Hugo Jervis
Travelling to so many world championship trials has one of the best rewards anyone can have — the making of new friends. I have been very fortunate to make so many over the last 40-odd years of travel. It’s so encouraging for the sport when new faces are recognised and to see them ‘Living the Dream’. Some riders just want to keep raising their level of ability. One of those new faces in 2017 was Hugo Jervis from Wales.
Supported on his travels by his father Adrian and girlfriend Zoe, he had come to my attention with his determination on the very competitive FIM World Championship stage. He knew he was never going to be world champion, but wanted to find a true level of his own ability and enjoy mixing it with the very best. There is no better place to do that than at the very cutting edge of the sport of motorcycle trials, as we are about to find out.
So, you want to be a FIM Trial World Champion?
At a very young age, this was a dream I used to have, however, as I matured, the dream did too. It may sound crazy, but it became just about being as good as I could be. I love riding and competing on a trials motorcycle; the atmosphere, friendship and camaraderie from the people associated with the sport is beyond belief. Only a few riders go on to make it into the elite group in the FIM World Championship; I wanted to get to know the riders who pursue to live the dream and what makes them so good. The plan is to join this elite group. Travelling as a huge family, I wanted to find my true level of ability and improve on it – oh, and also to have some fun!
Were you born with motorcycle trials in your blood?
Correct and to the point; Welsh trials blood with a strong will to succeed. I come from near Llanidloes in Mid Wales, which is perfect for trials with plenty of areas to ride and practice. My father, Adrian, even created an arena-style practice area at home which proves just how
“I love riding and competing on a trials motorcycle; the atmosphere, friendship and camaraderie from the people associated with the sport is beyond belief.”
keen he is! He and my uncle had competed in trials and enduros, and so, as with many parents, it was a natural progression for me to ride a motorcycle at a very young age. In my case, it was a little Champ 50 automatic scrambler in 2001 before getting my first trials machine which was – yes, you guessed it – a Yamaha TY 80 in 2003. It came from Juan Knight in the Isle of Man.
Based where you lived, you had to travel to compete
I first started to compete when I moved to an 80cc Gas Gas in 2007, but this was only in local club events. I then moved to a 125cc Gas Gas in late 2009 as I made my way up to the ACU Youth Championships. Travel increased as I headed into my teenage years. Many of the championship rounds were scattered around the UK. We soon became friends with so many of the other families. As well as my family, other significant sources of encouragement came from local legend Steve Plain and the Roberts family. Even from a young age, ‘Plainer’ has always been great to me. He has helped me massively with mechanical and technical know-how as well as gathering support from companies. I want to thank him for that.
Did you enjoy your youth career?
I have always loved riding trials. From an early age, this came from riding with my mates and family, which always made it good fun. It soon progressed from local centre rounds to the Welsh championship rounds and then to British championship rounds where I started in my last year of B class. I realised then that I wanted to ride at a higher level. Seeing the calibre of rider at these youth rounds made me want to get better and up my game. I guess this what started my journey.
Another great thing about these rounds is making friends with the country’s top riders. As mates, you can train and compete against which helped me improve further.
Where and when was your first FIM World round?
The idea of going to the world rounds came from Iwan Roberts Snr. He encouraged me to ride my first in the Great Britain FIM World round in the FIM 125 class at Carlisle in 2013. It was another point I realised how much I loved riding at this level and in front of the crowds. Off the back of this event, my dad took me out to a European round in Italy in 2014. It is where all the European adventures began.
European Adventures – tell us a little more about the early days?
The first European round I competed in was right up in the mountains in Alagna Valsesia – a town in northern Italy. Other European rounds were in places like Germany, France, Switzerland and the Czech Republic. I ended up in an ambulance there one weekend after doing my AC joint in practice. Dad wasn’t too happy having to drive there and back, not even having competed! I was in too much pain and too disappointed to think about it. Aside from that, the Europeans are a great way into the trials scene as they’re very relaxed and mainly about fun.
You have unlimited practice two days before the trial, which means lots of time to ride with new people from all over Europe. Most people stay at the trial in vans, so there is always some fun in the evenings too.
I’ve met some great people and had some real fun at the ‘Euro’ rounds. Oh, and the driving isn’t too bad once you’ve taken the plunge! We usually leave on a Wednesday evening from home and would arrive in say Italy for example on the Thursday night or Friday morning, depending on how much we stopped. One thing I would like to say about the Euros is a thank you to the ACU Under23 development squad – Mick Wren at the time – for all their help and support with costs in doing these rounds, it really helped me to get started.
You now had more experience of trials in general?
The experience and confidence I gained from going to these European rounds and riding at this sort of level was so good for my riding, and it did start to show. In 2015 and 2016, I was more or less at the top-15 level in the British champs expert class. In 2017, after the extra challenge of the European rounds, I had moved up a level. I established myself in this class. In a lot of the 2017 rounds, I was now pushing for the podium. Then, at the last round of the year in Scotland, I got one. In the same year, I decided to start doing a few world rounds in the Trial2 class. This was really for a new challenge as the world championships are just that bit harder and more competitive than the Europeans. I thought it was a transition to make after starting to get in the top 15 at the European rounds. I can tell you as a fact that it’s much harder to do at the world rounds!
