86; 14: Billy Green (Honda UK/RG Montesa) 40 + 48 = 88; 15: John Sunter (Inch Perfect Montesa) 29 + 62 = 91; 16: Tom Affleck (Vertigo) 36 + 62 = 98; 17: Emma Bristow (Sherco) 44 + 66 = 110; 18: Chris Pearson (SplatShop Sherco) 58 + 58 = 116; 19: Jack Stones (Acklam’s Beta) 61 + 62 = 123; 20: Andy Chilton (BMS/Andy Metcalfe Scorpa) 52 + 73 = 125; 21: Rob Waite (Beta) 46 + 82 = 128; 22: Dec Bullock (Gas Gas) 47 + 84 = 131; 23: Tom Middleton (Inch Perfect Beta) 54 + 89 = 143; 24: Aran Drachenberg (Inch Perfect Beta) 56 + 93 = 149; 25: Jack Sheppard (Sherco) 64 + 86 = 150; 26: Michael Burton (Beta) 49 + 103 = 152.

STANDARD TIME: Jonathan Richardson (Montesa) 4.59.14 BEST MANUFACTURER’S TEAM: Sherco A: Dan Peace – Jack Peace – James Fry

LAST OFFICIAL FINISHER ON TIME: Felix Heller (TRS) 7.27.40 BEST ON OBSERVATION: Richard Sadler (JST Gas Gas UK) 22 BEST UNDER 21 RIDER: Jack Peace (Sherco) BEST LADY RIDER: Emma Bristow (Sherco) BEST FIRST TIME RIDER: Billy Green (Honda UK/RG Montesa) BEST OVER 40 RIDER: Harold Crawford (Gas Gas) BEST 125CC RIDER: No Finishers THE ENDEAVOUR TROPHY: Hannah Styles (Vertigo) Unbeknownst to him at the time, Jack Price (JST Gas Gas UK) on the right would be excluded for missing a section. Here he chats at the finish with the eventual winner James Dabill (Beta).

TRIAL MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020

TOP 26 MACHINES: Beta: 7; Sherco: 6; Gas Gas: 5; Montesa/ Honda: 3; Scorpa: 2; TRS: 2; Vertigo: 1 71

INTERVIEW ADAM RAGA

STILL WINNING

Adam Raga is a name that goes back to the ‘Noughties’ of the Dougie Lampkin era.

The last rider to have won before the domination of Toni Bou; yes, Adam Raga with the FIM indoor and outdoor doubles in 2005 and 2006. As we know, Bou moved to another plane and rolled off 26 FIM World Trials Championships in both the indoor and outdoor disciplines. So who could be the future world champion, we ask? Adam ‘The Destroyer’ Raga believes he can still win. He endorsed this as the only rider to beat Bou in the FIM X-trial World Championship in 2019 in Barcelona and more recently at the Urban Trial in Cahors France. What does the future hold for the TRRS rider? Read on…

ARTICLE: GENERATED BY ‘RODO’ PICTURES: SABATIER, TRIALS MEDIA AND THE RAGA FAMILY

ADAM

RAGA

Born: 06/04/1982 in Ulldecona, Spain Nickname: The Destroyer Height: 1.80cm • Weight: 73kg 2000: Junior World Champion 2003–2006: 4 x FIM Indoor X-Trial World Champion 2005–2006: 2 x FIM Trial World Champion Record Holder: The most podiums and points in the FIM Indoor X-Trial World Championship

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DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

INTERVIEW ADAM RAGA

Destroyer: The Hebo riding pants carry Adam’s own emblem.

17 Years: Adam won the Barcelona Indoor in 2019, some 11 years since his last ‘Home’ win!

I

t is a little over 14:00 hours, the time set to get to go to lunch, when the Red Transporter rolls up — some gossips already joking in Girona pointing out that the red is gaining more and more space on the TRRS truck as it aims to replace Gas Gas! Adam Raga arrives in the parking lot of a restaurant on a highway in Tona, the city in Spain where the official TRRS office was established in 2010. “I live mostly alone, 50km from my parents”, he explains later in our conversation, surprising me to the fact that, at 37 years old, it

Happy Days: Raga with the winner’s spoils in Barcelona 2019.

TRIAL MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020

is his first reference of his parents. It’s true, his father has shaped his son to get where he is in life and he is very important to him.

“It’s hard to find the right person to start a family with as my chosen career demands so much from me. Many of today’s top riders have no children, with the notable exception of 39-year-old Takahisa Fujinami, the other survivor of the Lampkin era who was the world champion just once in 2004, just before Raga.

This will not prevent me from meeting Adam’s friend at night when we arrive at his home.

Gluten free Raga first lived in two other locations before settling in Tona where he had known a girl. He rented accommodation for a year before buying a farm, a small holding in 2011. I discover just now that Adam is not secretive.

“The area is perfect for training, I’m right on the highway, halfway to Barcelona which is 40 minutes, Girona 30 minutes and Manresa 30 minutes too, where the TRRS factory is”.

Toni Bou, at 33, is younger. Is the weight of these four years separating them felt? Raga does not hide it.

“I feel good, but since I turned 30, it has been so much harder to recover from injuries. I have suffered many injuries; not big ones, but almost every year. Knee, back, a little bit of everything. I had to learn how to manage the races where I was not 100% fit; this also made it harder to train.

