USA Trials

Craig, hope this renews your faith in the Beave! The arguments against an American 125cc National Championship seems to be two fold and very weak. First that HRC/Montesa does not have a bike, so we can't have an American 125cc Championship without them. Hey, Honda could build a bike faster than anyone if they really wanted too. Then somebody may cheat is the other agument I've read. My reposne would be, do the Europeans cheat in the 125cc class? We have not heard any complaints from the European Championship or 125cc World Championship about building bigger bikes and sneaking them into the 125cc championships. My view is simply, anyone who cheats is only cheating them…

I was reading a thread on another trials forum that they are changing a rule and that you will no longer be allowed to stop forward motion or you get a point (or maybe 5?). They weren't talking about the details but mostly about several small bike companies lobbying for this in an effort to "save" the sport.

Over the years I've seen all of you debate over how to get an American rider to be competative at a world round. What I haven't seen are suggestions with regards to sponsorship. The reason the other countries are so competative is that the sport of trials pays money over there and is considered a professional sport. Here in America, trials is an amatuer sport. Our professional sports here pays nice little chunks of money like 25 million dollar contracts therefore our kids are motivated and their parents are turned into "soccer parents" doing all the things that create professional sports players out of them. Take motocross for example. Notice all the adds on tv wh…

I read some were that Lance bought a GASGAS, he rides trials? I remember last year he mentioned that buying a dirt bike would be one of the first things he would do during retirement. sam

What would it take to get our classes across the US the same. Something interesting (ok, maybe I was a tad aggravated becasue it happens to be a pet peeve of mine) happened at the last trials. My son was asked what class he normally rode, and told he should ride that class, Makes sense, I will agree with that, EXCEPT, Mr. Bill was putting on the event and he operates under the "California" classes (for lack of a better term. So his classes go like this EXPERT: Black Plate. White numbers and letters MASTER; Red Plate. White numbers and letters ADVANCED: White Plate. Black numbers and letters INTERMEDIATE: Yellow Plate. Black numbers…

With the Euro doing a number against the US $ and sales of trials bikes down, is it time for a rethink of how they are sold?. In our local club only, one 08 model has been sighted, and nearing the end of February this is definitely way down on prior years,I read this is the case in other parts of the world too. Instead of many making nothing, wouldn't it be better for a few, to at least make enough profit to keep afloat and still be able to lower cost to the punter?. My thoughts are! Would it be better for the importer to sell to the public direct cutting out the dealer margin, they could still sell the bike through a dealer and pay a flat commission for bikes that …

Pat goes on the course in about 30 minutes. He's very determined and focused this morning. As usual, you'll be receiving as good of coverage as I can muster. Wish I could say I was as focused. If you know what I mean? LOL.

What type of training do you participate in to prepare for the trials season? What I am wondering is, do you run, bicycle, lift weights, set up sections and make them harder and harder as you learn to ride them. Just curious, would especially like to know what the guys/girls do who ride nationals. Wayne

Compare the scores! Women's world champion Laia Sanz had a big impact on the US pro class. Her scores would have given her solid finishes in the US Pro class against America's best male riders. Her great results against America's best underscores the need for a complete overhaul of the US women's championship. Unless US lady trials riders are allowed to move up the men's ranks at the NATC championship and still retain the US ladies title. We will never see another American Women's world champion. It should be obvious that any lady rider wanting to be world trials champion needs to ride at a US pro class level. Not even the US expert class comes even close to her level…

This forum sucks! When is Andy gonna apologize to Lane so we can get this forum going again? It's all about the LOVE.

Here is a quate from another post, and demonstrates (IN MY OPINION) part of the problem with Trials in the US. "In my opinion, it is folly to assume that we should atrtact as many youngsters as we can to trials, because, taking my local scene into account: - we already have 100 plus riders per trial. Queues at sections are long enough! - the more people who latch onto trials, the more who take it into their own hands to use ground for illegal practice, endangering continuation of the sport. Sure, we need to ensure the sport continues, but its current popularity doesn't threaten this." Again, in my opinion this shows that some people/clubs are content with the status …

Take the 2 top US Trials Riders, Pat and Cody and at their current ability with their current bikes. How many years back would we have to go (and everything else being the same in that era, bikes, riders, etc.) for them to be top 5 World Riders? Or better yet, World Champ?

The 2012 Ahrma Vintage Trials schedule is little more than an insult to the outgoing National Trials Coordinators, Ed and Evelyn Peacock who have worked tirelessly to promote high quality and enjoyable trials during their long stint in office. The article on my blog has created considerable interest in the possible "way ahead" and all comments are welcome from those with a Vintage Trials passion. Tony

The Central Arizona Trials (CAT) put on a first class National this past weekend. Great organization, terrain and section were tops, only 4.5 hours from LA, cool 70 deg days and occasional thunderstorms, I thought I was in Colorado. BUT..... the turn out was low. Only 65 riders. It would be good to know why turnout for western Nationals is low. Please give us your opinion. Martin

GO GO Trials riders. In tonights main event which came after a long day of qualifying, whittling down 200 riders to the final 10 we had 2 of our trials guys on the final podium !! Colton Haaker won tonights race, with Cody Webb finishing third. Keith, Nick, and Phil did not have to race today as they all qualified for tomorrows race at the previous rounds in the series. Dustin Hedwall missed the main event by one spot finished 2nd in the LCQ. I'll try and get some photos posted tonight, or tomorrow (hey, we're in Vegas, you don't think I'm going to sit in the hotel room all night weeding out photos) More updates tomorrow !! I think Cody's secret weapon was the key…

Just curious about the section difficulty for the EX and PRO lines; is the scores in the PRO class going to be single digits for the winners or will there be a real challenge to show off for the "media"??

The time has come! Cityboy trials has gone and shot off his mouth again and now there is no recourse other than to put money where mouth is. Craig, in all his infinite wisdom, has called me out. He has actually challenged me to my face saying that he will beat me next year at Endurocross. Who is going to be the bookie on this one??? Craig, I've got $1000 that says I will finish ahead of you. That's right, one thousand United States dollars. Everyone out there that knows me, knows that I do what I say so it's time to show the money otherwise I will graciously accept your appology......again..... and we'll move on.

After a 5 year absence World Trials is back in the USA ! Confirmed for May 25-26 2013 http://www.cyclenews...merica-in-2013/

I was a spectator both days and was VERY impressed with the European Youth riders on their 125's. They made most of our Expert riders look really bad. It was almost embarrassing. Here are their scores from Sunday: YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL RESULTS 1. Alexz Wigg - 34 2. Loris Gubian - 36 2. Matteo Grattarola - 43 4. Sam Haslam - 46 5. Lee Sampson - 51 6. Alfredo Gomez - 64 7. Ross Danby - 70 8. Nicolas Karim - 71 9. Robert Andrews - 80 10. Christian Kregeloh - 91 11. Alexis Roscapana - 105 Here are the top three US Experts scores: Ray Peters - 96 Will Ibsen - 105 Sean Bird - 109 They rode the same "green" lines. Ray and Sean as well as Travis Fox who fai…

You make a grave mistake living in the past and comparing you or me to anything happening today Ron. We are old news! You also make a BIG mistake using Geoff Aaron as a role model or yardshick Ron. I'am glad to see you fired up though! Don't get me wrong, Geoff is a pal of mine and I give him a helping hand anytime I can having walked the path before him. I know how tough it can be for him! Yes he is a great businessman and a really nice guy. I wish him great success in anything he does. Especally winning at life after trials, which is really 1st prize after all. Only, and I mean only by comparing any US trials performance standard to Sanz and Raga, then to those t…