Well I've read all publication released from the sacu,
My conclusion is,
The new licence/ comp levy system has been designed to target the sacu's cash flow shortfall due to motocross now being split between sacu/mcf,
In fairness I can appreciate that £5 is not a great sum of money,
And the sacu have stated that the comp levy fund is to help future growth of all five motorcycle sport discipline's
But my questions to the sacu?
WHAT WILL BE DIFFERENT?
WHAT IS THE BIG PICTURE?
IS THERE ANY STRATEGY FOR THE FUTURE?
Mx riders have not switched affiliation based on Sacu's cashflow they switched alliance's based on the Sacu's input to events mainly prize money.
As a union there has been a higher premium commanded in each discipline, In a period when riders are picking and choosing which events to ride based on overall costs
Does the Sacu have a future growth strategy that all this cash is being earmarked for?
Or is this purely to generate funds and then decide what to do?
I've heard riders in Scotland complain for a lot of years that they have had no support in Scotland mainly from the sports main governing body,
What i would like is for motorcycle trials to be a more like cycle trials, I find it brilliant to watch cycle trials riders out practising and trying different techniques and approach's to obstacles
I recognise observed competitive motorycle trials is an event where each man ride's his own trial (which is good and I also enjoy that aspect) but I would like to see a shakedown type practise session at the start or end of each event where people practise and push themselves to try things and riding in groups does bring your riding on a lot in comparison to competition
Lochaber mcc has a trial on the 27th venue to be confirmed, get in touch with this club as they have a strong local support and there may just be guys out riding anyway that you could tag along with for a day!
Just reading about this weekends world round in the amazing setting of the Nevis range,
There is a slot on the Saturday that says a Steve saunders trials training session for 2 hours, can someone explain in more detail what this might be? And is it for the public?
Looking forward to it now, both days are looking pretty action packed!
As you know the last 3 could'nt even if they wanted to,but im sure the first 4 would/have used that title name if it meant they or those that hired them could make money from there titles name well after there retirement from the European stage.
You said in one of your posts our guys are where they are until someone better comes along,your right and it will happen in the next few years so what do our currents do retire or semi fund themselves to be there.
There just very unlucky to be in the era of Bou and thos coming up behind them.
Not sure what your point is, these guys choose to compete in a competion, it is exactly that it is first and foremost, if it is then a job you are payed to compete at you are lucky, these guys don't deserve anything they earn it!
..........and I can see the six or so manufacturers maybe, only maybe! sending one rider in future add the Top Trial Team and you have a championship with 7 riders?
They are at the top of the sport and that is where they want ride, but I do wonder how much longer Pune and Wiggy will be supported banging in results like this? Just my thought and next year will be interesting?
If the WTC sold bikes then we would all be riding Montesa's because it is the bike to beat? or maybe the rider has a little to do with it? I don't think the WTC sells bikes people will choose what they want to ride because they like it?
I think every year I've followed the world trials championship has been dynamic exciting and interesting, not forgetting this years shake up of rider and team pairing, don't you think? And none of which involved Toni bou! But People still talked about it! That's because it's a championship, do you think all these premiership football clubs spend millions upon millions of pounds on players, and think well lads is it worth it? Maybe we should just not turn up! I would imagine not.....
Pune and wiggy will be supported until someone better comes along, not necesserally someone British but maybe.. Sheppard, Richardson so on....
I would not own a montesa for love nor money you are correct I choose to ride what bike I like, but a motorcycles development, reliability etc can only really be culminated by the best engineers and riders working together to create a fantastic product. Which in turn gives the Sunday riders like you and I a great bike to ride! Without this it's nothing! Probably what would be a privateers championship, Is this what you would like to see?
Have some positivity about you! I would suggest it's probably this negative attitude that runs throughout the acu and is why there is no young blood supported in our great sport
Would be interesting to see which one breaks away first to one of the other motorcycle disciplines.
it seems a shame to waste that riding talent on a Trials bike knowing your never going to have the word World Champion attached to your name at the end of your career.