“I cannot exercise now as I did before. If I do, I’m burnt out. Before I understood this situation, I was in pain everywhere. It was then, in 2014 or 2015, and I had to change my method. I did fewer hours on the bike, more gym and cycle work to get fit.”

When Toni injured himself last year, they said that it could maybe end his career?

“He had his injury, which I respect, but I too had problems at the beginning of the season.”

Adam had problems with his food and did not feel well, having stomach pains and poor digestion. Analysis revealed an allergy to gluten and the presence of a virus which he got treatment for. Going gluten free felt so fresh.

“Some riders show their wounds, others prefer to hide them so others do not see them. I have had a lot of problems; not those that keep you from riding like Toni last year, but I was not 100% last season.

“I have never shown anything regarding an injury because I think it gives an advantage to your opponents. This year, for example, I felt very good until the X-Trial in Andorra where I stretched a ligament in the crotch. After that I had pain in this part of the body, in my back, everywhere. But I prefer not to say anything and keep looking ahead.

“Moving back to Toni’s injury, look at this year; he showed just how good he is winning every round. Fujinami too is amazing. Even though I have better results than him. In my opinion, he has had his best season of the last five years.

Physically, he’s better than us on the last lap.”

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INTERVIEW ADAM RAGA

“People tell me this: without Toni, you would be 30 times world champion…”

Focus: Adam always likes to check any changes to the TRRS with his own hands. Watched here by his mechanic and all-round good guy Rafael Salceco.

Toni the Monkey I cannot help but ask Adam how he is doing psychologically, having finished second behind Bou since 2007, apart from last year when he finished third.

Life without Bou, does he sometimes imagine it?

“There are the people who tell me this: without Toni, you would be 30 times world champion! I am not living in the past, I work for the future. For me, the important thing is to do my job well. If I’m second or third, I think that if I did my job well, I’m happy. Last year I finished third in the world, but all the other years since 2006 I was second.

“The motivation is to work to win — every day that I wake up is to win the next event. When I’m not riding well, I’m always disappointed.”

The calm answer is hard to swallow, but I feel Adam’s deeply honest … and happy. I move straight to the point and ask him if he still believes in a third world title.

“I think I can do it. I beat him in the Spanish Championship in 2010 and 2013, but on the world scene it’s difficult. I do not know why.

Psychologically, I am very strong. In difficult times, I fight, I know it. If I had to tell you what prevented me from winning, I know that physically Toni is on another planet. The strength he has, the power, his ability to fall and get up without anything wrong ... he has a physique of a monkey!

“Technically there were several years where I thought I was superior to him, especially in the wet and mud. His natural strength sometimes makes it easier to pass through a hazard with a strong single mark to move the machine, when I have to have to use a lot more technique to beat him.”

Adam confesses to me that he needs to work much harder than Toni to maintain his physique. One aspect of his preparation, which I discovered later at the end of the afternoon when I asked a random question, relates to a strange bodybuilding device in his garage. It was a retractor attached to the floor in front of gym bars.

“In 2009, when I injured my knee, I could not ride but wanted to maintain my physical condition. I invented this device to which I fixed a handlebar.”

It maintains a permanent pressure in both directions, as Adam demonstrated to me. He then gets out from under one of the benches another funny blue platform machine, on which he climbed and had to resist vibrations to work the balance. Rafael Nadal’s physical trainer had asked him for this device. Other trainers then began to ask him about it, and he became the representative of Adam’s products!

“I started making them and selling them. I found out later that the players of Inter Milan football team used them.”

2018: A collection of second-placed trophies from the 2018 season rest in the garage. Soon they will be moved to his own personal museum.

Office: This is the working office of Adam Raga. Inside his van, living the dream.

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INTERVIEW ADAM RAGA

Factory: A visit to the factory, which is only 30 minutes from his home where he can work with the forward-thinking team behind the TRRS success story.

“For two or three seasons Toni and myself are no longer progressing” Toni, Adam ... and the others I remain stuck on Toni, and I ask about the relationship between them both.

“Normally we do not eat together, for example, but we do respect each other, more than with Lampkin or Fuji before. I do not know how it would be if it was the opposite, if I won, because it’s easier when you win”.

I always try to understand how anyone can resist such a steamroller as Bou and I decided to go back to the famous season in 2006 where Bou became ‘Dynamite’. Did Adam see him coming?

“No, Toni was doing well in 2005 but so was Jeroni Fajardo. Toni was just another rider. I suspected he was going to perform well, but he was very inconsistent. When he went to Montesa, he exploded; from one year to the next he became totally different. From a rider able to do good things but also bad ones, he started to do everything perfectly. For me it was a difficult time because I thought I had everything under control,

I did not understand what was happening. I lost the championship because I was not ready for that. After that I worked to be better, but he too worked hard and every year he became better. I worked to win but he was always better.

“In a team like Gas Gas, it was also not the easiest way to work. He had everything in place to train and improve. I’m not looking for excuses.

I know that if you ask him why he’s working, he’ll answer that it’s because he knows that Adam is going to be stronger.

“In 2013 and 2014, I got closer to him and the title went all the way to the final rounds.

During all these years there was just him and me, the others were far behind. Just look at the differences in the points to understand this. For the last two or three seasons we did not progress any more.

“When Toni arrived very strong in 2007, he and I worked at such a level of perfection that it was normal that the others could not follow us.

Right at this moment, young people like Jaime Busto are strong, but to fight for the title, it will be either someone who has not arrived yet and we will start to see in training things that he will be the only one able to achieve, like Toni in 2007, or we will have to wait until we get older.”

