Toby Martyn
Imagine shooting the rapids in a boat, trying to miss the rocks that could sink a career! This roller-coaster ride for one of Great Britain’s ‘hot’ motorcycle trials talents, Toby Martyn, now looks on track to deliver the potential of a well-deserved FIM Trial World Championship. It was announced in late 2019 that he would be moving to the Spanish manufacturer TRRS. After a successful youth career, the move into the adult world has seen the very lows. From having one hand on a world title, only then having it ‘snatched’ away in dramatic fashion at the very last hurdle through to injury, which has also played a part in this young man’s progress. As we enter 2020, Toby feels he is ready to win with a new machine and a new team. It was time for John Hulme to have a Cornish Pasty, and Toby Martyn a cup of tea, as we chewed the fat on the future of his chosen profession in motorcycle trials. In more recent times, the move to TRRS was a very closely guarded secret and a shock to many. More to the point, many onlookers thought that the step back to his first love with Beta in 2019 would pave the way for a future with the Italian manufacturer.
Why the TRRS?
If I am totally honest, in my opinion, 2019 did not deliver the results I wanted, and my head went down a little during the season. The deflation and lack of consistent results were maybe connected to the ‘shock’ of having the 2018 Trial2 world title taken away in such a fashion at the final section in the final round in Italy. With no world round wins in 2019, and dropping to fourth in the championship, it was time to take a good look at my direction in trials. I wanted a fresh start. After speaking with Jordi Tarres and Steve Saunders, I tested the TRRS, and it answered its own question for me.
In your voice you sound excited about the 2020 season!
That’s because I am excited! I wanted a fresh start, and that’s what I have. I understand 100% what I have to do this year, and with the experience that Jordi Tarres and Steve Saunders can bring to me, it’s totally down to me as an individual to deliver. Not just in the world championship but also the British one. The whole team image feels right for a young rider such as myself. When I tested the TRRS, they were more than happy to help me adjust to the Spanish machine, which confirmed in my mind that the decision to move was the correct one. I have witnessed the brand grow since its introduction in 2016, and it’s something I want to be a part of.
Right, down to your minder; it’s a new team this year.
I cannot speak highly enough of the opportunities I have already had in my short adult trials career, and I thank everyone who has ever helped me to get where I am today. Friendships last a long time and I especially want to thank Rudi Geiser from the RG Trials Team. It was Rudi who guided me on the way up the ladder; we are still good friends, and my family and I are eternally grateful for the year with him on the Montesa. For the last two years,
“…it was time to take a good look at my direction in trials. I wanted a fresh start.”
I have been kept safe and secure in the hands of Sam Decoux as my minder. He has been incredible, and I will always be grateful for the support he has given me. The team for 2020 will include my new minder, Matt Dixon. Matt has some world-round experience under his belt, and his mechanical knowledge is without question. We have worked really hard during the closed season to grow and work together as one.
Where will you be based in your preparation for the year ahead?
My time will be split between Europe, based mainly in Spain close to the TRRS factory, and Great Britain. Matt will be with me 24/7, and this will give him the opportunity to understand how I ‘tick’, if that is possible [he laughs] and also to get to know every nut and bolt on the TRRS.
To be the best you have to train with the best and I intend to spend as much time as possible with Adam Raga, the TRRS factory number one rider. Jordi Tarres will also be involved in my rider development, as will Steve Saunders in the UK. Without a doubt, the experience from these two trials legends has to be hugely positive for my future.
Daft question time; what are the goals for 2020?
The main focus has to be the FIM Trial2 World Championship as this is unfinished business, as you all know. It will be no easy task as, year on year, the rivalry becomes more intense. Just look at the quality of the riders and you will see why each round has so many potential winners. I have three years’ experience at this level, and 2020 is where the application and desire to win will be obvious to all who are watching at the world rounds. On my own admission, I under-performed in the 2019 ACU TrialGB British Championship. Yes, I proved I could win, with individual round victories, but the consistency to challenge for the title was not there. I am sure, with the support of Steve Saunders, I can change this.
Born on the 2nd June 2000 — a life in trials
Yes; literally the storyline of this is that the introduction was very much a family thing with dad, Tim, and mum, Kate. Dad has had the motorcycle blood from a very young age competing regularly up until I took over, and he devoted his spare time to me. Having so much fun with my dad is what memories are made from, on a variety of small motorcycles including a Yamaha PW 50, a Clipic 50 and a Gas Gas 50 automatic before many years riding the Beta where success came in the Youth British Championships.
Beta was your first love
First and foremost, I would like to thank everyone at Beta, both in Italy and here at Beta UK, for their support in the past and also during 2019. John Lampkin has been so supportive, and I can assure you that, without the likes of ‘Johnboy’ and Beta UK, this adventure would have been much different.
The Beta connection goes right back to my youth career as I progressed through the ACU British Championships and the superb YMSA trials run by the superenthusiastic Barry Burton and his team in Derbyshire. The first ACU youth title though came on the automatic Gas Gas 50cc as I won the Youth D class back in 2008.
“The main focus has to be the FIM Trial2 World Championship as this is unfinished business… it will be no easy task as, year on year, the rivalry becomes more intense.”
“These were fantastic times as I travelled the length and breadth of the country from the family home at St Agnes in Cornwall. Eight-hour road trips were normal to return home from events on Sunday evening, so I could be back at school on the Monday.”
You rode the Beta throughout your youth career
Progress was made through the C class on the Beta 80cc before moving to the 125cc Beta and the B class with support from Robin Martin through his RCM trials dealership. I took the title followed by the A class, which concluded my youth career in 2016. These were fantastic times as I travelled the length and breadth of the country from the family home at St Agnes in Cornwall. Eight-hour road trips were normal to return home from events on Sunday evening, so I could be back at school on the Monday. Mum used to literally pull me out of bed on Monday mornings, brush me off, put me in the school uniform and send me off to school! Dad reminds me on many occasions how he kept a check of the yearly mileage in the early days; in 2013, we covered more than 20,000 miles just travelling to and from events!
