Trial Magazine Issue 89 October-November 2021

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INTERNATIONAL

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October-November 2021

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MOTORCYCLE • CYCLE • SIDECAR • CLASSIC • COMPETITION • FEATURES

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Trial Magazine • Welcome

CONTACT Online: www.trialmaguk.com Email: england@trialmag.com Address: 48 Albion Road, New Mills, High Peak, Derbyshire, SK22 3EX United Kingdom

WELCOME 44

FEATURES

NEW MODELS

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INTERNATIONAL

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PRODUCT FOCUS

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WHAT HAPPENED

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Executive Director Philippe Benhamou

SPORT

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Editor John Hulme

FAMILY

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WORKSHOP

90

FLASHBACK

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Beta Vertigo Montesa FIM Trial World Championship Motorex Oils

THE TEAM Co-Managing Directors John Hulme & Charles Benhamou

Ossa Part Two

ACU British Championship The Lampkin’s

(NUJ No: 949620)

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

Scorpa Secrets

Gas Gas 80 2001

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.

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ON TOUR

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1981 Inter Centre Team Trial 2001 European Championship

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 © 2021 CJ Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publishers. Great care is taken to ensure accuracy in the preparation of this publication, but neither CJ Publishing Ltd or the editor can be held responsible for its contents. The views expressed are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of the Publishers. Trial Magazine is published by: CJ Publishing Limited, registered in England Number: 5947718. Trial Magazine: ISSN: 1753-0040. Trial Magazine • October-November 2021

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110 REGULAR SECTIONS TALK TRIALS: TONI BOU

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NEWS

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PADDOCK

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SHOPPING

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POSTER

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SUPERSTORE

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DEALER LOCATOR

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SUBSCRIPTION FORM

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Cover: FIM Trial World Champions Photo Credit: Trials Media

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Talk trials • Toni Bou

TONI BOU

WHAT A YEAR I had to have a quick look in the mirror to believe that this life I am living to the limit is real! In a year full of the lows and then the highs, and the fulfilment of winning, I am once again the FIM TrialGP World Champion for the 15th consecutive year – it has not been easy! Words: Toni Bou with John Hulme • Picture: Trials Media

Despite the winning this year, it has been very challenging, and the fight to retain my title has been much more difficult than the championship has recorded. The broken leg was a significant hurdle in the year’s plans, but I fought hard to be fit for the start of the season, although, at one point, I was starting to think that it may not be possible.

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Then my Repsol Honda fellow team rider Takahisa Fujinami took a win in Italy, and I started thinking, will 2021 be my year again. Fuji is a constant inspiration and proves that age in motorcycle trials is no barrier. Once my leg was well on the way to recovery, I pushed myself really hard in training. Both Adam Raga and Jaime Busto have challenged me all

the way, which has made me ride to my maximum at all times to take the championship title. As always, the 2021 title has not just been about Toni Bou but a dedicated team who support me all the way. From the two doctors, Dr Josep Torrent and Dr Maurise Saur at iMove Traumatology in Spain who repaired the broken leg, to the technicians

in Japan at Honda and Montesa in Spain who are constantly evolving the four-stroke Cota4RT, they all played such an important part in my success. Everyone in the Repsol-Honda team contribute to the success, and it is such a pleasure to celebrate the winning with them; thank you. Until next time, stay safe and well – Toni ‘Dynamite’ Bou.

October-November 2021 • Trial Magazine


The pinnacle of competition. Championship dominating and constantly evolving, the Cota 4RT 301RR Race Replica is the choice of the ultimate trial champion. We’ve taken the best and made it that little bit better by creating a Race Replica that includes a distinguished World Championship decoration. Visit honda.co.uk to find out more. Moved by Dreams.


News • The world of trials

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FUJIGAS: FAREWELL WORDS: REPSOL HONDA TEAM PICTURE CREDIT: TRIALS MEDIA CHRISTIAN VALERI TAKAHISA FUJINAMI (REPSOL HONDA-ESP): “I firmly believe that the time has come to close the curtain on my career as a trial world championship rider after 26 years in competition. Thank you for everyone's support over this period. I have made trials my profession and performed at a more than satisfactory level for over a quarter of a century; they have been 26 great years. "And I have to also thank my family who supported me from the first moment, my teammates, the brand, the sponsors, and the fans who have cheered me on throughout. I want to greet each of my fans one by one, and I hope to do it someday to thank them for the enormous support they have given throughout gçÜå=iÉÉ=`ä~ëëáÅ=qêá~äj~Ö=MUOMKéÇÑ===N===MVLMULOMOM===OPWMR this time.

BY JACK LEE

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"Honda Racing and Montesa-Honda gave me a motorcycle to participate in the world championship when I was 16 years old. Since then, I am proud to have battled with this team right through to the very end. "I still remember the shouts and applause of support at my debut in Japan and also in Spain where ‘Fujigas’ was born! "The first victory in Germany, the tough, complicated years, but also the joy of the FIM world title in 2004. It was a long time ago, but it's my particular treasure. I would also like to particularly remember the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi, which started in 2000 and has always had such an enthusiastic crowd; again, thank you. "After retiring from competition, I don't know what I will do from now. I haven't made up my mind yet, but I hope to stay involved in trials in some way. I'm confident that everything will go well in my new life.”

IF YOU HAVE READ THIS THEN SO HAVE YOUR CUSTOMERS

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News • The world of trials

TDN 2021 It is always good to see a team event and the meeting of the many nationalities associated with motorcycle trials, and the most significant single event in the international calendar, the 2021 FIM Trial des Nations, took place at Gouveia in Portugal. The event attracted teams from across the globe to fight for the right to be the best trials riding nation in the world. It attracted entries from sixteen countries and three continents. In total, in excess of 70 riders were in action with both the male and female Trial des Nations crowns up for grabs, plus a male ‘International’ title was also included. With the top three FIM TrialGP class riders in the team, Toni Bou, Adam Raga and Jaime Busto, Spain can now boast an incredible 28 wins since the team event was introduced in 1984. Since 2004, they have dominated the event with consecutive wins and added this year’s victory to the growing RFME Federation trophy cabinet. It was the same story in the Women’s Trial Des Nations with Spain

Trials Des Nations

making it a one-two with a team led by Laia Sanz, Berta Abellan and Sandra Gomez. In the International class, it was a strong team from Norway who won. Jarand Vold Gunvaldsen, Hakon Pedersen and Sandre Haga easily outpointed the Czech Republic. Pictures: Trials Media Fili.

TRIALS DES NATIONS

TRIALS DES NATIONS: 1: Spain 1; 2: France 36; 3: Italy 43 ; 4: Great Britain 65. WOMEN’S TRIALS DES NATIONS: 1: Spain 5; 2: Great Britain 12; 3: Norway 22; 4: Italy 50; 5: France 59. INTERNATIONAL CLASS: 1: Norway 5; 2: Czech Republic 12; 3: Andorra 19; USA 22; 5: Austria 30.

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October-November 2021 • Trial Magazine


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October-November 2021 • Trial Magazine


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Shopping • What’s new

WHAT’S ON YOUR SHOPPING LIST?

S3 TITANIUM FRONT PIPES All Models Web: www.trialendurodirect.com Web: www.s3parts.com

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October-November 2021 • Trial Magazine


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Trial Magazine • October-November 2021

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New Models • Beta

BETA

EVO

Italian Beta Motor continues to fine-tune its trials model range with upgrades to this year's 2022 model, primarily impacting the style and suspension of the machine. The EVO model has already received a series of major updates to the engine, frame, and suspension over its lifespan. Nevertheless, this machine continues its winning pedigree, which is the ideal base for the personalised setups created for the riders of this year's official FIM Trial World Championship Beta team; TrialGP Matteo Grattarola (ITA), Benoit Bincaz (FRA), Trial2 Lorenzo Gandola (ITA), Aniol Gelabert (ESP) and Sondre Haga (NOR). Words: Trials Media and Beta • Pictures: Beta

This MY 2022 model Beta range has decided to focus on the details, catering to the needs of a constantly evolving user base and accentuating its models' hallmark functionality and reliability. Beta's experience in competitions contributes directly to the development of its products for the end-user, as testified by the excellent results obtained in national and international championships. Visually, major updates have been made to the machine's graphics, while several details have changed colour to create a more modern and aggressive look. The air-filter box is now red, with the filter accessible either from above via the small cover or by removing the rear mudguard. In addition, the frame is now painted in distinctive Beta red to accentuate the beauty of the hydroformed aluminium structure, a hallmark feature of the EVO. The suspension has been updated with revised fork settings to optimise the damping curve in fully compressed and extended states. This has been achieved by modifying both the mechanical settings of the suspension and the volume of oil contained in the stanchions with different quantities used for the

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right- and left-hand sides of the fork. The functions of the map selector switch have been maintained, and the EVO offers a choice of two different engine maps selectable by the rider with a button practically located on the tank cover. This placement makes the button easy to reach, with an LED indicator allowing the rider to immediately identify which map is currently in use. The EVO range is one of the most extensive in this class with 80, 125, 250 and 300cc machines, with the option of a four-stroke 300cc. It continues to offer six different models created to meet the needs of all riders, each with its unique personality.

October-November 2021 • Trial Magazine


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New Models • Vertigo

VERTIGO

NITRO

Vertigo is proud to present the Nitro model, a new and evolved trials motorcycle for the 2022 season. The Nitro is the successor to the acclaimed Combat model and brings together all the experience accumulated by the brand in the FIM Trial World Championship events. Vertigo continues to lead the technological evolution in trials with the most complete motorcycle that the brand has manufactured to date. This Nitro model will be available from the Vertigo dealer network in competition and Euro5 125cc, 250cc and 300cc homologated, as well as 200cc and 280cc competition-only versions. The Nitro model is virtually an entirely new motorcycle, thanks to the evolution of the following all-new components. Words: Trials Media and James Duxbury • Pictures: Vertigo

NEW CHASSIS

• SUPERIOR AGILITY • IMPROVED FUNCTIONALITY • NEW SHOCK MOUNTING POINT The Nitro model has a new multi-tubular chassis resulting from many hours of competition development, giving the new Vertigo superior agility and handling capabilities. Other advances include a new micro-fusion rear shock mount, optimally positioning this essential component in the Nitro frame. The new – and now unrestricted – rear wheel travel, coupled with the new shock mount, provides a significantly improved functionality and suspension feel over previous models.

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RE-DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS

• ACCESSIBILITY • LOWER OPERATING TEMPERATURE • PLUG AND PLAY COMPONENTS The Nitro places each electrical component in an optimal location, with two clear objectives: achieving the necessary cooling and improving accessibility. All electrical components are now protected and highly accessible, making maintenance tasks an efficient and simple process.

NEW REAR BRAKE SYSTEM

• IMPROVED ACCESSIBILITY TO THE CLUTCH • BETTER BRAKING PERFORMANCE • QUICK EXCHANGE OF SYSTEM The Nitro incorporates a new, more efficient rear brake hose, the positioning of which facilitates the quick exchange of the complete brake system as well as improved access to the clutch.

October-November 2021 • Trial Magazine


Vertigo • New Models

NEW ENGINE SKID PLATE

• GREATER PROTECTION • EASILY REMOVED AND REPLACED • GREATER DURABILITY This new high-strength 7075 Aluminium skid plate is designed to offer maximum protection to the engine and the new location of components.

NEW SILENCER

• IMPROVED SUSPENSION TRAVEL • REDUCED HEAT TRANSFER TO ALL COMPONENTS • INTERCHANGEABLE PACKING • REDUCED ENGINE BRAKING Another significant improvement of the Nitro is the all-new silencer. The distinctive new silencer improves the thermodynamic performance and reduces engine braking whilst also allowing an additional 5cm of rear suspension travel over previous models. Another major advantage is the removable endcap, which allows for easy repacking of the silencer.

NEW WATER PUMP

NEW FUEL TANK

• GREATER CAPACITY • ALLOWS FOR FITMENT OF LARGER DIAMETER SHOCKS • IMPROVED WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION AND STABILITY The new fuel tank allows you to take advantage of 100% of its capacity. The filling will be safer with the Nitro, thanks to the design of a new tank that prevents the spillage of fuel towards the engine’s electrical components. The tank has also been repositioned slightly forward compared to previous models, helping to improve weight distribution and thus stability. Vertigo’s innovative and unique positioning of the fuel tank keeps weight low and centrally located, providing superior stability and traction over any other trials motorcycle available.

• SELF-BLEEDING • GREATER EFFICIENCY • MORE COMPACT (IMPROVED PROTECTION) • IMPROVED ACCESSIBILITY A completely new, more compact water pump with higher flow efficiency is used on the Nitro. It is now also repositioned at the lowest point in the coolant circuit, meaning the system is now self-bleeding, resulting in a more efficient cooling system.

NEW PLASTICS • LOWER HEIGHT • INCREASED RIDER MOBILITY • RACING APPEARANCE

SUMMARY The all-new rear mudguard, seat base, and air-box cover have been developed to give the Nitro a more aggressive, racing appearance whilst also improving the rider’s mobility. They are also no longer affected by heat transfer from other machine components and always keep their original form.

Trial Magazine • October-November 2021

The new Nitro has undergone a rigorous development programme, and the team of Vertigo engineers has worked closely with Jamie Busto. They have been developing the machine during the past 12 months whilst competing in the FIM TrialGP class and other prestigious events and championships. As a result, the already revolutionary and technologically advanced twostroke fuel injection Vertigo has progressed to a whole new level, putting it in pole position for the 2022 season if you demand the ultimate in technology, performance and quality.

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New Models • Montesa

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MONTESA

COTA

Montesa presents its revamped Cota range with two spectacular design options for the 301RR model and a noteworthy update on the 4RT260R. Its flagship model, the Cota 301RR, and the Cota 4RT260R feature full suspension systems from the renowned SHOWA brand. In addition to the new suspension system, the Cota 4RT260R benefits from a significant increase in performance. Exclusivity is Montesa’s trademark, which is very apparent in its most race-orientated model, the Cota 301RR, as well as the Cota 4RT260R. Words: Trials Media and Montesa • Pictures: Montesa The Cota 301RR continues to be Montesa’s flagship. In addition to its high-quality components, it now has a Showa fork giving it an even closer image to its World TrialGP sisters. Showa completes the suspension system of the Cota 301RR, taking a significant step forward in terms of exclusivity and quality. Another important innovation is the addition of a new colour option in the Race Replica, a model

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that features a design and graphics inherited from Toni Bou’s machine this season. This model will also be available in an elegant Anchor Grey Metallic colour and traditional Montesa red. The 301RR is the most powerful Cota ever massproduced. It is a motorcycle designed for racing, hence its RR (Race Ready) surname. The model has the proven experience inherited from the

competition machines used by Montesa riders in the Trial World Championship, from which it takes most of its components and technical solutions. Naturally, the new Cota 301RR inherits the machine’s engine that participates in the Trial2 World Championship. The engine remains unchanged from its predecessor, which had an increase in its displacement from 288cc to 298cc. The Cota 301RR also benefits from a series of important changes in the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) and a redesigned gas decompression system, increasing the diameter of the crankcase breather from 1.9mm to 2.25mm, just like Bou’s and Fujinami’s TrialGP machines. These improvements result in a clear reduction of the engine braking, which leads to a better feel and lighter weight. On the other hand, more inertia was achieved in the crankshaft to increase progressiveness. This significantly improves low- to mid-ranges and performance closer to the motorcycles competing in the World Championship. Another noteworthy feature is the perfect integration between the throttle control and the final drive; it’s a key factor in top-level trials where the smooth operation of the PGM-FI electronic fuel injection system is of vital importance.