Home: This picture shows the farmhouse that Adam purchased in 2011. Since then he has transformed the old buildings on the left for his animals, a workshop and a guest building for visitors to be accommodated in. On the right is his house.

Museum: In the near future Adam plans to separate the front of his house to make a museum so he can show his collection of some 40 machines. From the moment he started on his trials career with his father they have saved every machine. Here he stands proud with his TRRS machines from the 2018 season.

Inventor: In 2009, when he badly hurt his knee, he could not ride but wanted to maintain his physical condition. He invented this device on which he fixed a handlebar. It maintains a permanent pressure in both directions, as Adam demonstrates. Rafael Nadal’s physical trainer had asked him for this device. Other trainers then began to ask about them and so he started making them and selling them. He found out later that the players of Inter Milan football team used them!

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DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

INTERVIEW ADAM RAGA

Garden: Just behind his house Adam has a minefield! Rocks, tree trunks, metal cylinders and barely enough room to pass between all the obstacles on foot.

All change It was time to ask the questions about the biggest change in Adam’s career, when the Gas Gas situation at the factory became ‘wobbly’ once again. He would leave and sign for TRRS and Jordi Tarres.

“It’s a shame, I had a contract that meant that I could finish my career with them. I was the only rider in history to have only ridden for them before that. Gas Gas has always been managed by people who destroyed everything. Many thought it was this duel that made me win and that if I left Gas Gas I would not win.

“Since switching from Gas Gas to TRRS my results have silenced the critics. I was happy to show that my performance was not related to the motorcycle and I must admit that the TRRS is better than the Gas Gas. At first, there was only one machine, which Jordi had. I signed the contract with TRRS and I took the only one that existed. At that time, I was doing the testing of the evolutions and, four or five months later, the machine came into production. I hesitated between Beta and TRRS as Gas Gas was finished at that time. The TRRS project was with Jordi and the investors, who I knew. If I had moved the Beta, everyone would have said it was to be expected because it was an old established brand, but what we did with the TRRS, going on to win events and finish the season as the vice-champion at both indoor and outdoor world championships with a new machine, it was an exceptional moment.”

It was time to head to the TRRS factory TRIAL MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020

“TRRS will soon be the brand selling the most trials machines.” where Adam has to get his machine ready for the Spanish championship. In the summer the factories close at 4.30. Adam anticipated this so that we would not find the factory doors closed and we arrived in good time for a luxury guided tour. We then go to Adam’s home ‘Raga Towers’.

Inside the small secluded property, in the middle of the fields, all the former parts of this farm where animals once lived, have been converted

to human accommodation. Tenants are settled in one part and, in another, we find Sandre Haga, the indoor and outdoor champion of Norway, the pupil of Raga who lives there as part of the family.

“I can accommodate two professional riders.

Maybe I’ll do a bigger school later but, at the moment, I’m still a rider and I’m happy because TRRS will soon be the brand selling the most trial machines.”

Coach: Adam has started to train the Norwegian TRRS rider Sondre Haga, who also lives on the farm.

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INTERVIEW ADAM RAGA

Balance: Adam was always going to be a trials rider, as you can see here with his early balance technique.

“He told me that I was 6 times world champion and 7 times National champion in Spain”

Beginning: In the secure arms of his proud father Josep in 1982.

67: Until last year, when the FIM allowed the riders to choose their own riding numbers, he was required to wear the number two. His father arrived with a helmet painted with the number 67. He told Adam that he was a six times FIM World Champion and a seven times National Champion in Spain. 67 is a better number than two…

Professional: Looking like the ‘Pro’ rider in 1988 as the trials adventure begins.

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67 Adam shows me some motorcycles in the workshop, poses in front of the bodybuilding machine that I mentioned earlier, and dresses.

I tell myself that for his sponsors he wants to make a picture in his riding kit. No, it’s not true, it will soon be seven o’clock and he intends to go and train in his garden in the late afternoon!

Earilier in the day, before we headed to the factory, he had photos taken for Braketec.

Adam asks ‘Rafa’, his minder, to hold his new companion, a young Jack Russell, the ninth replica of his good old dog Jack, who accompanies him everywhere.

Right on the side of this field, you will find

rocks, indoor obstacles and many other obstacles all close together. The slightest fall and you will crash into the obstacles — it’s not glamorous, but it’s in here that, for an hour, Adam trains on the hazards and will stop only twice to drink.

When he invited me to share a last drink before I departed in the kitchen of his magnificent home, I asked him why he sports the number 67.

“It’s since last year when the FIM allowed us to choose our riding numbers. Before that, I was required to wear the number two. My father arrived with a helmet painted with the number 67. He told me that I was six times world champion and seven times National Champion in Spain. 67 is better than two.”

Team: Adam has worked with Jordi Tarres for many years, and the successful relationship continues into the future and beyond.

DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

VISIT

REPSOL HONDA MONTESA

Exploring the race department of Toni Bou’s team is a dream that each and every reader must think about at some point in their trials riding life time. Whether you are a Toni Bou fan or not, a fan of Montesa or not, it must come onto everyone’s radar at some point. When our sister publication in France entered this sacred place, the home of HRC Barcelona, they were made very welcome, shall we say ‘At Home’; the whole workforce were very transparent in all areas, for which they were very grateful. The matchmaker in this exciting day and one we have to say a big thank you to is Michel Kaufman of S3. He is an official supplier to the team, and the one who took us to this exciting destination in Spain.

