Nigel Birkett

In an ever changing world it’s quite surprising where people end up and what they are doing. Off the back of a successful trials riding and development career, with periods as a works rider at Kawasaki, Suzuki, Montesa, Fantic and Yamaha, Broughton-in-Fur

Nigel’s pedigree for the importer’s job is second to none — just ask any trials rider. He has competed in the Scottish Six Days Trial from 1971 as a young trials rider competing on his home-built 128cc Suzuki, which he rode to 120th position. Along the adventure many years were spent competing in the World rounds, scoring points along the way including a second position in 1975 in Switzerland. He still remains the highest placed Suzuki rider ever in the World Trials Championship event. British Championship success was enjoyed, and the famous first win for a Japanese manufacturer at the 1984 Scott with Yamaha was recorded in the history books.

LIFE CHANGING DECISIONS

As his career tapered off in the early eighties, when he was supported by John Shirt Snr on the Majesty, his sponsor dropped a hint that Yamaha could have something, shall we say, a little different to offer the trials world. In February 1983 ‘Shirty’ called Nigel to see if he

would go to Japan to test the new machine for Yamaha and maybe he could become involved with the development. He was sworn to secrecy and had to sign a twenty-page confidentiality agreement before he could view the new trials machine. He knew from his previous experience with the Japanese at Kawasaki and Suzuki that producing trials machines was not their forte, but when he witnessed the new revolutionary machine it blew him away. It was the MonoShock Yamaha. He spent nine days testing four different variants of the new machine. The single rear shock absorber system would change the world of trials forever. Nigel would see out his last competitive years competing on the Yamaha but inside he knew he would need to secure future employment.

Ask Nigel any question concerning the Scorpa range and he will be certain to give you the correct answer. His spares department carries stock for all Scorpa models including the old SY models. TRIAL MAGAZINE

Nigel stands between the two Trial Magazine test riders, Nick Shield and Phil Disney, with the new orange Scorpa with the European engine in 2011.

The Yamaha engined SY models were absolutely bullet proof. With Nigel’s development experience over the years many riders have benefited from his knowledge to gain every ounce of power from the Japanese engines.