October-November 2021 • Trial Magazine


FIM TRIAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2021

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FIM Trial World Championship • International Sport

TRIAL 2021

COVID BEATER

As Covid-19 continues to impact life in general, the FIM still managed to put together a Trial World Championship calendar in 2021. Article: Trials Media

In June, Italy opened the championship with a two-day event followed by a one-day event in France at the Circuit de Charade race track. August would include a two-day event in Andorra before returning to France again at Cahors in August as a single day of competition. The action would move to Spain with a two-day event in September at Pobladura as news of the UK world round at Tong, near Leeds, scheduled for October, was cancelled due to problems with the venue.

Trial Magazine • October-November 2021

As the Trial Des Nations venue at Gouveia in Portugal held the final round of the Women’s championship, the FIM also added the final round for their male counterparts in TrialGP and Trial2. TrialGP and Trial2 would compete in all the rounds, Trial125 in Italy, Andorra, France (Cahors), TrialGP and Trial2 Women in Italy, France (Charade), Spain and Portugal, with TrialE in France (Charade), Andorra and France (Cahors). Run as a separate team event, the Trials Des Nations took place in Portugal on the 19th September, the day after the final Trial World Championship round.

2021 FIM MANUFACTURERS TRIAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Following its success in 2020, when it took the trophy away from Montesa, the relatively new Spanish motorcycle manufacturer TRRS followed this up by repeating the win in 2021. The fight for second place was much closer though, as it was a battle between Beta and Montesa. The Italian manufacturer pushed Montesa to the final position on the podium. MANUFACTURER RESULTS: 1: TRRS: 301; 2: Beta: 267; 3: Montesa: 257; 4: Sherco: 215; 5: Vertigo: 161; 6: GASGAS: 150; 7: Scorpa: 92.

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International Sport • FIM Trial World Championship

TRIALGP

BOU RAISES THE BAR

In reality, it just had to have a fairy-tale ending as Toni Bou signed off the 2021 season, raising the bar even higher; 15-time FIM Trial World Champion; yes, you read that correctly. Article: Trials Media

Needing just one point from the final round in Portugal, and in typical Bou fashion, it was never going to be anything less than a win. But, you may ask, has he been pushed this season? With seven wins from the nine-point scoring days, you would argue not, but once again, Adam Raga, as always, has been sitting in the wings. Jaime Busto (Vertigo-ESP) has delivered some very good rides, but with no wins, how long can he wait? It’s interesting to note that at the final round on the last lap, the best scores came from Jorge Casales (GASGAS-ESP) on seven and Gabriel Marcelli (Montesa-ESP) on nine as Bou parted with ten marks lost. Who knows what the future of TrialGP holds for these two super talented riders, but one thing is for sure, the main man won once again. Toni Bou, we salute you. Before we close on TrialGP, we want to raise a glass to the original ‘Playboy’ of world trials. As Takahisa Fujinami (Repsol Honda-JPN) retires, we would like to thank him for all the many hours of entertainment he has provided. Thank you from everyone at Trial Magazine.

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Adam Raga (TRRS-ESP)

October-November 2021 • Trial Magazine


FIM Trial World Championship • International Sport

Jaime Busto (Vertigo-ESP)

ROUND 3, ANDORRA

SANT JULIA, 21ST-22ND AUGUST Baked in the sunshine, Andorra again delivered two days of superb action with the inclusion of some very traditional river sections alongside the steep rocky climbs found in this mountainous area. As Adam Raga and Toni Bou once again disputed who would win, the time element also came into play. Raga lost the victory though in the final hazard of the day when he put a foot down. On day two, a very much on-form Adam Raga was engaged in a fight with Jaime Busto. A stop in section two had pushed Toni Bou down to third, and a tremendous crash on section seven left Busto denied his second-ever world round win as a victorious Raga reduced the points gap on Bou. DAY ONE RESULTS: 1: Toni Bou (Repsol Honda-ESP) 46; 2: Raga 46; 3: Grattarola 65; 4: Busto 71; 5: Gelabert 72; 6: Marcelli 76; 7: Casales 82; 8: Fujinami 85; 9: Fajardo 87; 10: Bincaz 101. DAY TWO RESULTS: 1: Adam Raga (TRRS-ESP) 18; 2: Busto 19; 3: Bou 23; 4: Gelabert 32; 5: Grattarola 41; 6: Marcelli 43; 7: Fajardo 54; 8: Fujinami 55; 9: Bincaz 59; 10: Casales 64.

Takahisa Fujinami (Repsol Honda-ESP)

Trial Magazine • October-November 2021

Matteo Grattarola (Beta-ITA)

FRANCE, ROUND 4

CAHORS, 29TH AUGUST When Toni Bou is on form, everyone else will suffer, and that is what happened around the old medieval town of Cahors. Under red hot skies, Bou parted with just three marks on his opening lap and then went clear on the second. The fight for second position was very close as Adam Raga and Jaime Busto improved dramatically after high scoring opening laps. They both lost just two marks on the second lap, with Raga the better by a single mark to push Busto down to third.. RESULTS: 1: Toni Bou (Repsol Honda-ESP) 3; 2: Raga 13; 3: Busto 14; 4: Gelabert 28; 5: Fujinami 28; 6: Grattarola 31; 7: Casales 33; 8: Marcelli 34; 9: Bincaz 37; 10: Fajardo 43.

Miquel Gelabert (GASGAS-ESP)

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International Sport • FIM Trial World Championship

Gabriel Marcelli (Montesa-ESP)

SPAIN, ROUND 5

POBLADURA, 11TH-12TH SEPTEMBER This super venue offered a wide selection of hazards from the man-made to the very natural riding up the rivers and bank sides. The result though was the same as Toni Bou won on both days. Again, on day one, no one had an answer to his dynamic form as Adam Raga outpointed Jaime Busto by a single mark. The weather continued to be kind as the sun shone through on the second day as Busto turned the heat on Bou with a single mark advantage after the opening lap. On the second lap, Busto led all the way to section 11. As a natural master of huge steps, his unbelievable talent failed him on this occasion as he crashed back down to earth with a fivemark penalty which would deny him the win. Bou arrived and knew what he had to do to win, and he duly delivered. DAY ONE RESULTS: 1: Toni Bou (Repsol Honda-ESP) 16; 2: Raga 36; 3: Busto 37; 4: Marcelli 44; 5: Grattarola 52; 6: Fajardo 56; 7: Gelabert 57; 8: Casales 64; 9: Fujinami 64; 10: Bincaz 70. DAY TWO RESULTS: 1: Toni Bou (Repsol Honda-ESP) 22; 2: Busto 24; 3: Raga 30; 4: Marcelli 41; 5: Grattarola 41; 6: Gelabert 42; 7: Fujinami 51; 8: Casales 56; 9: Fajardo 67; 10: Bincaz 83.

Jeroni Fajardo (Sherco-ESP)

PORTUGAL, ROUND 6

GOUVEIA, 18TH SEPTEMBER RESULTS: 1: Toni Bou (Repsol Honda-ESP) 20; 2: Raga 24; 3: Busto 26; 4: Marcelli 33; 5: Grattarola 38; 6: Gelabert 39; 7: Fujinami 41; 8: Fajardo 42; 8: Casales 53; 10: Bincaz 62.

2021 FIM TRIALGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

POSITIONS: 1: Toni Bou (Repsol Honda-ESP) 172; 2: Adam Raga (TRRS-ESP) 150; 3: Jamie Busto (Vertigo-ESP) 122; 4: Matteo Grattarola (Beta-ITA) 112; 5: Miquel Gelabert (GASGASESP) 95; 6: Takahisa Fujinami (Repsol Honda-JPN) 94; 7: Gabriel Marcelli (Montesa-ESP) 92; 8: Jeroni Fajardo (Sherco-ESP) 80; 9: Jorge Casales (GASGAS-ESP) 57; 10: Benoit Bincaz (Beta-FRA) 38; 11: Dan Peace (Sherco-GBR) 20; 12: Teo Colairo (Beta-FRA) 5.

MACHINES

RESULTS: Beta 3; GASGAS 2; Repsol Honda 2; Sherco 2; Montesa 1; TRRS 1; Vertigo 1.

34

Benoit Bincaz (Beta-FRA)

October-November 2021 • Trial Magazine


THE CHOICE OF CHAMPIONS

TONI BOU 14 x FIM X-Trial World Champion (Indoor) 15 x FIM Trial World Champion (Outdoor)

To discover the MICHELIN Trial range visit: www.michelin.co.uk/motorbike


International Sport • FIM Trial World Championship

TRIAL2

MAGICAL MARTYN

After being denied the FIM World crown in very controversial circumstances in Italy in 2018, how happy must the Martyn family be after their magical son Toby finally won the much sought after Trial2 title in Portugal? Article: Trials Media

2021 has been all about him and his fellow British rider Jack Peace. Despite only winning two of the nine rounds on offer, Toby kept calm and calculated, racking up the points as Jack missed out on so many on tie break deciders. When it mattered, Toby always kept his nose in front, and when his rivals started winning, he was always thereabouts for the much-valued points. He arrived in Portugal with a good points difference over his rival, and despite not winning the final round, he had done enough to secure the title with his third-place finish. The Trial2 class remains possibly more competitive than the premier league in TrialGP, and it’s interesting to note that out of the nine rounds contested, we had four different individual round winners with Toby Martyn 3, Jack Peace 2, Aniol Gelabert 2 and Lorenzo Gondola 2. So yes, this class is very much the one to win.

36

Jack Peace (Sherco-GBR)

October-November 2021 • Trial Magazine


FIM Trial World Championship • International Sport

Aniol Gelabert (Beta-ESP)

ANDORRA, ROUND 3

FRANCE, ROUND 4

As the temperatures soared, so did the action as Toby Martyn remained calm to move back into the championship lead on day one, followed home by fellow ‘Brit’ Jack Peace as they both enjoyed the flowing rocky river sections. As Peace remained on the podium on day two, Martyn undid all the hard work with a surprise sixth-place finish allowing his constant rival to open up a five-point advantage in the championship. The day two winner was Aniol Gelabert, followed by Arnau Farre and Peace as Great Britain’s Billy Green, who had finished on a total of nine marks lost, was sensationally excluded for a course technicality concerning his minder who veered from the route. His final score would have given him his first Trial2 win! DAY ONE RESULTS: 1: Toby Martyn (TRRS-GBR) 19; 2: Peace 22; 3: Gandola 26; 4: Gelabert 30; 5: Farre 33; 6: Ribau 38; 7: Green 40; 8: Trueba 41; 9: Haga 48; 10: Ferrer 57. DAY TWO RESULTS: 1: Aniol Gelabert (Beta-ESP) 16; 2: Farre 19; 3: Peace 20; 4: Haga 21; 5: Gandola 23; 6: Martyn 27; 7: Tournour 31; 8: Trueba 34; 9: Suarez 35; 10: Canales 37.

When a rider is on form, they are always going to take some beating, and when Toby Martyn went through the first lap parting with no marks, the question was could he maintain it on the second lap? In a very low scoring event, he replicated his first lap to record the perfect zero. Every mark lost would be vital, and the biggest loser was Martyn’s nearest challenger and fellow ‘Brit’ Jack Peace, who came home on four marks lost in fourth position. RESULTS: 1: Toby Martyn (TRRS-GBR) 0; 2: Gelabert 2; 3: Ferrer 2; 4: Peace 4; 5: Suarez 7; 6: Haga 7; 7: Tournour 9; 8: Farre 10; 9: Gandola 12; 10: Trueba 17.

SANT JULIA, 21ST-22ND AUGUST

Lorenzo Gondola (Beta-ITA)

Trial Magazine • October-November 2021

CAHORS, 29TH AUGUST

Sandre Haga (Beta-NOR)

37


International Sport • FIM Trial World Championship

C

M

Y

Pablo Suarez (Montesa-ESP)

Alexandre Ferrer (TRRS-FRA)

CM

SPAIN, ROUND 5

MY

POBLADURA, 11TH-12TH SEPTEMBER

CY

Two different winners would be found, with Aniol Gelabert on day one and Lorenzo Gondola on day two. All eyes though would be on Toby Martyn and Jack Peace. These two championship challengers would have varied days as neither rode that well on day one as both tied on the same marks, with Martyn extending his championship lead as Peace lost out on the tie-break decider. Italy’s Gondola took a well-deserved win in front of Suarez on day two, who won a three-way tie decider involving Martyn and Ferrer, with Peace finishing fifth. Great Britain’s Toby Martyn would be taking an eight-point advantage to the final round. DAY ONE RESULTS: 1: Aniol Gelabert (Beta-ESP) 13; 2: Suarez 16; 3: Martyn 17; 4: Peace 17; 5: Haga 18; 6: Martinez 25; 7: Gondola 26; 8: Farre 46; 9: Ferrer 30; 10: Green 42. DAY TWO RESULTS: 1: Lorenzo Gondola (Beta-ITA) 16; 2: Suarez 22; 3: Martyn 22; 4: Ferrer 22; 5: Peace 23; 6: Haga 24; 7: Gelabert 29; 8: Green 32; 9: Rabino 34; 10: Martinez 35.

CMY

K

PORTUGAL, ROUND 6

GOUVEIA, 18TH SEPTEMBER RESULTS: 1: Lorenzo Gondola (Beta-ITA) 5; 2: Ferrer 13; 3: Martyn 17; 4: Gelabert 18; 5: Rabino 19; 6: Farre 19; 7: Peace 19; 8: Haga 21; 9: Ribau 22; 10: Green 26.

2021 FIM TRIAL2 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

POSITIONS: 1: Toby Martyn (TRRS-GBR) 149; 2: Jack Peace (Sherco-GBR) 135; 3: Aniol Gelabert (Beta-ESP) 127; 4: Lorenzo Gondola (Beta-ITA) 116; 5: Sondre Haga (Beta-NOR) 96; 6: Alexandre Ferrer (TRRS-FRA) 87; 7: Pablo Suarez (Montesa-ESP) 82; 8: Arnau Farre (Scorpa-ESP) 70; 9: Gianluca Tournour (GASGAS-ITA) 55; 10: Billy Green (Scorpa-GBR) 54; 11: Alberto Rabino (BetaITA) 40; 12: Sergio Ribau (Scorpa-ESP) 32; 13: Gerard Trueba (Beta-ITA) 30; 14: Alex Canales (Sherco-ESP) 29; 15: Pau Martinez (Vertigo-ESP) 23.

MACHINES

RESULTS: Beta 5; Scorpa 3; Sherco 2; TRRS 2; GASGAS 1; Montesa 1; Vertigo 1.