We take you through this journey by a selection of pictures showing you the dream team and the very impressive workshop and its facilities.

FACTORY: Double ignition has been used since 2015; the gearbox has a sensor fitted, a clutch with an inspection hole, and a cylinder capacity of more than 300cc. The magnesium casing and the engine cases for both Toni Bou and Takahisa Fujinami are manufactured within HRC in Japan. This engine is ready to leave for Japan by aeroplane along with its hours counter and record.

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ARTICLE GENERATION: RODOLPHE SABATIER PICTURES: EL RODO

DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

VISIT

REPSOL HONDA MONTESA

WHITE JACKETS: Due to internal regulations all Honda personnel must wear the white jacket. Left to Right: Miquel Cirera (Sports Director); Joaquim Torres (Chief Engineer); and Oscar Giro (Manager). No, they are not surgeons or doctors, but they are very professional and passionate in all that they do.

ADDITION: At the back of the workshops is a separate area reserved for machine tools. Here you can find a sand blaster, lathe, press, and it’s in here that any heavy operations are carried out.

BOSS: Oscar Giro is the head of the trials team grouped together in the Honda building.

TRIAL MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020

VETERAN: This manual press is the only presence to be found from the old Montesa era.

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VISIT

REPSOL HONDA MONTESA

SORRY: When Trial Magazine called in, only two machines were being worked on. One was that of Takahisa Fujinami and the team member Josep Banyeres.

PROHIBITED: The engine is the vital organ that the staff in Barcelona cannot touch. Everything is developed in Japan and cannot be changed.

SUPPORT: Quim Isart is one of the support personnel of Toni Bou and is employed by Montesa in this position, although he does not wear white like Jordi Riera, Bou’s mechanic. Living and training in Andorra, Toni has three identical machines and ‘Fuji’ has two.

CLUTCH: The clutch housing cover is different from the standard model. The whole block is magnesium, including the injection body!

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TITANIUM: The entire exhaust system is made of titanium. It takes a full day for two mechanics to fully prepare a machine before a competition.

DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

VISIT

REPSOL HONDA MONTESA

FREIXA: Marc Frexia is the main man for Toni Bou; whether it’s here involved in the maintenance of the machines or training, wherever Toni is, Marc will be with him. Every day or every other day, one of Bou’s machines comes back to the workshop.

SPECIAL: The suspension components are standard but the suspension package is from Showa. If the team needs help with the suspension then the Showa distributor in Spain can help.

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NUMBERS: Every year both Toni and Fuji attend several testing sessions in Japan. With Toni again crowned the world champion maybe we will see the new engine.

FACTORY: The radiators are handmade by a supplier. Five mechanics work in the workshop and in total 12 personnel make up the HRC team. In the case of a crash or damage to the frame it’s changed. It’s Joaquim Torres who makes the decision to replace or change components on the machines.

DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

VISIT

REPSOL HONDA MONTESA

MACHINE: Most of the cycle parts of the machine are original parts from the hugely successful Cota 4RT range PREPARATION: Before an event, in this case a Spanish championship event, Toni's machine is completely overhauled.

Each rider always prefers one of the machines at his disposal and then uses it in the competition for a simple question of feeling.

PAPPA: Miquel Cirera is the man who makes or breaks the world championship. Behind him on the board is the schedule of events for both Toni and Fuji; ask him and he will tell you it’s the dream job! Miquel is a proud man who has committed his whole working life to Montesa; he carries the utmost respect amongst his fellow team riders and members.

EIGHT: All the official machines, five from the Trial2 plus the one entered in women's, eight times two machines, are also prepared in Barcelona.

All the range is thus represented in the colours of the world, from the standard to the RR. But it is those of Toni and Fuji which receive the most attention.

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DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

CLASSIC SHOWTIME

John Shirt’s new Majesty 250cc was the new machine that raised a few eyebrows at the show.

1979 Dirt Bike Show Just over 40 years ago, history was once again in the process of being recorded as the Bristol Dirt Bike Show opened its door for the first time in 1978. It was classed as the first-ever entirely off-road motorcycle show. In 1977, the new ‘kid’ on the block in the print world was Trials and Motocross News. It delivered what the off-road world wanted, its dedicated weekly paper. The standout show in the motorcycle world at the time was the Motorcycle Mechanics Show held at the Royal Horticultural Showground in London. TMX, as it was known, wanted to sell their new publication and display it at the show, but this did not work out with the show organisers. Led by the well-known photographer, Martin Christie, a new consortium including Alf Hagon (Hagon), Bill Lawless (TMX Editor), Brian Leask (Husqvarna Importer), Bryan Goss (Maico Importer), Alan Clews (CCM), Cliff and Roger Holden (Ossa/SWM Importers), Alec Wright (Kawasaki Importer), Jim Sandiford (Montesa Importer) and Comerfords (the Bultaco/ KTM importers), gathered together and the show soon became a reality. After that early success, it went from strength to strength.

This article started when my good friend Alan Vines told me he had some colour pictures from the 1979 show, which we feature here. We must apologise if the quality of some of the images is not to the usual standard, but these were ‘found’ by chance from all those years ago.

WORDS: JOHN HULME AND MARTIN CHRISTIE • PICTURES: ALAN VINES

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Wanting to expand his model range, John Shirt Snr showed off his new 200cc Majesty.

