bikespace

Probably for another thread, but at

Reckon we've got a cohesive little team thing going on here, shame not to use it

I think you might find that this is a very common attitude whether people are inclined to admit it in a public forum or not. Again, my views on whether I would contribute or not are unimportant, but if I had to make the decision whether every member of the ACU should support the top few riders then I would absolutely have to vote against it, or at least offer a referendum, or at best allow members to add a voluntary contribution to their licence fee for youth development. It is my view that the vast majority would choose not to support it. Surely there are very few other sports which would support top sportsmen in this way.

The french don't support any 125cc riders on scorpa, gubian is on Sherco Karim and cervantes Gas gas morrel sherco. Gratterola sherco Don't think Gas Gas support the rfme but Gomez is on that make. Have seen a fair bit of ACU reps at most of the WTC and euros this year none appeared to be "on holiday". Now what they could do is several things but I am of the opionion that all my suggestions would cost. Not sure if you were agreeing with me or not, but to clarify, my statement was also suggesting that the money wasn't being wasted on bigwig holidays (as has been sugested recently). Was just pointing out that not all riders are probably aware that a fair chunk of the money sent off to the ACU covers insurance. My point with not having any British bike manufacturers was that we may be able to attract more money in to the sport, through things such as the sports council if they thought it may actually benefit a British Industry. Much easier to convince politicians and the like that our sport is a good thing if it would kill off a part of British Industry if the sport dies. Don't suppose we're likely to see a revival so probably unimportant, but may have some influence in some cases.

Before anyone jumps on the bandwagon (if they were going to) I have to admit I know Atomant very well, and have been cruelly trying to touch a nerve. I have to say I've used an unfair advantage in knowing him To those that don't know Atom, he is one of the workers, not only involved with TC, but with fairly major sponsorship and promotion of youth riders, and work within local trials, both getting hands dirty and doing the techy geeky stuff for them. Probably an important thing to remember on here - we only see the TC side of a lot of people - we have a chip at people and we have no idea how much work they're doing in the background. Same goes for people like John Collins. The web makes it very easy for the little guy to chip away at the big guy without actually getting off his butt Probably something we need to keep in mind for the on-line forum - It makes everybodys voice the same no matter how much they are willing to actually get up off their a*** and do something about it.

Do you know this for a fact Gaz ? I know how much we pay for insurance because I'm involved in organising, as you are, and I'm sure some people perceive the entry fee to be levied heavily by the ACU just for their own funding. Much of this is the insurance. Not everyone agrees we want more money - I'm not even going to say which side I fall on, because it doesn't matter. What matters is what the majority want. We've discussed this before and other than a few "fanatics" most people were of the opinion that they were happy with a cheap motorsport. Isn't this available? I'm sure it could be if you were involved with the ACU. Sounds like the ACU needs you!

This is so true. I come across quite a few people at trials and I haven't heard anyone say something like " Well the ACU is doing a great Job" - All I hear is negative comments and these are reflected in my posts. It strikes me that the ACU is just completely out of touch .... and lets hope we can get this forum going to try and put that right. I'm presuming that by saying the ACU are out of touch, you're saying that the people representing the ACU are out of touch? The ACU has had a reputation in the past for having some old folks at the helm. With the money they're paying it's unlikely to attract youngsters who are still having to make a living at the same time, so it does tend to be people approaching retirement that get chance to devote their time. I've never had a complaint about John Collins, and not heard of any either, but even though he puts his head above the parapet (sp) on this forum, he's had a fair few attacks of one kind or another. I've known other people (who are also doing their level best) to get a few knocks like this and contemplate throwing in the towel. You can't do what everyone wants all of the time. You need people with broad shoulders to fight off the flak from your "fanatics" and represent the best interests of the majority of the ACU members. Slagging an organisation off at every opportunity just because it's not doing what a small minority are asking for isn't likely to be too productive. The more the ACU are slated, the less likely people are going to be to swallow a small increase in license fee to fund these little projects. I really don't believe that the ACU on their current funding scheme can afford to provide race trucks for out top 4 or 5 riders as they travel round the world. If you want this kind of service you need to pay for it. Why don't you ask people how they would like to fund this? We have in the past, and there is more than a minority who don't want to fund the superstars through their ACU subscription/levies/etc. You can't keep asking for the world without suggesting realistic methods of producing it - and if your methods are likely to further alienate 40-50-60% of the membership it's not realistic.

French Scorpa Italian Beta Spanish GasGas/Sherco Japanese Honda We don't have a motorcycle industry. I'm sure we'd find it easier to get funding if we did. Anyone fancy riding aRoyal Enfield next year, no wait, they're Indian. If we had a motorcycle industry we'd have a damned site more chance of getting funding for the sport. I don't suppose there's much chance of that happening though. We can't always blame an organisation that we pay very little to for every weakness in the sport. People don't seem to realise that much of the money we give to the ACU is for insurance, not to fund bigwigs holiday trips.

Entries close at the end of the week. Give Graham Evans a call at David Jones Motorcycles if you're stuck - 01686 625010 Option1 He's the secretary of the event and can help out with entry. The start is about 15 miles West of Welshpool - a little place called Llangadfan

Not forgetting little brother Tom, who came 2nd in his age group. Also no mean feat.

Big well done to Sam Oliver who confirmed his British Championship title today by winning the last round. Lost 7 marks, around 40 ahead of the second place man. He's worked bloody hard for that - British Champion - WELL DONE!