38

Billy Green (Scorpa-GBR)

October-November 2021 • Trial Magazine


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International Sport • FIM Trial World Championship

TRIALGP WOMEN

SANZ-SATIONAL

What a roller coaster of a year the TrialGP Women championship has been with the defending champion Emma Bristow (Sherco-GBR) and the returning Laia Sanz (GASGAS-ESP), who last contested the series in 2013. With 13 FIM Trial World Championship titles under her belt, she was hungry to make 2021 a winning year to add to her growing success. Article: Trials Media • Pictures: Trials Media Fili

Bristow led the way after the two rounds in Spain by a solitary point as they approached the final round in Portugal. Riding with a very confident style, Laia Sanz took an early lead on the opening lap and never looked back. Her opening lap score of four marks lost was matched by the up-coming ladies star Berta Abellan (Vertigo-ESP) as Bristow found herself in third position on seven marks lost. But, as we have seen before, world champions know when to pull in their years of experience, and Sanz was sensational on her second lap, parting with just two marks to secure the title. Abellan once again scored another runner-up spot as Bristow came home third to be denied another world title to add to her tally of seven.

Laia Sanz (GASGAS-ESP)

40

Emma Bristow (Sherco-GBR)

October-November 2021 • Trial Magazine


FIM Trial World Championship • International Sport

Berta Abellan (Vertigo-ESP)

Sandra Gomez (TRRS-ESP)

SPAIN, ROUND 2

POBLADURA, 11TH-12TH SEPTEMBER It was a very tense looking Emma Bristow who did not show her true worldclass level on day one as she lost out on the win in the final hazard after a very poor opening lap. Laia Sanz had put in a superb first lap score to head the field on five as Bristow came fighting back from a loss of 18. On the second lap, they were both overshadowed by an on-form Berta Abellan, whose second lap score of just six marks lost pushed her into second, separating Bristow and Sanz. However, it was a totally different and focussed Bristow who started on day two as she took a much-needed victory to keep her eyes on the world title. Sanz took the runner-up position with Abellan third as this trio finished head and shoulders above everyone else. DAY ONE RESULTS: 1: Laia Sanz (GASGAS-ESP) 25; 2: Abellan 26; 2: Bristow 30; 4: Hakonsen 39; 5: Gomez 48; 6: Monnier 60; 7: Barkved 61; 8: Wachs 62; 9: Minta 65; 10: Gallieni 79; 11: Hoover 79; 12: Moreon 81; 13: Steinert 82. DAY TWO RESULTS: 1: Emma Bristow (Sherco-GBR) 9; 2: Sanz 12; 3: Abellan 14; 4: Monnier 39; 5: Gomez 40; 6: Hakonsen 43; 7: Wachs 53; 8: Minta 56; 9: Barkved 59; 10: Gallieni 66; 11: Steinert 68; 12: Hoover 69; 13: Moreon 74.

PORTUGAL, ROUND 3

GOUVEIA, 18TH SEPTEMBER RESULTS: 1: Laia Sanz (GASGAS-ESP) 6; 2: Abellan 11; 3: Bristow 14; 4: Gomez 21; 5: Minta 34; 6: Hakonsen 42; 7: Monnier 43; 8: Steinert 56; 9: Wachs 59; 10: Barkved 69; 11: Gallieni 69; 12: Hoover 72; 13: Moreon 74.

Trial Magazine • October-November 2021

Alice Minta (Scorpa-GBR)

2021 FIM TRIALGP WOMEN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS: 1: Laia Sanz (GASGAS-ESP) 111; 2: Emma Bristow (Sherco-GBR) 107; 3: Berta Abellan (Vertigo-ESP) 94; 4: Sandra Gomez (TRRS-ESP) 74; 5: Ingveig Hakonsen (TRRS-NOR) 64; 6: Naomi Monnier (Beta-FRA) 61; 7: Alice Minta (Scorpa-GBR) 55; 8: Vivian Wachs (TRRS-DEU) 46; 9: Martina Gallieni (TRRS-ITA) 39; 10: Jule Steinert (TRRS-DEU) 31; 11: Caroline Moreon (ShercoFRA) 27; 12: Huldeborg Barkved (GASGAS-NOR) 22; 13: Madeleine Hoover (GASGAS-USA) 22; 14: Alex Brancati (GASGAS-ITA) 6; 15: Theresa Bauml (Vertigo-DEU) 6.

MACHINES

RESULTS: TRRS 5; GASGAS 4; Sherco 2; Vertigo 2; Beta 1; Scorpa 1.

41


International Sport • FIM Trial World Championship

Sofia Rabino (Beta-ITA)

TRIAL2 WOMEN

SUCCESS FOR SOFIA

The Trial2 season of 2021 has been all about Sofia Rabino (BetaITA), who has taken four wins from the total of six on offer to take the title. Sara Trentini (Vertigo-ITA) was an early challenger with a win at round one in Italy, but an inconsistent season has been costly for her. Pictures: Trials Media Fili

Sara Trentini (Vertigo-ITA)

On day one, a shock win in Spain came from Petra Budinova (Sherco-CZE), but Rabino came fighting back on day two. It was good to see a new face starting to shine with Great Britain’s Kaytlyn Adshead (TRRS), who lost out on her first win on a three-way tie in Portugal, proving to be a potential title challenger in 2022.

SPAIN, ROUND 2

POBLADURA, 11TH-12TH SEPTEMBER With an eye on the title, Italy’s Sofia Rabino took a shock defeat from Petra Budinova from the Czech Republic on her first appearance in the 2021 championship. After the success in Italy at round one, Sara Trentini dropped off the pace on both days. However, Rabino came bouncing back on day two to keep her championship aspirations on track as Great Britain’s Kaytlyn Adshead came home second, with Alicia Robinson not showing her best form over the two days. DAY ONE RESULTS: 1: Petra Budinova (Sherco-CZE) 24; 2: Rabino 26; 3: Ter Jung 26; 4: Robinson 27; 5: Adshead 30; 6: Trentini 26; 7: Pechackova 37; 8: Aurieres 38; 9: Bacchetta 40; 10: Pi 45; 11: Meling 54; 12: Bailey 62; 13: Afonso 87; 14: Gomez 97. DAY TWO RESULTS: 1: Sofia Rabino (Beta-ITA) 8; 2: Adshead 18; 3: Ter Jung 21; 4: Budinova 22; 5: Robinson 22; 6: Trentini 24; 7: Pi 29; 8: Pechackova 31; 9: Aurieres 41; 10: Bacchetta 41; 11: Meling 43; 12: Bailey 54; 13: Afonso 80; 14: Gomez 94.

PORTUGAL, ROUND 3

GOUVEIA, 18TH SEPTEMBER RESULTS: 1: Sofia Rabino (Beta-ITA) 16; 2: Trentini 16; 3: Adshead 16; 4: Ter Jung 22; 5: Budinova 23; 6: Pi 23; 7: Pechackova 23; 8: Robinson 23; 9: Kylee Sweeten (TRRS-USA) 23; 10: Meling 36; 11: Bacchetta 39; 12: Aurieres 42; 13: Rita Vieira (TRRS-PT) 49; 14: Afonso 50; 15: Bailey 55.

42

Kaytlyn Adshead (TRRS-GBR)

2021 FIM TRIAL2 WOMEN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

POSITIONS: 1: Sofia Rabino (Beta-ITA) 114; 2: Sara Trentini (Vertigo-ITA) 91; 3: Kaytlyn Adshead (TRRS-GBR) 84; 4: Sophia Ter Jung (TRRS-DEU) 78; 5: Alicia Robinson (Beta-GBR) 73; 6: Laia Pi (Sherco-ESP) 46; 7: Alessia Bacchetta (GASGAS-ITA) 45; 8: Petra Budinova (Sherco-CZE) 44; 9: Seline Meling (BetaNOR) 44; 10: Denisa Pechackova (TRRS-CZE) 26; 11: Victoria Payne (TRRSGBR) 22; 12: Mariana Afonso (GASGAS-PRT) 22; 13: Sophie Bailey (TRRS-GBR) 22; 14: Marine Aurieres (GASGAS-FRA) 19; 15: Alycia Soyer (TRRS-FRA) 10.

MACHINES

RESULTS: TRRS 6; Beta 3; GASGAS 3; Sherco 2; Vertigo 1.

October-November 2021 • Trial Magazine


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International Sport • FIM Trial World Championship

TRIALE

FRENCH CONNECTION Despite the low entry in this class, we must all congratulate EM (Electric Motion) for becoming the first French motorcycle manufacturer to win an FIM Trial World Championship title. As the other motorcycle trials manufacturers have found out, it’s not easy to convert the basics of the trials motorcycle from a fuel-aspirated machine to an electrical one, but the French-built EM, with Gael Chatagno at the controls, appears to have found a winning formula. Article: Trials Media 44

October-November 2021 • Trial Magazine


FIM Trial World Championship • International Sport

Riding the machine with a very confident mindset, the slightly built French rider knows how to get the best out of the electric machine. He produced some incredible rides in the rivers in Andorra to the huge steps in France at the final round in Cahors. Another French rider, Julien Perret, challenged Chatagno in Cahors as he took the lead in the low-scoring event, but the eventual world champion kept his calm to make it four wins from four starts. Where the path of this electric venture in the world championship will go, we do not know. Still, surely there must come a time when the other leading manufacturers have to take up the challenge in pursuit of an ever-evolving, cleaner planet.

ANDORRA, ROUND 2

SANT JULIA, 21ST-22ND AUGUST DAY ONE RESULTS: 1: Gael Chatagno (EM-FRA) 30; 2: Julien Perret (EMFRA) 49; 3: Martin Riobo (EM-ESP) 81; 5: Marek Wunsch (T-Project-CZE) 134. DAY TWO RESULTS: 1: Gael Chatagno (EM-FRA) 8; 2: Julien Perret (EMFRA) 22; 3: Martin Pochez (EM-FRA) 39; 4: Martin Riobo (EM-ESP) 40; 5: Marek Wunsch (T-Project-CZE) 103.

FRANCE, ROUND 3

CAHORS, 29TH AUGUST RESULTS: 1: Gael Chatagno (EM-FRA) 1; 2: Julien Perret (EM-FRA) 2; 3: Martin Pochez (EM-FRA) 13; 4: Martin Riobo (EM-ESP) 31; 5: Marek Wunsch (T-Project-CZE) 46.

2021 FIM TRIALE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

POSITIONS: 1: Gael Chatagno (EM-FRA) 80; 2: Julien Perret (EM-FRA) 68; 3: Martin Riobo (EM-ESP) 56; 5: Marek Wunsch (T-Project-CZE) 35; 5: Sam Robinson (EM-FRA) 11.

FIM TRIALE WORLD CHAMPIONS 2017-2021

2017: Marc Colomer (Gas Gas-ESP); 2018: Loris Gubian (Gas Gas-FRA); 2019: Albert Cabestany (Gas Gas-ESP); 2020: Albert Cabestany (GASGAS-ESP); 2021: Gael Chatagno (EM-FRA).

Trial Magazine • October-November 2021

45


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FIM Trial World Championship • International Sport

TRIAL125

DISCO DANCE It was a case of a ‘Disco Dance’ bringing music to the ears of GASGAS as Great Britain’s Jack Dance gave a strong, dominant display to take his first FIM Trial World Championship title in the 125 class. Not only did he take a clear championship title, but he also led home Great Britain’s other young challengers Harry Hemingway, Harry Turner and Ben Dignan, who did enough in France to secure a top-five finish. Article: Trials Media

Trial Magazine • October-November 2021

Very much a team effort, supported by his father Adrian, who minded in France, mother Nicky in charge of everything and younger brother Max who kept his eyes on the opposition, the family was quite rightly elated with Jack’s world title success. Remember how young these riders are and that Great Britain has dominated the championship, with Harry Hemingway and Harry Turner also taking a round win each. It was also a magic moment to see a maximum effort from Alfie Lampkin, who secured his first FIM Trial World Championship points in Andorra on day two with his proud father Dougie ‘minding’ for him.

47


International Sport • FIM Trial World Championship

Harry Hemingway (Beta-GBR)

Harry Turner (Scorpa-GBR)

ANDORRA, ROUND 2

SANT JULIA, 21ST-22ND AUGUST

DAY ONE

Bang on form from the word go with a clear, convincing win, ‘Hemmo’ was strong and confident on both the steep climbs and in rocky rivers – his only stop was in the final hazard of the day. Jack Dance stopped in section two, but he fought back very strong as Harry Turner came good on the second lap with a score of just nine marks lost only to lose out on the tie-break decider to Dance to take the final step on the podium. DAY ONE RESULTS: 1: Harry Hemingway (Beta-GBR) 18; 2: Dance 31; 3: Turner 31; 4: Fabian 40; 5: Vall 45; 6: Dignan 54; 7: Dinares 62; 8: Bereiter 66; 9: Schiele 67; 10: Heidel 70.

DAY TWO

Once again, the baking skies kept the action very hot as Jack Dance took the win to keep his championship intentions on course despite a minor mechanical problem that ate into his time allowance for the opening lap. Two five-mark penalties stopped Harry Hemingway from making it a double as Harry Turner once again lost out on the tie-break. With three riders on 19 marks lost, Ben Dignan was pushed down to fourth on the day. The happiest rider was Alfie Lampkin, who came home 14th to secure his first-ever points. DAY TWO RESULTS: 1: Jack Dance (GASGAS-GBR) 13; 2: Hemingway 19; 3: Turner 19; 4: Dignan 19; 5: Fabian 23; 6: Dinares 24; 7: Schiele 29; 8: Bereiter 30; 9: Vall 30; 10: Heidel 51.

FRANCE, ROUND 3

CAHORS, 29TH AUGUST Knowing exactly what he had to do to win, Jack Dance let his riding do the talking. Starting as the last man away, he picked his lines and was never fazed all day to take the championship title in style. Despite not showing their true form on the day, both the Harrys, Hemingway and Turner, did enough to make the championship podium, a proud all-British one finishing well in front of their rivals. RESULTS: 1: Jack Dance (GASGAS-GBR) 5; 2: Vall 15; 3: Bereiter 17; 4: Schiele 17; 5: Hemingway 18; 6: Heidel 24; 7: Turner 25; 8: Zynzowski 28; 9: Fabian 29; 10: Dinares 30.

2021 FIM TRIAL125 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Ben Dignan (Vertigo-GBR)

48

POSITIONS: 1: Jack Dance (GASGAS-GBR) 94; 2: Harry Hemingway (Beta-GBR) 76; 3: Harry Turner (Scorpa-GBR) 72; 4: David Fabian (Beta-CZE) 55; 5: Ben Dignan (Vertigo-ESP) 51; 6: Rodney Bereiter (Beta-DEU) 50; 7: Gaudi Vall (Sherco-AND) 48; 8 Jonas Schiele (Beta-DEU) 46; 9: Pau Dinares (TRRS-ESP) 36; 10: Jonathan Heidel (TRRS-DEU) 33; 11: Adria Mercade (ShercoESP) 23; 12: Milosz Zynzowski (GASGAS-Poland) 22; 13: Enzo Rossi (Scorpa-FRA) 13; 14: Giacomo Brunisso (Beta-ITA) 11; 15: Pawel Ryncarz (GASGAS-POL) 7. Note: the final GBR world championship round was cancelled.