The three-model range included 200cc, 250cc and 320cc Majesty models on the Mitsui stand, who were the official Yamaha importers into the UK. The dummy is wearing one of the French Furygan one-piece riding suits which were so popular at the time, the MAX branded crash helmet is the one worn by Mick Andrews.

DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

CLASSIC SHOWTIME

John Hulme: “I had to take a second look at this picture when I first saw it! This was my very first Majesty Yamaha and ‘Shirty’ used it as the show bike at Bristol. I had to wait until after the show to get my hands on this 320cc Majesty. My late father Ron always said it was the best-looking trials motorcycle he had ever seen.”

That man Sammy Miller was very much a man in the limelight at the show. He had presented his ‘New’ Miller trials machine to the press on the opening day. Here he happily signs copies of his superb trials book titled: “The Will to Win”. I am still not sure about that green belt that Sam had around his waist and the clothing colour combination though!

The Miller trials motorcycle. Yes, the great Sammy Miller produced his very own trials motorcycle in 1979. This rare colour picture captures the machine in all its glory. Using the Italian Hiro engine in the tried and trusted Sammy Miller ‘Highboy’ frame, the project was unfortunately aborted as it could not be made financially viable. The engine would eventually find success in the Armstrong and Garelli production trials motorcycles, and Steve Saunders would take his first British Championship title on the Armstrong CTM 310 model using this very engine in 1983.

After an unsuccessful season in 1978 on the Beamish Suzuki Malcolm Rathmell, seen here on the right, had returned to his first love Montesa in 1979 to win the British Trials Championship. In a very successful year he would also give Montesa their very first Scottish Six Days Trial victory and also the win in the Scott Trial. Here he celebrates the success with his Montesa sales manager Mike Wood on the left and his wife Rhoda in the middle.

Dirt Bike 80 Titled ‘Dirt Bike 80’, the 1979 show ran from November 13th to the 18th and was opened by the Wheelie King from America Doug Domokos, who kept the queues entertained as they waited outside.

When the doors closed on Monday evening, more than 22,000 people had passed through the entrance to what can only be described as an offroad paradise. The biggest surprise came on the Sunday morning as around 2,000 people queued

to gain access Yes, on a Sunday when everyone usually goes out in the ‘dirt’ to enjoy their passion for riding off-road motorcycles!

One of the major attractions was the opportunity, for the first time, to see in the flesh the new models. Many importers themselves saw the new 1980 model ranges for the first time, never mind the buying public. New rider signings were carried out in front of the many spectators, and the opportunity to get an autograph from the top riders was welcome, yes everyone loved the

This is the very first UK picture of the new generation of red-and-white Montesa models, the Cota 200cc. In 1980 Nigel Birkett would take it to British Trials Championship victories as the new generation of ‘Micro’ trials machines would once again become a major force on the UK trials scene.

TRIAL MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020

‘show’ atmosphere.

MARTIN CHRISTIE: “In 1978, it was the first time that the off-road world could stand up and be counted, with a show run by off-road motorcycle enthusiasts. With support from Trials and Motocross News, we started not knowing much, but it soon became a ‘runner’, with overwhelming support from a dedicated bunch of enthusiasts. It’s as simple as that. The response from the off-road industry was incredible, and soon all the halls were full to the brim of

With the Spanish motorcycle industry in financial meltdown this would be the last, as we knew it, green Ossa trials machine produced. On the right in his ‘Sunday Best’ suit is Roger Holden. He and his father Cliff were the official UK importers of Ossa machines.

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CLASSIC SHOWTIME

The new yellow Ossa ‘Gripper’ model on its first UK viewing. It was radical to say the least, with a 324cc engine and six-speed gearbox and a long travel rear suspension setup which gave a reputed seven inches of travel. Production machines were promised for the Scottish Six Days Trial in May 1980. This machine typified what was special about the Bristol show; brand new machines in the flesh and presented for the 1980 season in December 1979.

exhibitors. You may even ask why? It’s because there had never been this type of show before.

“We had an inkling it would work as the well-known motorcycle shop, Comerfords had earlier held a small-scale one in its showrooms which had gone down a treat. We chose Bristol and the exhibition centre for its central location and excellent motorway access. It’s quite simple; if you want people to attend, make it simple for them, and we did.”

JOHN HULME: “When the show started, I remember quite clearly the hugely enthusiastic response it received from the off-road world. When TMX was announced as a new publication, it certainly gave the off-road world a ‘buzz’ of excitement. In our household it was definitely moving from Wednesday, being the day for the Motorcycle News delivery, to Friday when TMX appeared in the local newsagents. I had an Ossa at the time, and in Macclesfield, you could get TMX on a Thursday afternoon, and the trials machine was used on many occasions for the journey to get the ‘jump’ on the other readers.

“When I moved to Morecambe in the early ’80s to work on the Heysham Power Station, you could come off nights on a Thursday morning and literally get the paper hot off the press from its Victoria Road headquarters. I raise my hat to the fact that TMX became such a driving force in the off-road world, and especially my favourite sport motorcycle trials.

Part of my pleasure with the magazine is giving the sport the exposure it deserves. Before anybody asks, there will not be a Trial Magazine Dirt Bike Show; my boots are nowhere near big enough to follow TMX, but I do appreciate the support everyone gives us.”

American Bernie Schreiber was the 1979 FIM World Trials Champion and the Bultaco had won 11 of the 12 rounds with the top three positions filled by the Sherpa models. This is Schreiber’s world championship winning machine, it would be the last as the Bultaco brand fell into financial decline in the early 80s.

