I agree that Dibs rides the Gasser really well but he did actually have his best season on Beta and it's all to do with £££££££'s at the end of the day. Fajardo definitely not Vertigo next year.
The fact of the matter is that Dabill has never finished better than sixth in the world. Fajardo hasn't been out of the top 5 in the last decade.
Who would you choose to represent you in Trial GP?
A Spanish site reports that Busto has apparently acknowledged that he is talking to both Gas Gas and Montesa but has not yet signed a contract for 2018.
....apart from now mr casales, there won’t be a single other vertigo in the world championship in any category ,not even any of he privateers are riding one....
Toby must be one of the favourites for the Trial 2 championship in 2018. the SPEA guys riding 300RR Monts were 2nd & 3rd in the 2017 championship, so I think the bikes are up to it if the rider is.
If they want to be getting on the Trial GP podium and let's face it, if they go to the expense of having a factory truck and support at each round, then that needs to be their target (& every other teams) then I don't see they have many options.
The Montesa boys aren't going anywhere. Maybe there's a slim chance Busto could be tempted away to be a No. 1 rider, but I suspect he'll realise the support and probably salary, he gets in the Repsol team is second to none.
Likewise Raga, he is in a Catalan team with his mentor Jordi Tarres, I expect him to see out his career at TRS.
I read that Cabestany was retiring (if so, then Sherco are in the same situation as Beta).
The way the Vertigo statement reads, suggests that Fajardo remains in the team and Casales is 'reinforcement'.
Dabill I believe is one year into a two year Gas Gas deal.
And after those, there is no other current rider that has been on the podium at Trial GP level.
It suggests then that Beta will be looking for riders in the lower half of the world's top 10.
However, a question they and others must ask themselves is, would they sell any less bikes if they were not in the world championship? What if they put in a strong national showing through each importer and prove themselves to be reliable and competitive in nationals, local events and the SSDT?
This may be a grey area but if you ride an electric mountain bike in the wilds of Scotland, what is stopping you riding an electric trials bike...in the wilds of Scotland ?
A very grey area which as a mountain biker & trials rider concerns me.
My understanding is that the electric mountain bikes are power assisted only when the rider pedals, i.e. they are not completely self-propelling like an electric motorbike. Given that the average man or women sees what we ride as 'scramblers' how are they meant to differentiate between two bikes fitted with knobbly tires and an electric motor?
Glass half full, this opens up more land to access and apparently pollution free riding. Glass half empty, this potential loophole is abused and legitimate riders of both sports lose valuable land access rights.
Another issue with the no stop rules struck me watching the trial. For some of the big steps preceded by a tight turn it obviously takes time to go from low rpm to even 3 /4000 rpm. While this takes place the rider can't really creep forward or they would be too close. Worse perhaps for 4t motors.
Still enjoyed the day but the rules need to reflect what's actually observed.
Or the section design needs to reflect the rules which can then be applied properly.
Regardless of who made the report, it sets a dangerous precedent and creates a horrible situation for a small sport. 13 years I travelled the world and the paddock was always a very friendly place where everybody was buddies. Turning rider against rider, minder against minder and team against team is not going to be pretty.
I'm with you, Andy. This is not good for trials. Ours has always been a friendly sport, but when all scoring and results are subjectively judged a culture of protests between competitors will be damagingnto a sport that is struggling to be viable at world level.
The 2016 trial was 2 days of competition, this year it is 1 day of practice/autographs/qualifying/faffing about and 1 day of competition. That surely will reduce revenue from ticket sales.
Remember Toni was a sleeper until he suddenly became the monster he is. No one predicted the dominance he would have over the sport. Same for Jordi and Dougie.
That's not true Dan. Toni Bou was well known as a rising star from the age of 14 or 15, he'd be at Spanish world rounds and practicing with the top guys of the day. Doug Lampkin has told the story of seeing Bou around this time attempt stuff that Lampkin and the other top riders didn't fancy.
James Dabill pulled out of the Scottish to prepare for the first world championship round in Spain. Presumably he thought the wonderful Scottish sunshine wouldn't prepare him for Spanish hailstorms!
Doug Lampkin winning his 11th Scottish rightfully made all the headlines. He was however a firm favourite going into the week.
I'd like to congratulate Tom Minta on a fabulous and dare I say, less widely predicted result. Best first timer, 5th overall and best under 200cc, Tom rode the Scottish on a 125. Hands up all those clubmen who still think they 'need' a 300!
I was watching the Nevis Radio parc ferme footage this morning on-line. Doug Lampkin appeared to have a massive rucksack, I also didn't see Harry Lampkin in the start queue, so I guess there are 3 possibilities:
Harry is not riding, so Doug is carrying extra spares
Harry is stowed away in Doug's rucksack
Doug is attempting all six days unsupported so has set off with all his food & provisions on day one
@andy I hope you are on the case, we need a photo inside that rucksack before the week is out!
The apparent anomaly in the rules is that a 14 year old female can ride in the Trial 2 or GP class and hence ride a 250 or larger bike. In the equivalent male classes the rider must be 16 or older.
Consequently a 14 or 15 year old boy will be on a 125, whilst a 14 or 15 year old girl could be competing on a 300.
Beta vacancy?
in World Championship Chat
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I believe he'll be on a Montesa.