In 2018 you moved from Beta to TRRS
It was not to say the Beta wasn’t a good machine, because it was. I also owe a huge thank you to John Lampkin at Beta-UK.
His support during my years on the Italian machines extends to all his guidance that helped me to be confident at the BTC scene and bring out my potential. It was more a case
of having a change to bring about some more improvement. The TRRS is a great machine too; I felt very at home on it as soon as I first tested one.
The overall package is of such a high standard; one you can compete on to a high level.
Steve Saunders has also been great to me since I joined TRRS in 2018, giving great support to me in the UK. The TRRS factory team are great at world rounds too as they are always there to help in any way they can. It has been a great experience working with people like Jordi Tarres and Adam Raga at the world rounds. Adam even let me borrow some knee pads at one round when the rules around them first came into play! So a big thank you to the whole TRRS team.
At the 2018 WTC, apart from Japan, you did a full European season
Yes, 2018 was an excellent year for me as it was the first time doing the full European series of the WTC. I travelled to so many amazing countries over the year, and you just make so many memories travelling around competing like this; that’s why I love it so much really. Competing in these events feels special; riding in front of the crowds and with such high-class riders is great. Then in between rounds, on consecutive weekends, for example, you’re just travelling around Europe with your mates. This year was a pretty expensive one for us as, I would say, each round probably costs around £1,000. When you look back, it’s so worth it, and I know my dad agrees.
Did you repeat the season the following year?
2019 was pretty much the same schedule as 2018 just without doing one round in Portugal as I rode in the Manx Two Day Trial with a big group of mates – that’s another cracking event! After doing so many of the rounds in 2018, it would have been hard to not do it again in 2019 as it was just such a great experience.
I think you need a couple of seasons to get into it as it is very different from British events. Like the qualifying for example; it’s such a hard thing to get right, and it’s a big battle to get comfortable with the one chance, go fast but not too fast – but still with a quick approach.
I think 2019 was better for me. Because I was more comfortable with the whole event, and being supported by some great people, I was able to focus more on my riding. I am very fortunate to have my dad and my girlfriend Zoe, or dad’s girlfriend, Jacqui, at every round; they all help me to be able to prepare in the right way to ride. Also, my mum, Sue, and stepdad, Martin, usually come over to watch at one of the world rounds, so it’s nice when they’re supporting too.
Was the 2020 FIM Trial World Championship season on the agenda?
The WTC was definitely on the calendar again this year. I was going to maybe do one less round just because of how the calendar fell and having to balance a full-time job alongside the trials career. Life gets pretty busy at times! Hopefully, once it’s safe to do so, we can salvage something of the season, and I’ll see you at some WTCs later in the year — fingers crossed.
How expensive is it to compete at this level of riding?
Well, as I mentioned earlier, I would say on average it’s roughly £1,000 per round, maybe a bit more depending on how far it is or how long we’re away for. We live in the van which we (mainly my dad) converted into a ‘race van’ as it keeps the costs lower. I like it this way though, as I like being part of the paddock in amongst the atmosphere. Dad has put an awful lot into my trials career over the years, and I can’t thank him enough for everything it’s allowed me to do and experience. I would also like to thank everyone who’s supported me through the years so far in any way as ‘every little helps’ as they say; it really has helped me ‘live the dream’ so far.
What does your future hold in trials?
I competed in the SSDT in 2014 on the 125cc Gas Gas and again in 2017 on the 250cc Beta. I love the ‘Scottish’, but it was put on hold to help fund the world rounds. I will pick up on my enjoyment in this event hopefully in 2021.
I have ridden the Scott every year since 2015, and I am still on the hunt for that elusive Scott silver spoon but getting closer every year. I just need a relatively trouble-free year, and I’ll be there!
In the adult BTC, I competed in the Expert class from 2014 to 2017, finishing sixth overall in 2017. I then moved up to the Championship class for 2018 and 2019. I really enjoyed the challenge of it. I felt it helped raise my game a lot. However, due to that class becoming less popular, and the new Trial2 class becoming so competitive, I thought this would be a nice change for 2020. I am hoping to be able to feature at the high end in this class over the coming years. Hopefully, the European adventures will be able to continue for a few years yet as well.
Tell us about your best ride at FIM World Championship level?
One of my best rides for me would be at Tong, the British world round in 2017. I think it was the fact that there were so many British supporters there that day and a lot of mates from home watching and shouting, which made it extra cool! I seem to remember feeling good that day too, so let’s go with that. I think there are good points from most rounds really, but the more I do, the more I want to do better. I know I’ve got it in me, so it’s easy to be critical.
And to close, what was your favourite memory from the FIM World Championship?
To be honest, I don’t think I could pick just one. Just the memories of the events and the travelling as a whole are what I love about it. The amazing places that I am lucky enough to ride in, the laughs we have with mates and travelling the world with friends and family; it’s all pretty special. Before we close, I’d just like to reiterate my utmost thanks to everyone; sponsors, friends and family who have supported me and continue to support me in my trials career. Thank you.