The new Cagiva 350 model looked very nice with its red aesthetics, and some obvious thought had gone into the development of the rear suspension as it had a box-section swinging arm and dual rate suspension. Obviously very prototype looking, it was well presented for their first attempt at the trials market.

Another show ‘Surprise’ was sprung by the UK importers of the Italian manufacturer Cagiva with its new trials model.

This was another machine that had come straight from the Milan show, with very little information available.

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In September 1978 Alan Clews had made a production run of 105 CCM 350Tr four-stroke trials machines and by Christmas they had all sold out, despite the hefty price of £1,280.00. This machine carrying the Sandiford Motorcycles name was on the CCM stand and had been used by Eddie Smith with support from Jim Sandiford.

DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

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VACATION JERSEY TWO DAY

H

eavy rain on the run-up to the event had made section marking difficult, and on the first day of action, it turned into a very wet event as storms battered the island once again, bringing with them more heavy rain. Clerk of the Course Dennis Le Breton and his hardworking team had laid out two separate days of action. Each day would take in a proposed three laps of 15 hazards at two separate locations on the island, but the club made the correct decision to reduce the action to just two laps on the opening day. Fortunately, on day two, the sun came out to make for a much better day’s sport!

Expert Route

CHANNEL

HOPPING

The well-organised Jersey Motor Cycle and Light Car Club 2019 4Hire Jersey Two-Day Trial had an extra incentive to compete this year. The ‘Channel Hopping’ talents of two of Great Britain’s hottest trials properties, Jack Price (Gas Gas) and Toby Martyn (Beta), would be joined by the trials legend Dougie Lampkin (Vertigo). With this added attraction a full entry of 120 riders was soon reached, made up from 15 riders on the Expert route, 55 on the Clubman and 50 on the Novice route. As the event is run over the Remembrance Day celebrations, before Sunday’s action got underway, all the riders and officials observed two minutes of silence to respect this occasion.

REPORT AND PICTURES: TRIAL MAGAZINE

2019 winner Jack Price (JST Gas Gas UK).

TRIAL MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020

Two trials were going on in this class. The eventual top three finishers, Jack Price (Gas Gas), Dougie Lampkin (Vertigo) and Toby Martyn (Beta), rode at a very high level above the chasing pack which was headed by home riders Richard Pallot (Beta) and Adam Le Cheminant (Gas Gas). On day one it was Price who held the advantage over Martyn who was in second with Lampkin third. The weather made the hazards deteriorate and, as you can see, the gap back to the highest placed Jersey rider Richard Pallot was considerable; he was in close company with Adam Le Cheminant. On day two and with the sunshine appearing the top two, Price and Lampkin, recorded very low scores as Martyn slipped just off the pace. After a long hard-fought day, Richard Pallot had just enough in hand to keep Adam Le Cheminant away from the award for the highest-placed Jersey rider.

Clubman Route

A good entry of 55 riders was always going to make this class a very difficult one to win, but Richard Fry (Sherco) was the man in command over both days. After a disastrous day, one Miles Carruthers (Sherco) came fighting back with a score of nine to secure the runner-up position in front of Ben Le Page (TRS). After a tough day in the mud on day one, where he parted with a massive 56 marks, Neil Saffin (Montesa) recorded the best score on just five marks lost on the second day to move into fourth overall.

Rounding off the top five positions was the ‘come-back kid’ George Marshman (Scorpa), who was more than happy with his ride after a brief break from the sport.

Jersey rider Adam Le Cheminant enjoys the attention of Jack Price and Dougie Lampkin.

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VACATION JERSEY TWO DAY

Richard Pallot (Beta) was very happy to take the award for the best Jersey rider.

Enjoying the Sunday sunshine is Thomas Rolland (Montesa).

Novice + Route

Team Wales was out in strength in this class as Martyn Jones (Beta) dominated both days with a substantial winning margin after some excellent riding during the challenging first day in the mud as the rain came down. Jersey two day regular, Steve Kenny (Beta), revelled in the sunshine to fight back up the leader-board to take a well-earned eventual second position.

Novice Route

In the very wet Saturday conditions is Clubman route winner Richard Fry (Sherco).

This class was full of surprises.

On day one, the early leaders were Douglas Wright (Beta), John Philpot (Beta) and Steve Elliot (TRS). They had to make way for the charge of the eventual winner Jerry Glover (Gas Gas) who led home Robert Richards (Beta) and Geoff Van Katwyk (Sherco), Paul Gillard (Gas Gas) made his annual trip to the event and enjoyed the social side of this two-day trial with his travelling friends.

as John Philpot (Beta) rescued a fourth-place finish.

Stewart Le Breton, Trials Chairman: “On behalf of the Jersey Motor Cycle and Light Car Club I would like to thank everyone who made the effort to cross the water and make this one of the best two-day events the club has run in more recent times. To see such top-class riders encouraging and supporting the other riders showed just how good the sport of motorcycle trials is, one to be enjoyed by all; we look forward to seeing you all again next year – thank you”.

2019 JERSEY TWO DAY FINAL RESULTS EXPERT ROUTE: 1: Jack Price (Gas Gas) 7; 2: Dougie Lampkin (Vertigo) 9; 3: Toby Martyn (Beta) 13; 4: Richard Pallot (Beta) 87; 5: Adam Le Cheminant (Gas Gas) 97.