October-November 2021 • Trial Magazine


Credit: Christian Valeri


Product Focus • Motorex

MOTOREX

FLUID IN ALL AREAS Would you believe that, in a country that has no connection to oil fields, the supplier of what is commonly known as liquid gold in the engineering world is one of the market leaders in the motorsport arena? We imagine Switzerland being a country of chocolate and cheese and, of course, the precision time-keeping watches ticking away to keep the world turning on time. Scratch the surface a little more, and you will find the world of MOTOREX Oils. With GASGAS now under the umbrella of the KTM Group, MOTOREX move with the successful TXT two-stroke models into the slow-speed world of motorcycle trials, which is a new area for the Swiss-based company. MOTOREX Oil of Switzerland offers a complete range of motorcycle-specific products for your everyday lubrication needs. This includes high-performance engine and gearbox oils, brake fluids, greases and lubricants, along with protective sprays, meaning you can find the exact correct product for the application you require. They pride themselves on a wide range of products, which are mentioned in the same breath as the winners in the arena, providing top quality and engineering excellence at all times. Article: Trials Media and MOTOREX Pictures: Toofast Media, Christian Valeri, Trial Magazine and MOTOREX 50

This unique design hanging on the wall at Motorex is made up from motorcycle parts!

October-November 2021 • Trial Magazine


Motorex • Product Focus

I

t’s a trip back to the late ’70s to find out that MOTOREX has been involved in various motorsports activities as a technical partner and also a winner. Take motorcycle racing, for example, and the results so far have included 130 FIM World Championship titles. Developing lubricants for racing then testing them under the most demanding conditions has always provided the company with valuable insights for new and improved commercial products. This continuous success in worldclass competition is proof of MOTOREX’s innovation and development expertise, which has been a key factor in its global exposure. However, to generate the maximum benefit

MOTOREX is an oil-blending and manufacturing company located in Langenthal, Switzerland.

for motorcyclists worldwide, there is still more needed, with ongoing fine-tuning and improvements based on the feedback from the various motorsports disciplines. These products are born from competition success and proven to deliver maximum performance in everyday use.

WHO IS MOTOREX

MOTOREX is currently the largest Swiss oil blending and manufacturing company located in Langenthal, Switzerland, around 50 miles from Zurich, shipping to over 85 countries. MOTOREX is owned by the MOTOREXBUCHER GROUP AG, and they employ around 350 staff in the company.

Pushing the development of the new 75W trial gear oil to the limit, this brand-new product has been developed in collaboration with GASGAS.

Trial Magazine • October-November 2021

Lubrication in all areas is the name of the game.

Throughout the years the MOTOREX Racing Laboratory has managed to develop, together with leading racing teams, special racing products.

51



Motorex • Product Focus

FIM TrialGP World Championship rider Miquel Gelabert (GASGAS-ESP).

MOTOREX TODAY

MOTOREX produce 38,000 tonnes per year, with 2,500 formulations providing 8,000 different products sold through more than 200 distributors across 85 countries worldwide.

MOTOREX IN TRIALS

With the move into the motorcycle trials world with GASGAS, we have seen first-hand the commitment of the chemist at the Langenthal headquarters in Switzerland to improve engine stability and performance. As a result, a brandnew product for 2021 has been developed in collaboration with GASGAS, which is a 75W trials gear oil specifically designed to optimise the response behaviour of one of the most critical areas of the modern trials machine, the clutch and its operation. The new lubricant allows for smooth and consistent lubrication under constant load and stress, helping to maximise the continued performance of the gears and clutch and protecting them for mechanical longevity.

MOTOREX IN MOTORSPORT

Throughout the years, the MOTOREX Racing Laboratory has managed to develop, together with leading racing teams, special racing

In 2020 GASGAS Motorcycles announced a strategic global partnership with MOTOREX.

products. These products are oils that have been optimised for racing purposes, with efficiency as their primary goal. MOTOREX supports professional racing teams in many motorsports, for example, KTM Factory (RR, MX, Enduro, Rally) and Team Bollinger Switzerland (Endurance).

MOTOREX IDENTIFICATION

Product information and application are two key components to the end-consumer, who wants to know ‘what should I use and where do I use it?’ MOTOREX has developed an innovative identification method for their product containers to make this process much easier. On each of the bottles, four colours identify the contents and its application. A simple but very effective idea, I think you will agree when you want to purchase a product. RED LABEL: High performance, fully synthetic MOTOREX engine oils are colour coded with red labels. ORANGE LABEL: Synthetic performance MOTOREX engine oils are colour coded with orange labels. YELLOW LABEL: Synthetic blend MOTOREX engine oils are colour coded with yellow labels.

Jorge Casales is also a member of the MOTOREX supported GASGAS World Championship trials team.

Trial Magazine • October-November 2021

MOTOREX TIMELINE

1917 The company is founded and located

in Butzberg, specialising in leather- and floorcare products.

1938 The company relocates to Langenthal. 1947 The company starts selling lubricants

under the brand name ‘MOTOREX’, derived from their previous name Rex, Latin for King. They sell approximately one drum of oil per day.

1965 Shoe- and floor-care products are discontinued. However, sales for motor and gear oils climb to 1,200 tonnes/year. 1979 MOTOREX starts bottling their own aerosols.

1992 MOTOREX is given the ISO-9001 quality certification and, 11 years later, the ISO-14001 for environmental management is added.

2001 MOTOREX is awarded the WORLD STAR for their one-litre motor oil bottle with integrated pouring spout.

2011 MOTOREX expands its tank systems and is the first oil company in Switzerland to introduce a Pigging cleaning system for its pipes.

2017 Celebrate their centenary, a very proud moment.

2019 They launch their new unique X-Bottle brand identity.

Miquel Gelabert (GASGAS-ESP). Competing at the cutting edge of the sport is essential to developing products, including lubricants.

53


Product Focus • Motorex One of the hottest young talents in the FIM Trial World Championship: Jack Dance (GASGAS-GBR).

MOTOREX: TRIALS

As we are a trials dedicated and focussed magazine, we are starting to see the benefits in feedback from the GASGAS association in our world of off-road with some strong results at all levels of the sport. On the international scene, we are witnessing some pretty impressive results at the FIM TRIAL GP level with the Spanish riders Miquel Gelabert and Jorge Casales. In addition, at just 16-years-old, Great Britain’s Jack Dance has already won at FIM Trial125 level and remains a serious contender for the 2021 world title.

MOTOREX: ASK FOR IT

As a brand, the new X-Bottles stand very proud, with their unique green colour letting them stand out from the rest, such is the design. We have already spoken about the MOTOREX involvement with the new 75W trial gear oil and its application in the GASGAS trials models. It shows the company’s dedication and commitment to providing better performanceenhancing products in the world of motorcycle trials. So next time you are in a shop, why not ask for MOTOREX oils!

TRIAL GEAR OIL: New for 2021, Motorex have developed a 75W trial gear oil specifically designed to optimise the response behaviour of the clutch, allowing for smooth and consistent lubrication under constant load and stress, helping to maximise the continued performance of your gears and clutch and protecting them for mechanical longevity. This brand-new product has been developed in collaboration with GASGAS. CHAIN LUBE OFF-ROAD: Fully synthetic chain lubricant designed specifically for off-road motorcycles. This chain lube has been tested with unsealed, O-ring, X-ring and Z-ring chains, and has been proven to provide consistent lubrication, deep penetration and resistance to water to extend the working life of your chain. CROSSPOWER 2T: Fully synthetic high-performance engine oil for two-stroke off-road motorcycles. Developed alongside professional racing teams and manufacturers such as KTM, Husqvarna and GASGAS, this oil offers the highest standard in off-road motorcycle lubrication, is suitable for both pre-mix and separate lubrication, and reduces combustion residues for the continued health and maximum power of your motorcycle.

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October-November 2021 • Trial Magazine


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What happened • Ossa

PART TWO: 2012-2015

GHOSTED AWAY In the previous issue of Trial Magazine (issue 88), part one looked at the new and exciting Ossa off-road motorcycle project in Spainearly years between 2009 and 2011. Here, in part two, we find out it was time to raise the bar and gain customer confidence in the product to take the manufacturer forward as a serious challenger to the other more established brands. In other words, they needed to start producing and selling more motorcycles because volume sales would bring in much-needed financial revenue. They had a vision of a new Enduro model using their newfound engine technology, but they first wanted to attract the adventure trail-type urban rider who could enjoy a dual-purpose machine. The freedom for the rider to take in some fun time with friends whilst having a machine that could also be ridden in easy-to-ride trials; the theme was 100% owner enjoyment.

As they moved into 2012, and with the addition of a new ‘Explorer’ model, it was all looking so good for the future. However, customer confidence was not where it needed to be for the buying public, and sales dropped dramatically. Just as the brand started to gain the reliability in the Ossa they so desperately needed, problems began to surface in the supply of new machines. Roll the clock forward to 2015, and these were expected to be exciting times for Ossa but, in the end, were not as financially rewarding as was expected by the investors. Shortly the Ossa name would become a disappearing act as it was literally ghosted away into the financial problems of the old Gas Gas company, never to be seen again. Words: Trial Magazine • Pictures: Trials Media, Ossa and Barry Robinson 62

October-November 2021 • Trial Magazine


Ossa • What happened

Trial Magazine editor, John Hulme, with the Ossa Explorer in 2012.

I

t was all systems go at Ossa. On 23rd April 2012, more exciting news would come from the factory as they launched the new ‘Explorer’ model based around the trials machine. The new trials model range was expanded to include 125cc and 250cc engines with a new 300cc to join the 280cc. All located under one roof in Girona, Ossa’s production and development team had a dedicated workforce of 40 staff employed for all the needs of the model range, from the drawing board to production. In certain specialist areas, such as the fuel injection engine and suspension, dedicated engineers would use their experience to constantly improve reliability and performance. A picture also emerged of a futuristic and lightweight mock-up of a proposed enduro machine, which certainly looked impressive. The reaction from the off-road world to the new enduro model certainly raised a few eyebrows, and Ossa was inundated with enquiries. If it was as good as it looked, it would be pretty impressive. Trial Magazine • October-November 2021

Ossa UK official importer, Nigel Birkett, in 2012 with the 2013 model Ossa.

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What happened • Ossa

A dedicated technician would screen all the parts from OEM suppliers, this is the cassette gearbox.

Ossa implemented various checks before and during motorcycle manufacturing to ensure a quality control procedure in the new factory.

2012 – PRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT

Initially, a proposed production run of 250 Ossa ‘Explorer’ models would be produced and released to the worldwide distributors. In 2013 this target would be raised to a proposed 600 machines. As well as focussing on the European market, they believed they could attract much more untapped potential business in such faraway places as South America and maybe Asia and China. The appeal of the ‘Explorer’ would be its versatile design to let you ride on the road, in the mountains or even in certain trials competitions. As a result, it could potentially please a larger target audience and attract a much broader market than the first new trials model. Ossa knew that with such forward-thinking, innovative ideas incorporated in the new design models, the machines’ success would very much be based on the build quality of their products. They implemented various operations before and during motorcycle manufacturing to ensure a quality control procedure in the new factory; all carried out to improve reliability. In the entrance to the workshops, an impressive quality control office could be found where components could be examined. Placed on a marble surface for stability and accuracy, critical dimensions were compared to the tolerances expected by the supplier, with the results recorded back to the computer. ​​A dedicated technician would screen all the parts from OEM suppliers

Blue limited-edition Ossa models were built to celebrate 100 years of the SSDT in 2011.

64

An opened-up and cut-away 280cc engine block, including the cylinder, would be used to network-train Ossa technicians.

such as crankcases, cylinders and other close tolerance components. During the development of the ignition system, a dynamometer was used so that after each engine upgrade, the technician assigned to the task could check the engine dynamics and adjust where necessary to meet the required parameters. For example, the peak power curve could be found at 6,000rpm before being pushed to prove reliability to 10,000, achieving 13,000rpm for the ‘Factory’ models. A computer would be connected to the diagnostic socket as an output test to verify that all sensors, including throttle angle, speed, temperature, etc. and actuators for the fans and fuel pump functioned correctly. An opened-up and cut-away 280cc engine block, including the cylinder, would be used to network-train Ossa technicians on the attributes of the new engine. The idea was to invite the various worldwide importers to bring a technician to Ossa in Spain to train them to a high level on the workings of their two-stroke engine and the newly introduced fuel injection. Knowing that the launch of a new enduro model would need new production facilities, another assembly facility was already in the planning stages in Spain. October-November 2021 • Trial Magazine


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What happened • Ossa

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Nigel Birkett personally instigated the Ossa factory into giving Emma Bristow the opportunity of her first fully supported manufacturer’s contract in 2011.

Many riders, including Andy Blackman, loved the Ossa, seen here in the 2012 ACU British Championship.

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ENDURO AND BEYOND

The prototype enduro engine was the first one Ossa had produced, and it would feature two Kokusan injectors. Based on in-house bench testing by its engineers, their findings with two injectors fitted could not fully cover the needs of the entire speed range of the enduro engine. With the same injector as the TR trials model, it restricted the maximum speed and needed more fuel. But since this enduro engine has a maximum speed above the TR, it required the fitting of a third injector.

CM

MY

CY

CMY

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It was ‘all systems go’ for Ossa UK at the 2012 Dirt Bike Show.

Spanish rider Gabriel Reyes finished 33rd in the 2012 SSDT on the Ossa Explorer.

66

M

Ossa had been working on this project for more than a year, and they planned to install two prototype engines, 250cc and 300cc into prototype enduro models. At the time, they developed and manufactured all the parts for future machines in-house. As 2012 closed, they expected to have three or four prototypes ready for testing, with a production run proposed in early 2013. The Ossa vision was that the oil-consuming and expensive-to-produce fourstroke machines, which were so popular, would become obsolete. They believed that the modern fuel-injected system applied to the two-stroke engine would help reduce emissions and that the operating costs and the unequalled torque and power of two-strokes would always make the difference. It is a common fact that two-strokes are inherently less expensive to manufacture and, in times of crisis, are cheaper and easier to maintain as opposed to the intricate parts needed to produce the fourstroke. Ossa would continue to look well outside the conventional box of motorcycle production. Going forward, imagine this in a production trials motorcycle: a singlecylinder, two-stroke engine with a hybrid driving motor generator that could also accelerate at the same time, similar to a kind of KERS system – Kinetic Energy Recovery power system. Did Ossa already know the future in 2013, almost ten years ago? October-November 2021 • Trial Magazine


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What happened • Ossa

Jonathan Richardson received support from Ossa in 2013. He gives it his all at the Scott Trial on his way to third position.

In the 2012 FIM World Pro class Dani Oliveras (OssaESP) scored points in every round and finished eighth.

Used as a ‘Press’ machine at the 2013 SSDT, John Hulme was very impressed with the Ossa Explorer.