The early practice ground in Cornwall was homemade.
My dad was very fortunate that a local building site gave the family literally tons of soil to help build the ‘back garden’ practice area, essential to any young rider who cannot drive! Ex-British-Championship rider, Jason Lawer, donated some massive granite rocks from the family quarry to finish off the project, which allowed me the opportunity to practise whenever I liked. During the summer months, away from school, you would find me across the road riding on one of my favourite areas, near the cliffs.
To progress your career, you looked at the European championship
Talking to friends at the YMSA trials, it sounded like the place to be, and so in 2014, I competed in the top class of the Youth European Championship. It was trials on a different level as the standard was so high, and I found it quite difficult at first. After finding my feet in 2014, I won the title in 2015. As a family, we were over the moon, happy days indeed as a ‘Gypsy’ family travelling around Europe.
How did you cope with school and exams?
In both 2015 and 2016, it was a juggling act for both riding and schoolwork, made even more difficult with my birthday being in June. We had looked at competing in the 2015 FIM Trial125 championship, but this would have meant missing the early rounds. The decision was made to miss the championship and to start working with the 300cc Beta as soon the 2015 championships had finished, and concentrate on the move up to the adult class in the middle of 2016. I rode the 125cc in the first three adult British Trials Championships rounds while practising on the 300cc. It was a case of riding and finding my feet on the more powerful machine.
And school work?
I decided not to concentrate on any championships as I was also working hard at school, and I was reminded by my parents just how important school was for good exam results. I was happy at school and went through the process to get what I set out to do, and achieved good enough grades that my parents and I were happy with. With school out of the way, I got on the podium for the first time in my adult career ACU British Championship as I rounded off 2016.
You moved into the FIM Trial2 class in 2017
Yes, and it was also a move to the green Vertigo. Once again, I could not thank Beta UK and John enough, he has always been very good to the family and me, as I have already said. It was a move to another Lampkin, but this time Dougie, who I know needs no introduction, who was the UK importer for Vertigo and would be looking after the team.
TrialGP had introduced a new set of rules for 2017 that meant that you had to have a rider in the Trial2 class and the TrialGP class to contest the manufacturers’ championship. Vertigo would have Spain’s Jeroni Fajardo in TrialGP and me in Trial2.
A different level of riding.
It was a whole new game for me to understand, a class with so many potential winners. Would I be one of them? I asked myself. It was once again a learning year but a beneficial one.
The marks were so close; every loss mattered so much. Riding on home ground in Great Britain gave me the extra incentive with the crowd support for the podium, and I delivered on day two with a second place. It was a massive confidence boost for me, and at the last three rounds of the 2017 season, I set the quickest time in the qualifying. It was a very proud moment and one to finally taste the winner’s champagne in Italy as I hit the top spot; Vertigo’s first FIM World Championship victory. The team deserved this, and I cannot thank them enough for what they did for me in 2017.
A man in demand
Rudi Geiser owned the RG trials team based in Switzerland, which used the four-stroke Montesa. He had started to speak with my dad in Italy about trying a machine and offering me a contract for 2018. I was very impressed with the Montesa and the team, which would allow me to live in Spain near Barcelona, the ‘Hub’ of the world championship riders. The decision was made to move to the four-stroke Cota 4RT. My dad had reminded me of the time when my 2020 sponsor at TRRS Steve Saunders made the change from the two-stoke to four-stroke power at a very young age, and suddenly I was thinking of the move Toni Bou made from Beta to Montesa and the Cota 4RT.
A learning process!
Supplied with the production Montesa Cota 300RR, RG Trials Team would prepare my suspension settings as well as engine modifications to suit my riding. I was over the moon as the quick learning process on fourstroke power soon gave me the enthusiasm for the new season that I needed. It was time to move up a gear, and I would have a new minder, Sam Decoux. The year went well, despite a shoulder injury which required me to start wearing a support. By the halfway stage, I had dropped away from the leaders and needed to find some winning form. I duly delivered, with three consecutive wins which put me into straight into the fight for the title. The final round would be the decider.
Proud
This is how I would describe a very emotional day in Italy, proud! My main rival, Italian Matteo Grattarola, was in fantastic form parting with just two marks. I take nothing away from his performance. I, on the other hand, was, shall we say, having a bad day at the office. I held second position after the opening lap, with Spanish rider, Gabrielle Marcelli, in third. As he approached the final hazard on four marks lost to my score of nine, it looked like it was all over for me and the title had gone. I accepted that. All Marcelli had to do was clean the last section, and he would finish second in the trial. He rode into the final hazard and, after a pause, was awarded a ‘feet-up’ five by the observer, who held the board up and blew the whistle — and I was the 2018 FIM Trial2 World Champion. It was not to be. However, by the time Marcelli had finished the hazard, Matteo Grattarola was the 2018 FIM Trial2 World Champion. Would you believe it; the observer changed his mind. A strong patriotic Italian crowd had verbally remonstrated with the decision, and the observer had buckled under the pressure. I was gutted, to say the least, but I stood proud on the podium knowing what should have been!
Great expectations
2019 was not the season I wanted it to be and, for whatever reason, I did not achieve my goals. Going forward into 2020, I have set my sights on great expectations, and it’s down to me as an individual to deliver the results. The shoulder I had the problem with is good and does not need an operation, which is a huge relief, allowing me to continue my intense training schedule. The team is good, and the infrastructure to succeed is in place. To everyone who has made this possible, I want to say ‘thank you’.