CLUBMAN ROUTE: 1: Richard Fry (Sherco) 55; 2: Miles Carruthers (Sherco) 57; 3: Ben Le Page (TRS) 59; 4: Neil Saffin (Montesa) 61; 5: George Marshman (Scorpa) 64.

NOVICE + ROUTE: 1: Martyn Jones (Beta) 46; 2: Steve Kenny (Beta) 78; 3: Tony Lucas (TRS) 86; 4: Brad Guille (Montesa) 91; 5: Alan Bertram (TRS) 91.

NOVICE ROUTE: 1: Jerry Glover (Gas Gas) 65; 2: Robert Richards (Beta) 71; 3: Geoff Van Katwyk (Sherco) 75; 4: John Philpot (Beta) 77; 5: Steve Torode (Beta) 80.

TWINSHOCK A: 1: Jason Atwell (Honda) 63.

Looking warm and dry is the best lady rider Amelia Jeanne (Gas Gas).

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TWINSHOCK B: 1: Gary White (Yamaha) 81.

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ACU BRITISH SIDECAR

ACU BRITISH SIDECAR CHAMPIONSHIP

Team Spirit

WORDS: TRIALS MEDIA • PICTURES: JOEL CRABTREE – TF PHOTOGRAPHY

Jon Tuck & Matt Sparkes (TRS)

The final round of this year’s Wessex Plant Hire ACU British Sidecar Championship took the riders to the West of England’s trial at Hound Tor near Bovey Tracey, Devon. Do note, riders can drop their worst score, so that only ten rounds will count towards the title from the 11 on offer, and so, in some cases it was still a tense day.

In the Class A Championship class, Jon Tuck and Matt Sparkes rounded off the year with a win, and the title stayed with TRS as they held a clear advantage over 2018 champions Josh and Luke Golding.

In the Class B Intermediate class, no one had an answer for Jack Corlett and Beth Thomas (Gas Gas) as they took a full house of 11 wins, putting them well clear of second-placed Robert Head and Arron Jacobs (Beta).

The popular Clubman class has attracted the most entries over the year and it was quite fitting that, after one round was taken out of the overall scores and the points had been calculated, Jon Corlett and Jaime Howe were the winners from Paul Fishlock and Sam Atherton (Montesa). Four different round winners added to the excitement over the season.

Missing the start of the season would eventually cost Richard and Miles Gilham the Class D Newcomers class championship despite winning seven of the 11 rounds, as Neil and Mike Franks were happy to take the title despite winning only one round. The West of England trial finished with a round of applause for Phil Sparkes and David Tuck, who would retire from the sport with Phil having competed for more than 40 years. Well done!

Trial Magazine would once again like to thank Karen & Joel Crabtree for their support in covering the championship. Thank you.

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Josh & Luke Golding (TRS) DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

SPORT

ACU BRITISH SIDECAR

John Corlett & Jamie Howe (Gas Gas)

2019 ACU British Sidecar Championship CLASS A CHAMPIONSHIP: 1: Jon Tuck/Matt Sparkes/Izzy Saunders (TRS) 194; 2: Josh/Luke Golding (TRS) 156; 3: Nigel/Gracie-Mae Scott (Beta) 154; 4: William Cane/Sam Baxter (Sherco) 41; 5: Rupert/Chris Kimber (Beta) 17.

CLASS B INTERMEDIATE: 1: Jack Corlett/Beth Thomas (Gas Gas) 200; 2: Robert Head/Arron Jacobs (Beta) 164; 3: Sean/Paul Cuckow (Sherco) 32; 4: Kevin Nolan/ Karl Jarvis 32; 5: Chris/Bob Pickard 17.

CLASS C CLUBMEN: 1: Jon Corlett/Jaime Howe/Harry Gell (Gas Gas) 178; 2: Paul Jack Corlett & Beth Thomas (Gas Gas)

Fishlock/Sam Atherton (Montesa) 164; 3: Jake Pope/Harriet Shore (Sherco) 155; 4: Luke Etheridge/Dave Denyer (TRRS) 99; 5: Karl Jarvis/Jane Grossman (Scorpa) 94.

CLASS D NEWCOMERS: 1: Neil/Mike Franks 156; 2: Richard/Miles Gilham 140; 3: Michael Shipley/Robert Wilson (Montesa) 40; 4: David/Kevin Ryan 20; 5: Anthony/Lucy (TRS) 15.

• All riders can drop one round from the 11 round championship)

Neil & Mike Franks (Beta) TRIAL MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020

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Andy Metcalfe Trial Mag 0318.pdf

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DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

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SPORT

ACU LADIES’ AND GIRLS’ BTC

ACU BRITISH LADIES' & GIRLS' CHAMPIONSHIP

Jess takes top spot

Jess Bown (BVM-BMS Scorpa)

WORDS: TRIALS MEDIA PICTURE CREDIT: JUDY CHAMPION

With a total of eight ACU Ladies’ and Girls’ British Championship classes available for the riders to compete in, riders of all ages and abilities are well catered for. In 2019 this championship race started way back in March with the final round, number seven, run by the Torridge & DMC Ltd at the excellent Keypitts Farm near Ilfracombe providing an excellent finale.

With the championships decided at round six, some riders did not make the long drive to this event. The most demanding and difficult class, the Ladies, is at the very top of the ladder and it was nice to see a new winner in 2019 as the determined Jess Bown (BVM/BMS Scorpa) made her dedication well worth the effort.