OSSA UK IMPORTER, NIGEL BIRKETT

Nigel: “I was just as excited about the whole Ossa project as the Spanish were. It was a superb machine, full of design innovation and so far away from the spectrum of the trials world we knew, which had never been seen before. With the early models, small problems turned into big ones, which could have easily been avoided. Electronically, the fuel-injection system was simply superb; such were the parameters it allowed you to work with. It took some understanding, but once I had got my head around it, I was very happy with it. The ability to alter it gave such a variety of performance options that could be easily adjusted. “The fuel injection system was let down by the poor quality of the wiring and component problems on the early models but once sorted, they were fine. The first machines had quality cast gears supplied by a company called Lamfos based in Italy. They had over 50 years of experience in manufacturing transmission units and precision gears with a reputation that was second to none. They were excellent, but 68

Sandra Gomez (ESP) represented Ossa in the 2013 FIM Women’s World Championship, finishing fourth.

the stigma of the gearbox problem was nothing to do with the gearbox. Inside the crankcases, a pin in the selector mechanism was designed to break to protect the gearbox if the lever suffered a heavy impact. As the pin broke, it went into the gearbox and wrecked it. I went to the factory in Spain to show them a simple engineering exercise, but they did not believe it could work; it did. By then, they had changed the gearbox supplier. These gears were of the ‘cut-gear’ design and were supplied with no radius on the edges, and the gears broke. I was so frustrated that the Ossa was so close to executing its engineering brilliance but so far away due to a steep learning curve in the off-road world. If only they had listened! “I personally instigated the factory giving Emma Bristow the opportunity of her first fully supported manufacturer’s contract with Ossa. It would take her to the full-time level of a professional trials rider and ultimately the FIM Women’s World Champion at a later stage in her career. Emma was the face of Ossa and also a very good rider at the same time. She worked wonders for the promotion of the brand and

delivered some very good results. “In the 2011 FIM World Trials Championship, they had Jeroni Fajardo and Dani Oliveras from Spain along with Emma. Guy Kendrew won the 2011 ACU Expert British Trials Championship as Ossa started to make their mark on the trials scene. We gave some younger riders, such as Jonathan Richardson and Billy Bolt, the opportunity to move into the world championship and, as the rumours of the future of Ossa started to circulate, Billy Bolt won the Best 125cc class award at the Scottish Six Days Trial in 2015. It was quite ironic that the last Ossa I received (along with another 11 machines) was a machine for Billy in October 2014. “The ‘Explorer’ model was superb. I still have two that are regularly used, as well as a brand new trials model. “As the lines of communication closed with the Ossa management, the production moved into the Gas Gas factory but, to my knowledge, no more machines were produced. I imported around 300 machines, and I still have a good inventory of Ossa spare parts. The knowledge to keep them going is second to none.” October-November 2021 • Trial Magazine


Ossa • What happened

With the input from Nigel Birkett in the UK machines, many riders including Michael James enjoyed riding the Ossa.

2014: In the UK the official importer, Nigel Birkett, had the answers to the problems with the Ossa, but it was too late.

In 2014 Nigel Birkett took a very young Billy Bolt under his wing on the 125cc Ossa.

Billy Bolt won the Best 125cc class award at the Scottish Six Days Trial in 2015.

2009–2015

It is sad to say, but the ‘fragile’ stigma remained with the Ossa models, which impacted machines sales. In the UK, Nigel Birkett (the official importer) had answers to the mechanical problems, but it was too late. As financial troubles hit the factory, the proposed production of new machines moved into the struggling Gas Gas company, only to eventually disappear forever. Speaking with Nigel, he believes that around 2,000 machines were produced to be exported around the world. The million-dollar question, though, is where did all the tooling and electronic diagnostic equipment disappear to as well as the experienced engineers involved in the ambitious project? Ossa had a vision of the future, which gave away ideas to many of the motorcycle trials manufacturers of the present day. Since 2015 we have seen many of the Ossa ideas appear in some shape or form on the current models from other manufacturers. Without a doubt, the experience with early fuelinjection models will be, in no doubt, become Trial Magazine • October-November 2021

more apparent as the mindset moves towards a greener planet and lower emissions. Ossa lit the torch, which will burn for much longer as we move forward with even better materials and electronics into 2022 and beyond. Will we ever see the legendary green four-leaf Clover again, or will it emerge under another manufacturer’s name? Who knows?

OSSA EXPLORER

In November 2012, John Hulme, Trial Magazine’s editor, had one of the first 280cc Ossa Explorer models on test. The same machine would be used as a ‘Press’ machine at the 2013 Scottish Six Days Trial. John: “I picked up the Ossa Explorer model from the official UK importer, Nigel Birkett, at Ossa Moto-UK. As there is no carburettor, instead was a high-tech fuel injection system, he explained the starting technique. Nigel explained how the fuel injection works: “No throttle, a quick prod on the kick-start and it will fire into life, as simple as that”. It sounded very simple, and in practice, it worked every time, even when the machine was hot. It

was just a case of remembering the correct technique, but I always wondered why they had not fitted an electric start? “On the road, the Ossa could be pushed, with the majority of the noise coming from the fan motor and the induction noise from the very high-mounted air intake. “In the UK, the machine came fitted with tubed-type Pirelli MT 43 tyres. The machine had a very classical, ‘feel-good factor’ riding position. The handlebar rise and sweep was well chosen, with the electrical switches all very easy to access. The brakes were more than adequate and nice to apply with no grabbing, even at speed. The suspension and general feel were incredible, and the thing that hits you the most is the smooth power delivery. The electronic fuel injection system gave it such a softness, which was almost unheard of. From the lowest of engine revolutions, it feeds on the throttle in a most amazing way, making picking your chosen path very easy. What helped was the very slim feel to the machine as you had the full use of the long seat with the fuel tank located in the front of the engine.” 69


What happened • Ossa

2012 Ossa Explorer: It was an all-round, feel-good motorcycle.

2012 Ossa Explorer: When you did get into difficult situations the compact size of the machine made it so easy to handle.

TRIALS USE

“Could you ride the machine in competition? Yes, one hundred per cent. It was so easy to ride and so forgiving, to stall it, you would almost have to do it deliberately, with no power surge or rapid power delivery. Also, because the whole package was so narrow, you could move around on the machine so easily when attempting trials hazards. The hydraulic diaphragm clutch action was nice, as was the gear selection. “On the open moors, the gear ratios were very well chosen with not too much of a gap from fifth to sixth, though top gear is generally accepted for road use. Its biggest attribute by far was the fuel injection. I went for a good run around on open tracks and, though it’s not an out-and-out enduro machine, the fun factor was massive; the amount of pleasure you get from this type of machine is incredible. When you did get into difficult situations, the compact size of the machine made it so easy to handle, and the lightweight comes into play if you have to get off and push. Yes, it was tested to its limits!”

2012 Ossa Explorer: A machine for the future.

70

Standing proud: the 2015 model Ossa Explorer.

OSSA 280 EXPLORER 2012 SPECIFICATIONS

ENGINE: Capacity: 272.2 cc; Bore x Stroke: 76mm x 60mm; Type: Two-stroke single-cylinder with a reed valve intake directly into the crankcase; Cooling System: Liquid; Fuel Supply: EFI Kokusan Battery-less System; Ignition: CDI Kokusan digital magnetic flywheel; Clutch: Hydraulic Diaphragm Control; Gear Box: Six Forward Gears; Transmission: Primary through Gears, Secondary by Drive Chain. CHASSIS: Type: CR-MO Steel Tube Profile with Tube, Bottom made of Cast Aluminium; Front Suspension: Marzocchi Upside-Down Adjustable, 40mm Ø; Rear suspension: Variable Progression System with TTX Ohlins Mono-Shock; Front Brake: 185mm Ø Rotor with Four-Piston AJP Calliper; Rear Brake: 150mm Ø with Two-Piston AJP Calliper; Front Wheel: 28 Spoke, 2.75x21 Tyre; Rear Wheel: 28 Spoke with a 4.00x18 Tubeless Tyre; Engine Protector: Made of AA7075; Kick-Start Lever: Cast Aluminium; Gear and Brake Levers: Cast Aluminium. DIMENSIONS: Wheelbase: 1,328mm; Seat Height: 850mm; Fuel Tank Capacity: 7.6 litres; Dry Weight: 74.0kg.

October-November 2021 • Trial Magazine



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ACU Trial British Championship • Sport

ACU TRIAL BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIP

ONE HAND ON THE TROPHY Print schedules mean that by the time you read this, we will be galloping into the final part of the 2021 Wülfsport ACU British Trials Championship. The last three rounds will run after this issue is published, two in Wales in September and one in late October at the same Matlock venue that hosted the final round in 2020. So after rounds five and six, we are now starting to see where we can predict some of the 2021 championship titles will be going. Article: Trials Media • Pictures: Trials Media and Jaxx Lawson

In Trial GB, our premier class, it’s Toby Martyn (TRRS UK) who has made the championship very much his own, only interrupted by Jack Peace at round four. Trial 2 will go to the wire by the look of things, as both the current series leader Andy Chilton (BMS Scorpa) and Ross Danby (TRRS UK) have edged away from Jack Dance (John Shirt Mc’s GASGAS). Tom Affleck will take some catching, and his form has put one hand on the trophy in Trial Expert, but do not dismiss a late attack from Emma Bristow. With two round wins to date and sitting second in the championship, let’s wait and see the final outcome from this determined lady. The older of the two Hemingway boys, Harry has one hand on the Trial 125 championship as Harry Turner’s lack of consistency has let ‘Hemmo’ get away. As Brian Higgins, with the support of the organising clubs and their helpers, continues to supply well-run events, the championship has seen a very mixed variety of terrain. Both Harwood Dale near Scarborough and Brimham Rocks near Harrogate rode easier than expected as the rain stayed away. The level of competition remains very high, but the big disappointment is the small entry in Trial GB.

Trial Magazine • October-November 2021

73



ACU Trial British Championship • Sport

TRIAL GB

MARTYN’S MAGIC Weaving his magic on a motorcycle at these last two rounds has given Toby Martyn (TRRS UK) an advantage in his quest for his first ACU Trial GB British Championship. He has pulled 20 marks clear of his nearest rival, Jack Peace (Sherco), with three rounds remaining. The older of the two Peace brothers, Dan, has been struggling with an elbow injury, reducing his ability to grip the handlebars strongly enough. He missed round six to try and rest it after a brave ride at round five. Billy Green (BMS Scorpa) is maturing into a stronger rider at every round but still needs that extra experience if he is to move higher up the podium than third. Article: Trials Media Pictures: Trials Media and Jaxx Lawson

Toby Martyn (TRRS UK)

ROUND 5: HARWOOD DALE, SCARBOROUGH, 25TH JULY

Jack Peace (Sherco)

Trial Magazine • October-November 2021

Maybe Toby Martyn (TRRS UK) was still annoyed with his only defeat of the season so far at the fourth round in the Lake District, but he arrived at round five with only one thing on his mind, victory. On a very hot day, where the forecast was wet weather that never came, he looked very strong and confident from the start and conceded just one five-mark penalty in an opening-lap score of six marks lost. It was very close behind him, with the two Peace brothers on nine and Billy Green (BMS Scorpa) on ten. On the second lap, Jack Peace started his push for the victory with a score of just two compared to Martyn’s three to close the gap, leaving it all to play for on the final lap. Sealing the victory, Martyn just dropped the one, along with a strong Billy Green also on one, as Jack Peace watched the victory disappear with a last-lap score of seven-plus four-time penalties to push him off the podium. Both Dan Peace and Billy Green finished on 21 marks lost, but Dan got the verdict on the tiebreak decider. RESULTS: 1: Toby Martyn (TRRS UK) 10; 2: Dan Peace (Sherco) 21; 3: Billy Green (BMS Scorpa) 21; 4: Jack Peace (Sherco) 22; 5: Iwan Roberts (TRRS UK) 52.

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Sport • ACU Trial British Championship

Dan Peace (Sherco)

ROUND 6: BRIMHAM ROCKS, HARROGATE, 15TH AUGUST

Billy Green (BMS Scorpa)

Such is the difficulty of selecting a chosen path amongst the many rocks, the ` nature of the terrain found at the Brimham Rocks venue always makes for a hard event. j Everyone involved had put much effort into making an event to separate the top riders, albeit only four riders in the end, with some very severe challenging v hazards. Take nothing away from just how severe the hazards were, the twomark loss from Toby Martyn on his second lap was incredible and a pleasure to `j watch. As the defending ACU British Champion, Iwan Roberts (TRRS UK), retired jv after his opening lap, it was down to Jack Peace and Billy Green to fight for the second step on the podium. With an opening-lap score of 13 marks lost to `v Peace’s 21, Toby Martyn was already making his intentions clear. Billy Green had struggled on the first lap, and the score of 33 marks lost told its own story. `jv Two single-mark losses on sections five and ten on the second lap endorsed h the high standard Martyn was setting, and no one had an answer, and so, despite a higher final-lap score, Toby took a well-deserved victory. Jack Peace will need a miracle to catch Martyn in the championship, and Green stands another 20 points behind him in third. Let’s just hope that Dan Peace can overcome his elbow problems and return to the action and maybe push for his first victory of the championship. RESULTS: 1: Toby Martyn (TRRS UK) 27; 2: Jack Peace (Sherco) 62; 3: Billy Green (BMS Scorpa) 76; DNF: Iwan Roberts (TRRS UK)

CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS AFTER SIX ROUNDS POSITIONS: 1: Toby Martyn 122; 2: Jack Peace 102; 3: Billy Green 82; 4: Dan Peace 62; 5: Iwan Roberts 48.

Iwan Roberts (TRRS UK)

76

Podium Brimham Rocks

October-November 2021 • Trial Magazine



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ACU Trial British Championship • Sport

TRIAL 2

ADVANTAGE CHILTON With six rounds completed, Andy Chilton (BMS Scorpa) had the upper hand over his closest rival, Ross Danby (TRRS UK). Chilton’s consistency has been rewarded with three wins, with Alexz Wigg (John Lee Mc’s Vertigo), Oliver Smith (SW Trials TRRS UK) and Danby winning one round each. The gap at the top of the points table is not a huge one, and with three rounds remaining, maybe we will witness the young hot property Jack Dance (John Shirt Mc’s GASGAS), standing in third place in the championship, take his first win. Article: Trials Media Pictures: Trials Media and Jaxx Lawson

Andy Chilton (BMS Scorpa)

ROUND 5: HARWOOD DALE, SCARBOROUGH, 25TH JULY

Round five would turn into a very low-scoring event, making every mark count as Ross Danby (TRRS UK) took his first championship win of 2021. Super consistent and with mountains of experience gained in a successful trials career, Ross parted with a single mark on each of the opening two laps and spoilt his winning ride with a stop on the final lap in the tenth section. In total contrast, Andy Chilton (BMS Scorpa) had a strange day, spilt by two five-mark penalties on his first and second laps before parting with no marks on the final tour of the 12

Jack Dance (John Shirt Mc’s GASGAS)

Ross Danby (TRRS UK)

Trial Magazine • October-November 2021

sections. The tie-break decider would push Jack Dance (John Shirt Mc’s GASGAS) onto the final step of the podium after a good ride spoilt by a stop in section three on the second lap. After Danby’s winning ride, the following ten positions would be covered by just ten marks, showing the close competitive nature of this ACU Trial 2 class. RESULTS: 1: Ross Danby (TRRS UK) 7; 2: Andy Chilton (BMS Scorpa) 10; 3: Jack Dance (John Shirt Mc’s GASGAS) 10; 4: Tom Minta (BMS Scorpa) 11; 5: Ben Dignan (Vertigo UK) 14; 6: Alexz Wigg (John Lee Mc’s Vertigo) 15; 7: Dec Bullock (Beta-UK) 17; 8: Sam Haslam (John Lee Mc’s Montesa) 18; 9: Duncan MacColl (Beta-UK) 20; 10: Chris Stay (BVM TRRS UK) 21; 11: Oliver Smith (SW Trials TRRS UK) 24; 12: James Fry (Sherco) 34; 13: Hugo Jervis (Beta-UK) 39; 14: Sam Yeomans (Vertigo UK) 44; 15: Josh Hanlon (Beta-UK) 47.

