Even though it’s more than two years since I stopped writing a weekly colum
n – Centrally Speaking – for this Trials Central website, barely a weekend goes by without somebody asking me why I don’t write much now, or how they miss my columns and why don’t you write one about.....
Well, this is my first since early last October, but it doesn’t carry any earth-shattering news so give up now if you are expecting to learn something of interest.
I may not be writing much about our sport but in my word of motorcycling there has been a huge amount of interesting action. Over the past six weeks I have ridden a trial in Scotland, another nearer to home, been secretary for a club trial, observed at a British Championship round, travelled to Holland to watch the first round of the World Sidecarcross Championship and opening round of the European Quadcross Championship, spectated at The Tough One at Hawkstone Park, watched Moto GP and World Superbikes on the telly and also viewed the opening round of the Speedway GP series as well as the last round of the FIM Ice Gladiators world championship ice speedway series. And I’ve also been ACU Steward at the first round of the new Classic Enduro Championship over in Yorkshire and officiated at the Lomax. Phew! Mrs R must be very tolerant.
So where do I start? The Lakes MTA hosted the opening British Championship round just as they hosted the final round of the series in 2013. The weather wasn’t much better either as it rained hard for much of the morning before drying up a bit in the afternoon. Together with my daughter we observed the second section – I observed the score, she punched the rider’s card. (she had a happy knack of punching fives with a smile and a humorous quip).
It was a great section for entertainment; very difficult but by no means impossible and as near as it is possible to get to a genuine no-stop hazard, and to be fair to all the riders, they made genuine attempts to go no-stop until the majority had their compulsory five on the mega steep climbs that formed the final part of the section. It was a good day out, we both enjoyed ourselves and saw some great riding.
In comparison Stewarding at the Classic Enduro was a lot less interesting, but the event itself was ideal for the class of rider it was aimed at. The course was pretty easy and whilst the entry of classic bikes was small (just 22 as I recall) there were a load of supporting clubmen riding, many of who had never before ridden a timecard enduro. Why does this matter on a trials website? One of the real problems the sport has is trail riding by guys on big enduro bikes, which regrettably, due to the public’s obscure way of thinking all motorbikes are the same, gives our sport a poor impression amongst the general public. But get those same guys into an event and there’s a chance they’ll take to it rather than go trail riding where they are not wanted, and it also shows how poor a rider they can often be when faced with a proper event rather than a muddy track.
What else? Oh yes, the sidecar meeting in Holland at Oss. I was once reasonably proficient on a trials sidecar outfit (and once rode a 450 Kawasaki outfit in a short course enduro) so I can just about appreciate the requirements of thrashing a motocross chair round a track for 35 minutes at race pace. Together with four like-minded sidecar friends we went by road bike to the meeting for the weekend and had the pleasure of seeing British Champions Stuart Brown and his passenger Josh Chamberlain finish on the podium in race two. If I say that is a result comparable to British Trials Champion Michael Brown finishing third to Toni Bou and Adam Raga at a World Trial, you will have some understanding of the magnitude of their efforts. And Stuart is no spring chicken at 41 years. As for the quad racing, yawn – sorry lads.
So what else. Two trials have been ridden, one in Scotland, the Ian Pollock at Kinlochleven and a Barrow club trial. Both were great in their own way – the Barrow event came first and was the usual four laps of 11 sections whilst the Scottish event was two laps of 22 sections. The first was easy with no repercussions (apart from an abysmal first lap) whilst the second was physically demanding for a guy of my age and as a result of a gentle tumble on Blackwater, I’ve been in agony for the past three weeks with a bruised rib. Sympathy at home? Not a bit of it – “if you must go playing these silly games, you have to take the consequences” said her indoors.
TV biking has been pretty good too. The first Speedway GP from New Zealand produced a surprise result with German Martin Smolenski winning the final in what was his first GP ride for many years. Unlike his rivals he’s a less frequent competitor but shocked the sport and produced a totally unexpected result whilst Britain’s World Champion Tai Woffenden (sporting yet another ugly tattoo) simply wasn’t on form, though was riding injured.
The Tough One at Hawkstone was enjoyable but not that tough and certainly not extreme, and the loss of Nant Mawr Quarry is a real problem for the Wirral Off Road organisers who have enjoyed eight super tough years in mid Wales. Apparently it’s been sold so no more biking there.
Speaking with organiser Steve Ireland he pointed out that with Red Bull involvement now, so many other things have to be taken into consideration that mid-winter extreme events that may not attract quite so many spectators are not what the big sponsors want, so to some extent you have to take what is acceptable to those footing some of the bills rather than what you might like as a ardent enthusiast.
As regards the riding, David Knight was fantastic. Jonny Walker – himself a very good trials rider who regularly rode in club trials organised by my own club – was absolutely flying from the start with Knighter in hot pursuit. The Manxman then became entangled with some trackside rope and lost four or five minutes getting it cut out and to those spectating it seemed impossible that he could catch the flying Walker. But Knighter dug deeper than perhaps even he knew what reserves he had and slowly but surely clawed the lost time back until he eventually passed Walker and went on to win his sixth Tough One. A marvellous effort.
Being secretary for Good Friday brought its usual crop of niggles, primarily 71 riders and only six local observers in most cases unattached to the riders, which meant that some club members, expecting to ride had to observe. No real problem but I really would like to somehow sort out the frequent problem as an organiser to ensure that the results are accurate, which unfortunately is often not the case if riders are left to observe each other!!
So onto the Lomax which was a good S3 round in north Wales and a trial that I have not been to for many a long year. It was a fabulous ride out, with well marked, sensible sections and with a full 120 strong entry. It was very well organised, headed up by Brad Jones, an old pal of mine from my enduro days when he helped British Champion Geraint Jones to some of his 11 titles. In fact no criticism can be aimed at it – simply one of many good nationals held each Sunday up and down the country.
As I wrote at the beginning of this column, there is nothing of real interest but somehow I’ve managed over 1300 words but in just two weeks it’s the Scottish (Pre 65 as well) then the TT at the end of the month and then a road biking holiday to Italy and Sicily.
As I said, lots of bike happenings for those who enjoy all forms of motorcycling and can be bothered to ride, spectate or view them.