In a world of increasing acceptance of females across all sports disciplines, motorcycle trials has never stood still, and we can celebrate a further seven ACU title winners with Chloe Baker (TRS UK), Sarah Bell (Beta), Charlotte Kimber (Gas Gas), Amy Clarke (BVM Sherco), Katlyn Adshead (Station Garage TRS), Matilda Arbon (180° Off Road Beta) and Daisy Craig (Inspire Racing OSET).

With so many classes on offer some are better supported than the others, but as a whole the series continues to attract well-supported entries making for a very competitive championship season.

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Chloe Baker (TRS UK) DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

SPORT

ACU LADIES’ AND GIRLS’ BTC

Brianna King (Beta)

Charlotte Kimber (Gas Gas)

ACU Belle Trailers 2019 British Championship LADIES: 1: Jess Bown (BVM/BMS Scorpa) 137; 2: Donna Fox (Montesa) 105; 3: Alicia Robinson (Beta) 101; 4: Louise Alford (JST Gas Gas UK) 80; 5: Gabby Whitham (Inch Perfect Beta) 53.

LADIES’ 50/50 ROUTE 2: 1: Chloe Baker (TRS UK) 132; 2: Jazz Hammond (Sherco) 123; 3: Bethanie Dunning (Trials UK Beta) 109.

GIRLS’ A CHAMPIONSHIP 50/50 ROUTE 2: 1: Sarah Bell (Beta) 120; 2: Elizabeth Tett (Beta) 85.

LADIES’ INTERMEDIATE ROUTE 2: 1: Charlotte Kimber (Gas Gas) 137; 2: Victoria Holmes (Sherco) 105; 3: Jo Mins (Beta) 99; 4: Zoe McDonald (South West Trials TRS) 30; 5: Olivia Pearson (Gas Gas) 30.

GIRLS’ A INTERMEDIATE ROUTE 2: 1: Amy Clarke (BVM Sherco) 37; 2: Libby Martinez (Beta) 20; 3: Jessica Basford 17.

GIRLS’ B ROUTE 2: 1: Katlyn Adshead (Station Garage TRS) 134; 2: Daisy Parsons (Beta) 123; 3: Sophie Bailey (Gas Gas) 98; 4: Amelia Mayhew (Beta) 91; 5: Summer Peters 80.

GIRLS’ C ROUTE 3: 1: Matilda Arbon (180° Off Road Beta) 120; 2: Holly Dixon (Beta) 105; 3: Brianna King (Beta) 103; 4: Kayleigh Rice (OSET) 86; 5: Gemma Kerruish (OSET) 81.

GIRLS’ D ROUTE 3: 1: Daisy Craig (Inspire Racing OSET) 97; 2: Ealish Cubbon (OSET) 37.

TRIAL MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020

Katlyn Adshead (Station Garage TRS) 107

SPORT S3 BTC

Dan Thorpe (JST Gas Gas UK)

Phil Houghton (Beta)

Richard Fraser (Sherco)

ACU S3 PARTS BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIP

Triumphant Thorpe WORDS: TRIALS MEDIA • PICTURES: BARRY ROBINSON

You could argue that this ACU S3 Parts British Championship represents what our sport is all about, with its very traditional road-based competitions. Running from February at the Wallace Cup Trial through to the Travers Trial in September, the eight-round series has once again proved as popular as ever. Over the four classes the series has attracted 194 pointsscoring rides, which speaks volumes for the quality of the riders and the events.

Despite his advancing years, Dan Thorpe (JST Gas Gas UK) thoroughly deserved the title in spite of a strong push from the Isle of Wight youngster, Chris Stay (BVM TRS). Thorpe’s consistency in taking four wins to Stay’s single victory gave him the winning edge.

2019 ACU S3 Parts British Championship S3 EXPERT: 1: Dan Thorpe (JST Gas Gas UK) 146; 2: Chris Stay (BVM TRS) 110; 3: Guy Kendrew (JST Gas Gas UK) 96; 4: John Crinson (OffroadMoto Beta) 88; 5: Sam Yeadon (Acklams Beta) 67.

With a massive 73 points-scoring riders in this class it came down to a battle between Richard and Thomas Fraser. Thomas had the upper hand with two class wins, but once again it was Richard’s consistency early in the season that gave him the title.

S3 CLUBMEN: 1: Richard Fraser (Sherco) 108; 2: Thomas Fraser (Gas Gas) 93; 3: Steve Hiscock (Vertigo) 91; 4: Katy Sunter – Thorpe (JST Gas Gas UK) 82; Sam Atherton 43.

With three riders contesting all eight rounds Phil Houghton needed to be at his very best on the Beta. His winning margin came about with three wins to his name and four runners-up positions, keeping Darren Wasley at bay.

S3 CLUBMEN OVER 40: 1: Philip Houghton (Beta) 136; 2: Darren Wasley (Gas Gas) 100; 4: Tony Buckley (Beta) 90; 4: Keiran Hankin (Vertigo) 74; 5: Huw Price (Beta) 45.

Lack of support for this class continues, with only three points-scoring riders, but the ever-happy Jake Eley was crowned an ACU British Trials Champion.

S3 125: 1: Jake Eley (Beta) 106; 2: Bret Harbud (BVM Beta) 57; 3: Gus Oblein (Sherco) 40.

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Jake Eley (Beta) DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020 • TRIAL MAGAZINE

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The South West’s only Dedicated Trials Dealer for:

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