79


Sport • ACU Trial British Championship

Tom Minta (BMS Scorpa)

Sam Haslam (John Lee Mc’s Montesa)

ROUND 6: BRIMHAM ROCKS, HARROGATE, 15TH AUGUST

Oliver Smith (SW Trials TRRS UK)

Will this win be the one that helps Andy Chilton to his first adult ACU British Championship at the close of the season? As Jack Dance took second and Sam Haslam (John Lee Mc’s Montesa) third, Ross Danby slipped down to fourth on the day. As the only rider with three lap scores in single marks, Chilton remained consistent all day with his solid riding, recording just one stop on the second lap on section five. Helping him on his way to the eventual second place, his highest in this year’s championship, Jack Dance was the only other rider to record a single-figure lap score when he parted with nine marks on his second lap. Once a leading contender in the British Championship, Jack Challoner made a rare appearance on the Craigs Motorcycles-supported four-stroke Montesa to take a well-deserved fifth-place finish. The next three rounds will prove crucial to Ross Danby, and he knows that if he wants to retain his title, he must start winning. RESULTS: 1: Andy Chilton (BMS Scorpa) 24; 2: Jack Dance (John Shirt Mc’s GASGAS) 33; 3: Sam Haslam (John Lee Mc’s Montesa) 34; 4: Ross Danby (TRRS UK) 39; 5: Jack Challoner (Craigs Montesa) 40; 6: Tom Minta (BMS Scorpa) 45; 7: Dec Bullock (Beta-UK) 49; 8: Oliver Smith (SW Trials TRRS UK) 49; 9: Alexz Wigg (John Lee Mc’s Vertigo) 57; 10: James Fry (Sherco) 59; 11: Chris Stay (BVM TRRS UK) 60; 12: Duncan MacColl (Beta-UK) 63; 13: Ben Hemingway (Beta-UK) 73; 14: Ben Dignan (Vertigo UK) 79; 15: Josh Hanlon (Beta-UK) 79.

CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS AFTER SIX ROUNDS POSITIONS: 1: Andy Chilton 104; 2: Ross Danby 96; 3: Jack Dance 76; 4: Tom Minta 63; 5: Sam Haslam 58; 6: Oliver Smith 56; 7: Alexz Wigg 54; 8: Dec Bullock 50; 9: Chris Stay 38; 10: James Fry 34; 11: Richard Sadler 33; 12: Sam Connor 28; 13: Duncan MacColl 26; 14: Ben Dignan 24; 15: Sam Yeomans 14.

Jack Challoner (Craigs Montesa)

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October-November 2021 • Trial Magazine

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Sport • ACU Trial British Championship

TRIAL EXPERT

BRISTOW’S BEST

As we leave round six of this year’s championship, we have the huge talent of Emma Bristow sitting in second position in this Trial Expert championship, the highest place achieved by a lady rider in an ACU male-dominated sport. Tom Affleck sits comfortably at the top of the championship with a clear advantage over Bristow, who took her second championship win at round six and the tough Brimham Rocks venue. In third place in the championship is the much-travelled George Gosden (BVM Beta-UK) from the Isle of Wight, as Brad Bullock (Beta-UK) is in fourth position despite missing a round. Article: Trials Media Pictures: Trials Media and Jaxx Lawson

Tom Affleck (Sherco)

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Emma Bristow (Sherco)

ROUND 5: HARWOOD DALE, SCARBOROUGH, 25TH JULY

After the win in the Lake District at round four, Tom Affleck (Sherco) had newfound confidence at Harwood Dale. However, a stop in section 11 on the final lap nearly unseated him as he took the win on the tie-break decider from George Gosden (BVM Beta-UK). Back in the groove of competing in the ACU British Championship after a long break from his youth career, a consistent Gosden is improving all the time, and a win is surely just around the corner. After the elation of the win at round four, Emma Bristow found herself down in a disappointing eighth position at the finish. The event was threatened with rain that never came, turning the trial into a very low-scoring one for the leading contenders. This class just grows in numbers. However, its competitive nature shows how close the marks are lost as you look further down the results. RESULTS: 1: Tom Affleck (Sherco) 8; 2: George Gosden (BVM Beta-UK) 8; 3: Chris Alford (BVM Scorpa) 12; 4: Brad Bullock (Beta-UK) 13; 5: Danny Gamble (Acklams Beta) 15; 6: Joel Edwards (Non Stop Scorpa) 18; 7: Tyler Rendall (BVM Vertigo UK) 20; 8: Emma Bristow (Sherco) 21; 9: John Crinson (Camio Moto Vertigo) 21; 10: Dan Hemingway (Beta-UK) 22; 11: Corey Dubik (Camio Moto Vertigo) 26; 12: Thomas Rushton (Vertigo) 27; 13: Andrew (Cripps (Beta) 27; 14: Callum Williamson (Montesa) 29; 15: Joseph Collins (John Lee Mc’s Beta) 30.

October-November 2021 • Trial Magazine


ACU Trial British Championship • Sport

George Gosden (BVM Beta-UK)

Lloyd Price (John Shirt Mc’s GASGAS)

Chris Alford (BVM Scorpa)

ROUND 6: BRIMHAM ROCKS, HARROGATE, 15TH AUGUST

Brad Bullock (Beta-UK)

You can never keep a good rider down, and Emma Bristow came back with a huge bang to take the win at round six. Parting with just six marks on her opening lap, she let the opposition know she meant business with some very confident riding. The second lap was not so good, with a lap score of 16, but she came fighting back to part with just four marks on the final lap to take the extra championship point for the best single lap of the trial. It was a huge achievement for our decorated FIM Women’s World Champion. For the current championship leader, Tom Affleck, he started badly but recovered on the third and final lap to miss second position by just a few marks. If you look down the order, you will see Dan Thorpe (John Shirt Mc’s GASGAS) back in the results after a lengthy layoff through injury coming home in an encouraging sixth place. RESULTS: 1: Emma Bristow (Sherco) 26; 2: Brad Bullock (Beta-UK) 32; 3: Danny Gamble (Acklams Beta) 32; 4: George Gosden (BVM Beta-UK) 33; 5: Tom Affleck (Sherco) 35; 6: Dan Thorpe (John Shirt Mc’s GASGAS) 39; 7: Joel Edwards (Non-Stop Scorpa) 40; 8: Samuel Beecroft-Penny (TRRS) 48; 9: Lloyd Price (John Shirt Mc’s GASGAS) 53; 10: Dan Hemingway (Beta-UK) 64; 11: Joseph Collins (John Lee Mc’s Beta) 67; 12: Chris Alford (BVM Scorpa) 67; 13: Oliva Kendra (Acklam’s Beta) 72; 14: Tyler Rendall (BVM Vertigo UK) 74; 15: John Crinson (Camio Moto Vertigo) 75.

CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS AFTER SIX ROUNDS POSITIONS: 1: Tom Affleck 104; 2: Emma Bristow 78; 3: George Gosden 73; 4: Brad Bullock 67; 5: Chris Alford 64; 6: Joel Edwards 62; 7: Lloyd Price 55; 8: Tyler Rendall 45; 9: Dan Hemingway 37; 10: Danny Gamble 32; 11: Oliva Kendra 24; 12: Tom Culliford 23; 13: Joseph Collins 22; 14: Jonny Starmer 17; 15: Thomas Swindlehurst 13.

Joel Edwards (Non Stop Scorpa)

Trial Magazine • October-November 2021

Podium Brimham Rocks

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Sport • ACU Trial British Championship

Podium Brimham Rocks

TRIAL 125

HITMAN HEMMO

After the defeat by his friend and rival, Harry Turner (BMS Scorpa), at Harwood Dale, Harry Hemingway (Beta-UK) hit the top spot again at Brimham Rocks to further extend his championship lead with six rounds completed. The master of this year’s Trial 125 championship has one hand on the trophy with some very consistent results. As Turner holds second in the championship, the younger Hemingway, George, continues to hit the third-place spot, as Scotland’s Jaime Galloway (TRRS UK) holds fourth in the championship and continues to do battle with Harry Bowyer (John Shirt Mc’s GASGAS). Article: Trials Media • Pictures: Trials Media and Jaxx Lawson

Jamie Galloway (TRRS UK)

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Harry Bowyer (John Shirt Mc’s GASGAS)

ROUND 5: HARWOOD DALE, SCARBOROUGH, 25TH JULY RESULTS 1: Harry Turner (BMS Scorpa) 4; 2: Harry Hemingway (Beta-UK) 9; 3: George Hemingway (Beta-UK) 18; 4: Jamie Galloway (TRRS UK) 26; 5: Harry Bowyer (John Shirt Mc’s GASGAS) 29; 6: Alfie Lampkin (Vertigo UK) 55; 7: Joe Snelling (BVM Beta-UK) 55; 8: Owen Chestnut (BMS Scorpa) 76; 9: Jay Piper (Acklam’s Beta) 83; 10: Charlie Cripps (Beta-UK) 87.

ROUND 6: BRIMHAM ROCKS, HARROGATE, 15TH AUGUST RESULTS: 1: Harry Hemingway (Beta-UK) 11; 2: Harry Turner (BMS Scorpa) 21; 3: George Hemingway (Beta-UK) 44; 4: Jamie Galloway (TRRS UK) 55; 5: Harry Bowyer (John Shirt Mc’s GASGAS) 64; 6: Alfie Lampkin (Vertigo UK) 97; 7: Joe Snelling (Beta-UK) 124; 8: Jay Piper (Acklam’s Beta) 127; 9: Owen Chestnut (BMS Scorpa) 129; 10: Charlie Cripps (Beta-UK) 146.

CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS AFTER SIX ROUNDS POSITIONS: 1: Harry Hemingway 122; 2: Harry Turner 106; 3: George Hemingway 90; 4: Jamie Galloway 74; 5: Harry Bowyer 70; 6: Alfie Lampkin 56; 7: Owen Chestnut 54; 8: Joe Snelling 49; 9: Jay Piper 45; 10: Charlie Cripps 36.

Alfie Lampkin (Vertigo UK)

October-November 2021 • Trial Magazine



Family • Lampkin

LAMPKIN

MAKING HISTORY I always feel it’s more of a privilege than a job working in motorcycle trials — an industry that I am so passionate about. Since my early introduction to motorcycle trials in the ’60s, one family name has always been on the lips of so many admirers — Lampkin. In the many trials events my father, Ron, and I attended, he would always make a point of telling me to watch out for the Lampkins; three brothers Arthur, Alan and Martin. All superb off-road riders in their own right and also very successful. Such is the nature of motorcycle trials, the word privilege comes to mind again when I rode alongside them as I made my way in trials. I watched Martin win the 1975 FIM World Trials Championship, followed by his son Dougie in 1997 — the first of seven consecutive outdoor titles. On Sunday 22nd August 2021 in Andorra, it was a very proud moment when his oldest son, Alfie, scored his first FIM Trial World Championship points. The name Lampkin would again make history in motorcycle trials. Words: John Hulme • Pictures: Colin Bullock, Brian Holder, Eric Kitchen, Mauri/Fontsere Collection and the Giulio Mauri Copyright, and Trials Media 86

Family: Mother Isobel, Dougie Lampkin OBE, Alfie Lampkin.

October-November 2021 • Trial Magazine


Lampkin • Family

The Lampkin brothers in the 60s: Arthur, Martin and Alan.

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inning the first-ever FIM World Trials Championship in 1975 was a huge achievement for Martin Lampkin; he was very proud of that moment. A very modest man, he was more than happy to tell you which gear or what line to take in a section. Later in the day, after the event, he would be glad to share a pint of beer with you in the public house to talk about the trial.

MINDER

1975 FIM World Trials Champion Martin Lampkin (Bultaco-GBR).

Motorcycles would always be part and parcel of any Lampkin household and, as Martin’s two sons, Dougie and Harry, progressed through their younger days, they would eventually find their way into trials riding. Off the back of a successful ACU Youth class, it was Dougie who chose to make a professional career in the sport. It was a natural progression for his father, Martin, to become his Minder; the close, passionate relationship is still talked about today. The will to win was immediately evident, and Dougie emulated his father when he won the 1993 European Championship, which Martin had first won in 1973, some 20 years earlier. On 11th July 1993, Dougie would score his first FIM World Trials Championship points in Andorra, finishing in 15th position for one point. The seed was planted. After finishing the year in 17th overall, he decided to commit to a professional career in the world of motorcycle trials.

1993: Dougie Lampkin (Beta-GBR) scores his first FIM World Trials Championship points in Andorra.

Trial Magazine • October-November 2021

Dougie Lampkin OBE: FIM World Trials Champion 1997–2003.

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Family • Lampkin

2007 Isle of Man: Dougie and Martin Lampkin.

2007: Dougie and Alfie Lampkin.

WINNER

Over the following years, Dougie matured into the ultimate professional trials rider, supported by his passionate family; they all wanted him to win as much as he did. He delivered, winning everything in front of him, and most importantly, he enjoyed it with his father Martin and family by his side all the way along. Never before had the world of motorcycle trials witnessed such a successful partnership, father and son winning and enjoying the sport so much. As the years progressed, he eventually moved away from competing in the world championship events to become involved with the Vertigo project and its introduction as a motorcycle manufacturer in 2014. In 2016, it was a very sad time when Martin passed away, leaving a huge hole in the family, not just for the Lampkins but the whole world of trials. Dougie’s success continued with wins at the Scottish Six Days and Scott Trials as his two young sons, Alfie and Frasier, started to enjoy watching their father in action.

RECORD BREAKER

Dougie’s older son, Alfie, was keener on the slow-speed world of trials than his younger brother. However, he was soon riding in local trials and starting to enjoy his riding. This year he rode on the Vertigo in the ACU Trial 125 Championship, gaining some encouraging results. Wanting to earn some experience in the tougher world of the FIM Trial125 World Championship, the family ventured to Andorra in August for the two-day event. On Saturday 21st August, Alfie made his debut with his father, Dougie, Minding for him. It was a very steep learning curve in the red-hot sun and on the more demanding hazards found at this level of riding. Despite the challenging conditions, he finished 17th but, in the process, learned so much under the guidance of his father. Day two was just as hot, and the sections just as demanding. Alfie had learned the art of making successful attempts at the hazards. After parting with 92 marks on Saturday, his Sunday score was 58 marks lost, and with it came a fighting 14th position and two hard-earned world championship points. Dougie was immensely proud of his son’s achievement, and quite rightly so, as he joins his Grandad and Father as record breakers scoring FIM Trial World Championship points over three generations of one family, the Lampkins. 88

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2017: Alfie under the guidance of Dougie in the ACU Youth class.

2021: Minder and Rider: Andorra, Dougie points the line to son Alfie.

October-November 2021 • Trial Magazine



Workshop • Tuning

TUNING

SCORPA SECRETS

When you spot a BMS sticker on an orange Scorpa, it may not mean that much to the passing eye, but to the rider, it means everything; you may ask why? The official Scorpa UK importer Nigel Birkett has an excellent reputation for fine-tuning his supported riders’ machines that come out of the Birkett MotoSport workshop. A man of many talents, his pedigree reads like a trials history page: Crooks Suzuki mechanic, factorysupported contracts with Kawasaki, Suzuki, Montesa, Fantic and Yamaha, not to mention the success that went with the machines. The Scorpa connection started with the Japanese Yamahapowered machines before the French machines moved to a European engine in 2011. With some super young talent on board the orange machines, the success in 2021 has been catching the eye of the buying public. Words: John Hulme with Nigel Birkett • Pictures: Trials Media 90

Billy Green with his Minder Anthony Milliar and his factory supplied 2022 300cc model at the French world round at Charade.