In your example though it's not the grade of rider that was even considered, it was what the rider did. If Dave Thorpe (or Dan Thrope for that matter) stops and paddles, and Rappers balances then goes on, I'll still mark it the same way. I'm more likely to give the benefit of the doubt to the rider who has actually shown the greater skill, and in my view left the greater doubt as to the loss of control. Rappers may get the clean while Thorpey gets the 5. I'm not arguing with the fact that there can be some individual treatment for some riders though. If Dave Thorpe wasn't an OAP I would have considered rubbing his head in a puddle for queue jumping at the Manx. I did jokingly offer to do it to Colley two years ago in Dune Quarry, and he gracefully allowed me back in front

Exactly my sentiments. Couldn't say it any better no matter how I tried.

I'm inclined to observe that way too to be honest. The rider gets more of the benefit of the doubt when he keeps his feet up than when he's stopped with his feet down, rightly or wrongly (well it's wrongly I suppose isn't it ). I must admit I don't agree that you should have got 3's because you only stopped for a second or two. It's no-stop and you can't complain that you get 5's for stopping. Dubious one with the balancing stop - it is a lot more doubtful than straddling the bike with feet down though. The organisers have got to make an effort to make the sections ridable without a stop too. The Manx was a great trial again this year, and very few if any needed a stop, but yes there's often the odd occasion where it's very tight. I'm buggered if i can remember happy valley though so can't comment What I will say is it goes both ways. I saw one rider have what we thought was about four 5's in one section, and ended up with a three, then I went through with three dabs and we end up on the same result. These days I think I prefer the no-stop trials such as the Manx and strict observing with it, where the section allows. I can't remember a section from the Manx where I had to stop, although there was the odd one which was helped by hopping the rear wheel over to ease the corner. My sympathy for the old buggers is nil this year as Dave Thorpe managed to sneak in front of me aged 124 with no knees

WD40 state that their product is safe for almost all surfaces including specifically tyres. They recommend WD40 as a cleaning product for tyre walls and to provide a shine to tyre walls including white wall tyres and it is mentioned specifically in their FAQ's and in their suggested use guide. Presumably if they are recommending it for car tyres which might be on for a year or two, then it's not going to dissolve my X11 in two or three months. If WD40 are willing to open themselves up to litigation by advising people to use it to rot away their high speed road tyres, then I'm happy with it on my Sherco. Old wives tale I reckon ya big bluffers In fact I'm going out to spray my wifes tyres with it now as a test. I'll keep you posted

There's magazines you can get if you're desperate Apparantly

Just to stir things up Why do we not use WD40? I must admit I don't think I've had to, but i would have no hesitation in doing so if I felt the need. As I've mentioned before, I never use chain lube on my chain, I use WD40 and get better mileage out of my chain than most. I quite often spray around the rim to stop the spokes rusting. I've no doubt I've over-sprayed on the tyre while doing this and I'd never bother to wipe it off for fear of it eating away my tyre I use hairspray to hold my grips on, because lets face it I've got no other use for it, and it works. I put mint sauce on beef because i like it, and it works. Rules are there to be broken. If you're going to say it's wrong, at least explain to us simpletons why it's wrong.

Come on - get your entries in - up to about 60 so far with three weeks to go. Just over a week before entries close. For all those that entered the Manx 2 Day clubman route, the level of the sections should be about right for you. Get an entry in - and come down to see some quality trials land. It's only just over the border in to Wales, so not too far from the beaten track. Regs attached welsh_novogar2006.pdf

I know Ross is riding at a much higher level, but I'm still not convinced that he puts his bike under more physical stress than all of us clubmen. I'm exactly twice his weight. They say when you jump you exert three times your weight, so presumably I'm exerting at least 6 times his weight just by jumping? When you look at how he gracefully drops off things, and I come off drops and hit steps like a sack of spuds, it's got to be a close call. Some people would say they've never seen a bike under so much stress as my poor Sherco. Sometimes you can hear it crying, but it has given three years of remarkable service Apart from when I collapsed the wheel in the Manx

Round here is peace and tranquility after growing up around Middlesbrough and Stockton in the 70's/80's I'm sure Cota Kid will vouch for that. Anyway, we digress - have we got anyone in the Addingham area that's likely to want to front this??? I'd imagine just a letter to the council, or an email via their site would be a good start if worded correctly.

This is what Ross done in Spain but it was from a 8ft drop off - not what you would find in a local trial Remember Nant Mawr - I do. That must have been oooooh 15, 12, 10, 8, 6 foot maybe Didn't like it anyway. You forced me in to it And I'm double Ross's weight, so presumably I could do that damage from 4 foot??? Do you reckon this is because they are landing too vertical, and there is no movement in the swinging arm once they get it vertical? Chickens like me land almost horizontal (and flailing )

Good call Ishy - that seems like the ideal place to voice your views. Get your point across - the organised, responsible side of motorsport being killed off. Reference to Dougie (an inspiration to youth riders), being multiple world champion, partly due to the excellent local facilities. Silsden as the root of modern trials in the UK - all that jazz. I'd get on there myself, but a North Yorkshireman living on the Welsh border probably won't have much sympathy in the Silsden area. Who've we got local to Addingham - preferably someone with kids and the potential of seeming fairly responsible? I'm sure the inital correspondence to the council could be a group effort

You see around here he'd just "disappear", but I hear that's illegal in other parts of Britain. Edit: thought I better sneak a smilie in there - big brother could be watching We really do need to continue the campaign that got underway when DEAFra were at their worst. Trials needs to be promoted as the responsible ecological motorsport, although then we're separating ourselves from MX and Enduro - which although less environmentally friendly, do have the money to do something about it - and money talks in this country.

What's the one that's been advertised recently, where named drivers can build up no claims as well as the main policy holder?

Is this Norman? If it is, he made it to Google fame...