Mick Andrews
Sammy miller
Don smith
Malcolm rathmell
Graeme Jarvis
Steve Saunders
Steve colley
Have you heard of any of these guys?
All historical figures in our sport but none of them can call themselves a world champion, the first four may call themselves a European champion
I would say absolutally yes, you have to consider these guys cv's they are the best trials riders in the world based on what they have done, be it junior champions, European champions, British champs, Italian etc etc,
Yes Toni bou is ultimatally the best and most dominant rider on the world stage, but there is six or so manufacturers that all want the best rider in the world show casing they're product at the top level of our sport,
To say is it worth the others turning up is ludicrous, I want more riders at the top level and more manufacturers making bikes and entering teams that means they are selling bikes and our sport is popular,
It's just interesting to me that montesa Honda are reluctant to take out a new machine whilst the others are trying hard developing bikes at a sustainable rate in today's climate,
maybe that would be the spanner in the works the wtc is after, yes bou is the best in the world on the best bike in the world but what about a change of bike? I'm not saying the bike is better than bou, would just be interesting to see him on a new machine from a confidence and reliability perspective etc
Cheers guys, I think I ran an ngk-r in one of my old sherco's aswell with no ill effect,
Since this bike is fairly new I will just sell these r plugs to a gasser owner at the next trial,
I also tried an iridium core plug at the pollock trial and it got far to hot and stopped working, was taking it easy on the revs aswell,
Then put a bp5es in and done 2 laps no bother,
So I think the moral of this story is stick to the plug in the book, although mine did come from the dealer with a champion plug which I swapped out straight away!
I no bp5es is the standard one, but I thought the bpr5es was the same gap but a better core so basically I've bought 4 of these of the net on a wim, and now think they are not going to be any use!
well traveled man, but you have never been to scotland for the british leg of the world championship?! seriously missing out! Never mind villages the whole of the uk welcomed the trials circus to the nevis range last year, Was on par with the world downhill championshp!! Mega action!
Same here!
Best option IMO is France.
will be cheaper, more accessible and easier to go to France and they have a 2 day event there.
Been to French rounds before and they are awesome with whole villages/towns closing down and fully welcoming the trials circus with open arms - cant see that happening in the UK
If not you could look at making a holiday out of Spain and Andorra (think dates on front page must be wrong and Andorra is 26th June) by flying to Madrid and driving to trial (approx 150km) then fly from Madrid to Girona and drive to Andorra.
Or alternatively just do Andorra (fly to Girona then drive 150km ish to Andorra) as they again totally throw the village/town at the event and run ace events.
Even the Italian round is only 130ish km from Milan Airport although I've never been to an Italian round but again they look very well supported. I've actually driven from UK to Monza for F1 and its an AMAZING drive through France and Switzerland. Took about 15 hours to get from Calais to Milan and the Italian round is not as far as Milan!
Lots of options open to the UK trials supporter at relatively low cost and probably similar cost that you would spend if you went to Scotland (at least if you live in Southern England..)
I beg to differ. It's almost as if the subject has become the "elephant in the room".
There's no doubting Dougies acheivements but can he cut it with that young Spanish lad? Sadly the answer must be no. But then nor can anybody else. We all know that that rider has a finite life in trials and it seems that, barring a fantastic ride from Doug (and he came close in Scotland last year) or a fiasco from Bou we would be getting ahead of ourselves to expect another WTC victory from him.
As far as enduros are concerned, as I mentioned in my previous posting, we can expect a lot more from Dougie.
The question you need to be asking yourself is can the young spanish lad live up to the legacy lampkin has achieved? answer possibly! reality = we shall wait and see and enjoy watching a new champion without discrediting previous champions
New Sacu Licence Fee
in UK Trials Talk
Posted
Thanks for your authoritive response John,
I personally don't want to demise the great work put in by the sacu and it's member/volunteers
Just keen to grasp the future direction of Motorsport,
And yes we do have a lot to learn so maybe have to make that long lonely trip down to a meeting,
Regards
Chris