October-November 2021 • Trial Magazine


Tuning • Workshop

Out-of-the-box standard Scorpa production machines are very good for 90% of riders.

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tandard, ‘out-of-the-box Scorpa production machines are very good for 90% of riders. The two-stroke, single-cylinder, water-cooled engines in the three Scorpa models all use a steel tubular frame, aluminium swinging-arm, a conventional carburettor and have five-speed gearboxes fitted. As a result, they come with a good reputation for both performance and reliability, with a second-to-none after-sales backup from the official UK Scorpa importers Nigel and June Birkett. While Nigel looks after a busy workshop, his wife June ensures a good relationship with all customers, old and new, as well as providing a first-class postal service to provide a spares backup service for the majority of the Scorpa machines they have imported over the years. They directly support the riders below, with both Billy Green and Harry Turner having additional support direct from the factory in France.

The two-stroke, single-cylinder, water-cooled engines in the three Scorpa models all use a steel tubular frame, aluminium swinging-arm, a conventional carburettor and have five-speed gearboxes fitted.

A WINNING PEDIGREE

In 2021, Nigel Birkett has witnessed an increased interest in the orange Scorpa machines, fuelled by the success of his UK team of riders. Led by Billy Green, they include Andy Chilton, Tom Minta and his sister Alice, and Harry Turner. In the UK, all team riders have made the podium in the ACU British Trials Championships, with Billy Green becoming the first Scorpa rider to reach the podium in the premier Trial GB class. Trial Magazine recently made a trip to the Scorpa headquarters in the Lake District, where Nigel Birkett let us in on a few secrets of the Scorpa success whilst June provided excellent hospitality made up of an excellent cup of tea and a superb locally sourced pork pie. Ah, the joys of the job! Trial Magazine • October-November 2021

The ECU can be programmed to suit power delivery very easily and the compression can easily be changed with different OXIA-branded cylinder heads.

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Workshop • Tuning

The 300cc model has a Keihin 28mm Ø carburettor, which has a number 3 slide fitted as opposed to the 3.5 fitted as standard to make the carburetion ‘richer’ which in turn produces more power if required.

Suspension-wise the aluminium TECH front forks are filled to the required level with 5wt fluid. Depending on the riding conditions these can also be adjusted on the top of each fork leg to suit what is required for individual riders.

On the BMS machines the air filter box assembly is modified to allow more air to the engine.

Billy Green has a stronger clutch spring fitted.

RIDER: BILLY GREEN SCORPA FACTORY 300

As Billy rides at a higher level than his fellow UK based team riders, in both the FIM Trial2 World Championship and the ACU Trial GB Class Championship, it was his machine we looked at first. As it’s a factorysupplied machine, Nigel could not reveal all, but he did point out that the whole Scorpa package is aimed at giving Billy the optimum performance in all areas. The factory-supplied machines are hand-built, as you would expect. This actually means that all the components are taken off and stripped down, and inspected, whereas on the standard machines, for example, the front suspension is supplied and fitted as it comes from the supplier during assembly. In the case of the front suspension on this machine, it means that the factory technicians can make sure that all the inner components are working correctly and that the fluid levels are perfect – not just close, but perfectly measured. If you watch the man and machine in action, you will see it’s quite obvious that the engine’s ability to rev out is higher than the standard model. No doubt the engine components will come under inspection for closer tolerances, etc., when the engine is built. The ECU is programmed for maximum power, and the cylinder has modifications to achieve this higher level of power. The compression can easily be changed depending on the altitude of each world round event, with different OXIA branded cylinder heads. The Keihin 28mm Ø carburettor has a number 3 slide fitted as opposed to the standard 3.5 to make the carburetion ‘richer’, which, in turn, produces more power. The air filter box assembly is modified to allow more air to the engine, and a stronger clutch spring is also fitted. 92

At the rear is the superb Reiger 3-way adjustable shock absorber; Billy Green uses the 70kg spring.

Billy runs the standard gearing using the combination of the 9-tooth gearbox sprocket and 42-tooth rear sprocket to feed the five gears. Suspension-wise, the aluminium TECH front forks are filled to the required level with 5wt fluid. Depending on the riding conditions, these can also be adjusted on the top of each fork leg to suit what is required for individual riders. At the rear, the superb Reiger three-way adjustable shock absorber is fitted with a 70kg spring which, according to Billy, just gets better with use. Renthal handlebars and grips are fitted, as are S3 ‘Hardrock’ footrests. Michelin tyres are used front and rear.

RIDER: ANDY CHILTON SCORPA FACTORY 300

In the case of many UK supported riders, the machine for the aptly named ‘Chilli’ arrives at the importer’s headquarters as a standard production machine. Nigel usually asks his supported riders to come to his workshop for the day, where they will build their own machines up from out of the carriage crate under his guidance. Andy’s machine is as close to the one of Billy Green’s as possible, and once again, Nigel carries out his own in-house cylinder modifications to suit the rider’s needs. In this case, it is, once again, about getting as much strong power out as possible, and the ECU and carburettor settings are the same as Green’s. Andy leaves the standard 70kg spring on the Reiger rear shock absorber and in the front uses the same 5wt oil grade. He also changes to a 10-tooth gearbox sprocket and 44 tooth rear sprocket as he feels this works better for his riding style. Renthal handlebars and grips are fitted, as are S3 ‘Hardrock’ footrests. Dunlop tyres are used front and rear. October-November 2021 • Trial Magazine


Tuning • Workshop

Billy Green Scorpa Factory 300: As it’s a factory supplied machine Nigel could not reveal all, but he did point out that the whole Scorpa package is aimed at giving Billy the optimum performance in all areas. Billy Green Scorpa Factory 300: The ECU is programmed for maximum power and the cylinder has modifications to achieve this higher level of power.

RIDER: TOM MINTA SCORPA FACTORY 300

It’s quite surprising the difference in the engine setup between Tom’s machine and Andy Chilton’s. Tom prefers a smoother engine that produces more torque, so the ECU is adjusted to make the power delivery smoother. A lower compression cylinder head is fitted, and Nigel carries out some in-house work on the cylinder barrel. Tom uses the number 3 slide and the standard 9-tooth gearbox sprocket and 42-tooth rear sprocket combination. He uses 5wt oil grade in the front forks and a 70kg standard rear shock absorber spring. As we have covered, the standard production machines are very good, but it’s down to personal preferences for individual riders. Nigel will openly tell you that the performance between Andy Chilton and Tom’s machines is really very different. If you watch them in action, you can see they both have very different riding styles, but by working with Nigel, they can individually tune their own machine. Renthal handlebars and grips are fitted, as are S3 ‘Hardrock’ footrests. Dunlop tyres are used front and rear.

Andy Chilton Scorpa Factory 300: ‘Chilli’ changes to a 10-tooth gearbox sprocket and 44-tooth rear sprocket as he feels this works better for his riding style.

Trial Magazine • October-November 2021

Tom Minta Scorpa Factory 300: It’s quite surprising the difference in the engine changes to Tom’s machine and Andy Chilton’s. Tom prefers an engine that is smoother and produces more torque.

RIDER: ALICE MINTA SCORPA FACTORY 250

One of a new young breed of lady riders, Alice is the opposite to her older brother Tom and prefers more power from her machine. Once again, Nigel works his magic on the 250cc cylinder, and the ECU (Electronic Control Unit) is adjusted to give smooth but very strong power. She also prefers the 3.5 slide cutaway to suit her riding style. If you watch Alice in action, she loves winding the throttle wide open and attacking the sections and then working the clutch. She also uses the 5wt oil grade in the front forks and the 70kg standard rear shock absorber spring, as well as the standard 9-tooth gearbox sprocket and 42-tooth rear sprocket combination. Renthal handlebars and grips are fitted, as are S3 ‘Hardrock’ footrests. Dunlop tyres are used front and rear.

Alice Minta Scorpa Factory 250: She is the opposite to her older brother Tom and prefers more power from her machine.

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Workshop • Tuning

Harry Turner Scorpa Factory 125: ‘T’ Turner benefits from the same attention as Billy Green’s Scorpa in that it’s a factory supplied model and once again hand built

RIDER: HARRY TURNER SCORPA FACTORY 125

Full gas, yes, that’s the requirement at all times for the young Harry’ T’ Turner from the 125cc engine. This machine benefits from the same attention as Billy Green’s Scorpa in the fact that it’s a factory-supplied model and is also hand-built. Nigel could not reveal all about the engine and cylinder, but he did point out that the whole Scorpa package is aimed at giving Harry the optimum performance in all areas, the same as Billy’s. As he competes in both the FIM Trial125 World Championship and the ACU Trial 125 Class Championship, the ECU is once again programmed for maximum power, and the cylinder has modifications to achieve this higher level of performance. Using his own experience of small-capacity engines – who can forget his exploits on the 200 Montesa and Fantic machines in the early ’80s – Nigel also speaks with Scorpa on any new ideas he might have to improve the performance of Harry’s machine — and yes, they are always more than happy to listen. Depending on the altitude of events, the compression can easily be adjusted with different OXIA branded cylinder heads. The Keihin 28mm Ø carburettor has a number 3.5 slide cutaway fitted, and the air filter box assembly is modified to allow more air to the engine. As they want maximum performance from the small engine, the carburetion is critical, and, as you would expect, the jetting is constantly adjusted. Harry also uses the 5wt oil grade in the front forks, a 70kg standard rear shock absorber spring, and a standard 9-tooth gearbox sprocket and 42-tooth rear sprocket combination. Renthal handlebars and grips are fitted, as are S3 ‘Hardrock’ footrests. Michelin tyres are used front and rear.

Nigel Birkett: “To change the power delivery, I usually suggest the fitting of the S3 flywheel weight which is one of the easiest options. It’s easy to fit if you have a little mechanical knowledge, and the benefits are immediate”.

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Harry also uses the 5wt oil grade in the front forks and a 70kg standard rear shock absorber spring.

Nigel Birkett: “The machines the team riders use are basically modified standard production machines that both myself and the riders have worked together to make better. Obviously, Billy and Harry benefit from their machines’ extra attention at the world championship rounds from the Scorpa factory personnel. Their machines become mobile testbeds for the development of future production parts or engine upgrades. The French machines are bulletproof and, as long as you carry out the usual essential maintenance, they are very reliable. “What’s interesting is the many customers who not just ask me about more power but also want to change the power delivery. I usually suggest the fitting of the S3 flywheel weight, which is one of the easiest options. It’s easy to fit if you have a little mechanical knowledge and the benefits are immediate. Another easy option is the fitting of a slow-action throttle. The whole three-model Scorpa range produces enough power for the majority of riders, and these two options can make a good machine even better as they take the edge off the power. “We carry a huge inventory of Scorpa spare parts and, remember, I am always just at the end of the phone for mechanical advice whilst my wife June is the lady if you need spares for anything Scorpa. We also carry a large selection of general parts and accessories for other machines.”

The French machines are bullet proof and, if you carry out the usual essential maintenance, they are very reliable.

October-November 2021 • Trial Magazine


Andy Metcalfe Trial Mag 0318.pdf

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ALL 2021 BIKES AVAILABLE

Trial Magazine • October-November 2021

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Flashback • GASGAS 2001

MINI MODELS

ROOKIE Ever since the legendary Yamaha TY 80 came into play with trials riders from all around the world in the mid-70s, it created a ‘Benchmark’ as the ultimate trials model for young riders. For the manufacturers, in truth, it was a hard act to follow. One of the big four from Japan, Yamaha had the finances and facilities to invest in the research and development of new engines and models and were successful with the Yamaha TY range. The fact that you still see so many Japanese models in use today justified the initial investment. Wind the clock forward to the ‘Noughties’ and the European manufacturers started to look at the growing youth market. A future world trials champion, Alexz Wigg, had progressed through the TY 80 during his successful early days in the youth classes. In 2001 he was competing on the Gas Gas TXT 125cc when the official Gas Gas UK importer, John R Shirt, phoned him to ask if he would test the new Gas Gas 80 TXT Rookie model. Words: Trial Magazine and Alexz Wigg • Pictures: Graham Milne, TMX and Trials Media 96

Who else started on a Yamaha TY 80? James Postlethwaite did in 2007.

October-November 2021 • Trial Magazine


GASGAS 2001 • Flashback

Alexz Wigg: “I remember ‘Shirty’ looking at these tyres and I was thinking that he is going to ask me to ride up them”.

Standing proud: the Gas Gas 80 TXT Rookie model.

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ery much a trials innovator, Spanish manufacturer, Gas Gas, had successful 125 and 200 models to cater for the ACU Youth A and B classes but nothing for the C and D classes. Alexz Wigg was already winning in the B class on the 125 Gas Gas and, as the UK importer sponsored him, he was the natural rider to give his impressions on the new Spanish machine.

On top of the world.

Trial Magazine • October-November 2021

TESTING

Alexz Wigg: “I was very fortunate at the time as I was sponsored by the Shirt family. They contacted me to test the new Gas Gas 80 TXT Rookie model for my thoughts. I was already in the ACU B Class on the superb 125cc model and was looking forward to seeing Gas Gas’s progress with this new model. I travelled to the test venue at Preston Docks motocross

track with my father Julian, where the weather was atrocious, raining heavily. Graham Milne would be taking the pictures for the weekly offroad newspaper TMX. The Gas Gas was literally a 125 model with the Minarelli 80cc engine slotted into the modified frame. Looking back, I remember being quite excited about the new models that Gas Gas was working on; the new ‘Pro’ model would be something else.”

John R Shirt rescues the ‘Rookie’.

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Flashback • GASGAS 2001 2001 Gas Gas 80 TXT Rookie brochure picture.

SLIPPERY WHEN WET

“The test venue’s motocross track had parts of it constructed from tyres and wooden logs which would make some indoor arena type sections. I remember seeing ‘Shirty’ looking at this great big tyre, and I thought ‘he is going to ask me to ride up these’, which he promptly did! In the wet, they were extremely slippery, and the power band of the small engine made it quite exciting, to say the least. As expected, everything worked well on the Gas Gas: the clutch, brakes and suspension, and ‘Shirty’ was full of enthusiasm for the machine. He knew that a good schoolboy machine would sell very well, such was the demand for the smaller machines. I did not want to disappoint him, but I remember thinking that the machine was physically too big for the class and rider it aimed at. It was very much a case of using plenty of revs and then working the clutch to control your progress. I remember my dad warning me to be careful as the venue was so wet and slippery!”

BETA BENEFIT

As it turned out, the Gas Gas ‘Rookie’ never sold that well; it was a good machine but not what the buying public wanted. As Alexz has already stated, its Achilles heel was its physical size for the smaller rider. Noting the interest in a machine for the younger riders to the buying public, Italian motorcycle manufacturer Beta took a serious interest in a potential new model. After introducing a four-speed 50cc model in 2002, Beta learned so much about the young riders’ needs Iwan Roberts, seen here in 2007, made his name on the Beta youth machines. in this particular market, so they invested in producing a new engine for the Beta 80, introduced in 2003. To accommodate the growing rate of the younger rider, you had a choice of wheels sizes made available as the machine evolved. As they say, the rest is history, with the ‘new’ question often asked: how many riders started into the world of motorcycle trials on a Beta 80?

Alexz Wigg: “It was a very wet day, which made for slippery riding”.

GAS GAS 50/80 TXT ROOKIE (2001-2005)

SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE: Single Cylinder Two-Stroke Liquid Cooled; 49.38cc – Bore and Stroke: 40mm x 39.3mm; 68.18cc – Bore and Stroke: 47mm x 39.3mm; Carburettor: Dell’Orto PHGB21DS – Reed Valve Induction; Clutch: Hydraulic Three-Disc; Gear Box: SixSpeed; Ignition: Electronic; Starting System: Manual Kick-Starter Pedal. CYCLE PARTS: Frame: Steel Tubular; Swinging Arm: Aluminium; Front Suspension: Adjustable Ø 38mm; Rear Suspension: Boge Adjustable; Wheel Rims: Morad Aluminium; Tyres: Michelin Front and Rear; Brakes – disc Ø 185 Front/Rear 150mm Four Piston Callipers. DIMENSIONS: Seat height: 665mm; Wheelbase: 1,323mm; Weight: 64kg.

Three machines complemented the 2003 Beta schoolboy machines.

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October-November 2021 • Trial Magazine


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1981 • Classic

INTER-CENTRE

TEAM TRIAL It was very much a question of pride, the privilege of representing your team that attracted 20 different ACU centres from around Great Britain to send teams made up of five members, making a total entry of 100 riders to contest the 1981 Inter-Centre Team Trial. The best four scores from the five team members would be counted. On Saturday 14th November, at the Wye Valley Traders Trial, Malcolm Rathmell (Montesa) celebrated his 1981 ACU British Trials Championship title. The very next day, he would be in action at the Team Trial for the 9.30am start at Frogmill Inn & Hotel at Shipton, Andersford, near Cheltenham. Yorkshire were the kingpins of this unique team event and, on paper, looked certain to win but, on the day, would they deliver the result? Words: Classic Trial Magazine • Pictures: Alan Vines

Martin Lampkin (SWM)

On a clear dry day high on the Cotswolds hills above Gloucestershire, the organising Cheltenham Home Guard Motor Cycle Club, on behalf of the Western Centre of the Auto Cycle Union, had 50 sections, separated into eight groups to be ridden on a single-lap course of approximately 30 miles.

LOW SCORES

Despite the wide variety of the terrain in the sections that had been laid out to take marks from the riders, low scores were

101 Trial Magazine • October-November 2021

John Reynolds (Beamish Suzuki)

John Lampkin (SWM)

Geoff Chandler (Fantic)

recorded by many of the entries. Under the guidance of Tony Davis and the Zona One Club, many riders remained feet-up through the rocks at the opening group of eight sections at Syreford Quarry. The action would then move to the second group at Upper Hill Farm and its many slippery and tree-root-filled hazards, where it would be a different story. On the many drops and climbs, all the entries parted with marks, with Malcolm Rathmell (Montesa) the biggest casualty — he stopped to lose five marks. In the final section of this group, John Reynolds (Beamish Suzuki) needed two strong feet to keep forward motion to add his other single mark lost.

October-November 2021 • Trial Magazine 101


Classic • Team Trial

Dave Thorpe (Bultaco)

Dave Clinkard (SWM)

Ady Morrison (Majesty)

IRENE’S PIECE

The third group of sections, aptly named ‘Irene’s Piece’ and owned by Irene Smith, the wife of the great BSA off-road rider Jeff Smith and the sister of another great rider, John Draper, also took marks but, by that time, the Yorkshire team held a strong advantage. As the riders arrived back at the opening group of the day to finish the event, Syreford Quarry sections had been modified, but they still rode on the easier side. As the scores came in, three riders had all equalled one another: John Reynolds (Yorkshire) 3; Dave Thorpe (East Midlands) 3; and the recent winner of the British Experts Trial on his Italjet, Peter Cartwright (East Yorkshire).

INTER-CENTRE TEAM TRIAL 1981

Malcolm Cross (Ossa)

102

1 – YORKSHIRE 30: (John Reynolds (Beamish Suzuki) 3; Martin Lampkin (SWM ) 8; John Lampkin (SWM) 9; Malcolm Rathmell (Montesa) 10. 2 – SOUTHERN 59: Dave Clinkard (SWM) 11; Geofi Chandler (Fantic) 14; Roger Johns (Fantic) 16; Steve Moore (Bultaco) 18. 3 – EAST MIDLANDS 70: Dave Thorpe (Bultaco) 3; Chris Clarke (Montesa) 18; Paul Coles (Ossa) 20; Chris Milner (Fantic) 29. 4: Western 89; 5: South Eastern 90; 6: East Yorkshire 93; 7: Northern 108; 9: Cheshire 110; 10: South West 116.

October-November 2021 • Trial Magazine



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Locator • Find your local dealer

DEALER LOCATOR 01 2T-Offroad Tel: 01592 772867 Email: trials2t-offroad@Hotmail.com Area: Kirkcaldy, KY1 4DE

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

03 Acklams Motorcycles Tel: 07957 148588 / 07540 591410 Email: sales@acklamsbeta.co.uk Web: www.acklamsmotorcycles.com Area: Harrogate, HG3 2BG

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

05 AMS KTM/GASGAS Tel: 01684 29 29 29 Email: sales@ams4ktm.co.uk Web: www.ams4ktm.co.uk Area: Tewkesbury, GL20 8SF

06 Andy Metcalfe Motorcycles

Tel: 01287 638030 Email: andymetcalfemotorcycles@gmail.com Web: www.andymetcalfemotorcycles.com Area: Guisborough, TS14 7DH

07 Birkett Motosport Tel: 01229 716806 Email: nigel.birkett@talk21.com Web: www.birkettmotosportukltd.com Area: Broughton in Furness, LA20 6EZ

08 Bob MacGregor Trials Academy

Web: www.trialsacademy.co.uk Area: Annick, KA3 4EH

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

10 Camio Moto Tel: 01246 792033 Email: sales@camiomoto.co.uk Web: www.camiomoto.co.uk Area: Dronfield, S18 7SD

11 Craigs Motorcycles Tel: 01924 488117 Email: aaron@craigsmotorcycles.com Web: www.craigsmotorcycles.com Area: Dewsbury, WF13 1HX

12 East Neuk Trials Motorcycles

Tel: 01333 311744 Email: duncan.wood@btconnect.com Area: Fife, KY10 2RB

13 Feetup Tel: 01723 865577 Email: alanatfeetup@gmail.com Web: www.feetuptrialsport.co.uk Area: Scarborough, YO12 4QB

14 Inch Perfect Trials Tel: 01200 448130 Email: sales@inchperfecttrials.co.uk Web: www.inchperfecttrials.co.uk Area: Whitewell, BB7 3AU

15 Inta Bikes Tel: 01622 688727 Email: intabikes@btconnect.com Web: www.intabikes.co.uk Area: Maidstone, ME15 6HE

16 John Lee & Sons Motorcycles

Tel: 01933 312827 Mail: johnlee.mc@btconnect.com Web: www.johnleemotorcycles.co.uk Area: Higham Ferrers, NN10 8BP

17 John Shirt Motorcycles Tel: 01298 766 813 Email: mail@johnshirtmotorcycles.com Web: www.johnshirtmotorcycles.com Area: Buxton, SK17 9JL

18 Michael Brown Racing Tel: 01723 371597 Email: michaelbrownracing@yahoo.com Web: www.michaelbrownracing.com Area: Scarborough, YO11 1SR

19 Mickey Oates Motorcycles

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20 RAS Sport Tel: 01484 711720 Email: andrew@rassport.com Web: www.rassport.com Area: Brighouse, HD6 1LH

21 RCM Trialsport Tel: 01209 820896 Email: rcm-trialsport@hotmail.com Area: Redruth, TR16 5PN

22 South West Trials Tel: 01395 514287 Mail: southwesttrials@gmail.com Web: www.swtrials.co.uk Area: Sidmouth, EX10 9DN

23 St Blazey MX Tel: 01726 816181 Web: www.stblazeymx.co.uk Mail: sales@stblazeymx.co.uk Area: St Blazey, PL24 2RN

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

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

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109


Flashback • 2001

Sometimes overshadowed by the FIM Trial World Championship in more recent times, the European Championship is still used on a smaller scale as a feeder series to the higher level of riding in 2021. Rewind the clock to 2001 – yes, 20 years ago – and the interest in the European Championship was far more than you could ever imagine. Machine sales were very good, and off the back of this, some fortunate riders were able to attract manufacturers’ support. Please take some time to check out the results to find out who is still riding and very much at the top of their game. Some went off to the world of Enduro, desert racing or into supporting roles in the FIM. Words: Trial Magazine • Pictures: Peter J Beardmore Chris Curtis (Sherco-GBR)

Sam Bullock (Sherco-GBR)

110

Michael Brown (Beta-GBR)

October-November 2021 • Trial Magazine


2001 • Flashback

Ben Hemingway (Beta-GBR)

Sam Connor (Gas Gas-GBR)

Michael Phillipson (Beta-GBR)

As a representative of the ACU for riders from the United Kingdom, Peter Beardmore attended many events in his official capacity, which is where these superb pictures have come from. Along with his wife, Margaret, he travelled around Europe to the many international trials in their camper van, always ready to help the ACU riders and their families.

TWO-DAY EVENTS

With the paddock welcoming the travelling family of the trials world, many would arrive from the previous week’s competition in Europe. Summer holidays could be spending weeks away at a time as the calendar was made to help riders compete on the budgets they had. Converted vans, caravans and tents were normal accommodation

Trial Magazine • October-November 2021

Mika Vesterinen (Beta-GBR)

for the riders and accompanying families. The events were usually two laps of 15 sections, and, as you can see in the results, the marks dopped in the top 15 points-scoring positions made sure the riders had a good competitive day’s riding. Ben Hemingway: “As you can see from the scores, you usually had one rider having a strong ride with a really low winning score and then a close fight for the two remaining podium positions. The events were really well organised, and the camaraderie amongst all the riders made them fantastic times to remember in trials. As a trials-riding family, the winter months were spent saving up and attracting sponsorship so that we could compete in both the European and World Championship the following year. What’s interesting is that 20 years on, my older brother, Dan, is starting

the adventure all over again with his two young boys George and Harry. I am still very much a part of what has been my life, motorcycle trials, but now I am working with the FIM Trial World Championship organisers.”

A WINNING FORMULA

With hard work and commitment, this winning formula of competing in the European Championship must have worked when you look at the riders’ names who went on to win. World round winners include Jeroni Fajardo (ESP), with Alfredo Gomez (ESP) taking the 2011 FIM Junior World Championship. In addition, Iris Kramer won the FIM Ladies World Championship in 2007, a title Laia Sanz (ESP) would hold for many years, and Toni Bou (ESP) needs no introduction.

111


Flashback • 2001

Maria Conway (Montesa-GBR)

Vicky Ellis (Beta-GBR)

UEM EUROPEAN TRIAL CHAMPIONSHIP 2001 POBLA DE SEGUR, SPAIN SATURDAY 8TH JULY

YOUTH 250CC RESULTS: 1: Jeroni Fajardo (Gas Gas-ESP) 1; 2: Angel Jimenez (Gas Gas-ESP) 9; 3: Toni Bou (Beta-ESP) 9; 4: Tom Sagar (Beta-GBR) 10; 5: Diego Garrido (Sherco-ESP) 16; 6: Chris Curtis (Sherco-GBR) 16; 7: Jose Juan (Sherco-ESP) 24; 8: Matteo Rochon (Gas Gas-ITA) 29; 9: Andrea Vaccareti (Beta-ITA) 31; 10: Richard Eley (Gas Gas-GBR) 33; 11: Calle Olofsson (Beta-SWE) 46; 12: Francesco Lolitta (Beta-ITA) 47; 13: Thomas Hackinger (Gas Gas-GER) 48; 14: Pieter Goertz (Sherco-NED) 51; 15: Matt MacDonald (Sherco-GBR) 56; 17: Ben Eley (Gas Gas-GBR) 77; 22: Sam Bullock (Sherco-GBR) 88. YOUTH 125CC CUP RESULTS: 1: Daniel Gilbert (Gas Gas-ESP) 11; 2: Daniel Oliveras (Gas Gas-ESP) 11; 3: Niclas Liebl (Sherco-GER) 17; 4: Joan Cordon (Gas Gas-ESP) 18 5: Michael Brown (Beta-GBR) 19; 6: Robin Gilman (Sherco-GER) 25; 7: David Hermansson (Beta-SWE) 31; 8: Tristan Rimbach (Beta-GER) 34; 9: Christian Kregeloh (Sherco-GER) 37; 10: Matthew Jones (Gas Gas-GBR) 42; 11: Alfredo Gomez (Gas Gas-ESP) 52; 12: Javier Cordero (Gas Gas-ESP) 54; 13: Sergio Benzal (Gas Gas-ESP) 71.

UEM EUROPEAN SUNDAY 9TH JULY

Rachel Buckley (Sherco-GBR)

RESULTS: 1: Josep Manzano (Sherco-ESP) 6; 2: Ben Hemingway (Beta-GBR) 13; 3: Josep Saez (Montesa-ESP) 14; 4: Sam Connor (Gas Gas-GBR) 14; 5: Jeroni Fajardo (Gas Gas-ESP) 16; 6: Fabio Lenzi (Gas Gas-ITA) 17; 7: Anders Nilsson (Gas Gas-SWE) 19; 8: Israel Escalera (Gas Gas-ESP) 20; 9: Michael Phillipson (Beta-GBR) 21; 10: Jordi Garcia (Beta-ESP) 22; 11: Jerome Bethune (Gas Gas-FRA) 22; 12: Gregory Eyries (Montesa-FRA) 22; 13: Sergio Leon (Beta-ESP) 23; 14: Paval Balas (Gas Gas-CZE) 23; 15: Daniele Maurino (Gas Gas-ITA) 27; 17: Mika Vesterinen (Beta-FIN) 28; 20: Dan Thorpe (Gas Gas-GBR) 33; 26: Henry Moorhouse (Gas Gas-GBR) 39; 37: Jason Bayliss (Montesa-GBR) 82; 38: Liam Walker (Gas Gas-GBR) 84.

UEM WOMEN

SUNDAY 9TH JULY RESULTS: 1: Laia Sanz (Beta-ESP) 11; 2: Iris Kramer (Gas Gas-GER) 25; 3: Rachel Buckley (Sherco-GBR) 38; 4: Claire Bertrand (Gas Gas-FRA) 48; 5: Siri Minken (Gas Gas-NOR) 52; 6: Dolores Sanchez (Beta-ESP) 54; 7: Mari Conway (Montesa-ESP) 55; 8: Linda Meyer (Gas GasNOR) 57; 9: Lene Dyrkorn (Gas Gas-NOR) 60; 10: Michelle Owen (Sherco-AUS) 64 *(Guest); 11: Ingrid Borrensen (Montesa-NOR) 66; 12: Ute Kramer (Gas Gas-GER) 71; 13: Kjesrty Fla (Sherco-NOR) 73; 14: Carli Sherwin (Sherco-GBR) 93; 15: Vicky Ellis (Beta-GBR) 97.

Margaret in the Beardmore 'Camper'

112

We would once again like to thank the custodian of trials, our good friend in Belgium, Charly Demathieu, for the supply of the results; thank you.

October-November 2021 • Trial Magazine


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