Observing
On behalf of everyone at Manchester 17 MCC Ltd, welcome to motorcycle trials, which is the friendliest and most social motorsport there is. Thank you to everyone who helped to produce this guide to motorcycle trials observing.
The Manchester 17 Motorcycle Club began in 1935 when two groups of motorcycle enthusiasts in suburban Manchester got together and decided to form a club. The club’s name comes from the number of riders at that first meeting. Since then they have been involved in most forms of mainstream motorcycle activity, from road runs and training to televised scrambles, from speedway to touring, rallies and road-racing.
John Hartle, from Chapel-en-le-frith, was a club member riding trials as well as racing at an international level. He was the second guy to lap the TT Course at over 100mph.
The club now runs more than a dozen trials every year, ranging from the ever-popular ‘Dead-Easy Trials’ to the national Dave Rowland Trophy and Northern Experts Trials, as well as the ever-popular Fisher Trophy Trial and the Hipwell/Hartle Trial.
Trials is a great sport to be enjoyed by everyone, from all aspects of life. The club gets riders from the ages of six to riders into their 80s and from
total beginners up to National level with many variations in between, including Youth classes and other age groups, Clubman, Twin-shocks, and Sidecars. They have local riders and those who travel long distances for the Manchester 17MCC trials, but they cannot do anything without those who run the trial and another set of vital helpers — the Observers. Maybe they’re riders or ex-riders themselves, putting something back into the sport. Or perhaps they’ve come with a family member or friend and find themselves with a clipboard in their hands! Some will know exactly what they’re doing, but others perhaps will need all the help they can get.
The purpose of this guide is just to give a gentle nudge in the right direction and help you get started the right way.
The idea of it all is to have fun and make new friends, and trials is great for both of those. Remember this article is only a guide, so come on, let’s dive in and get you started.
GETTING READY
Take a spare pencil or two and a rubber and something to sharpen them with; often these are provided on the Observer Board. Take weatherproof kit appropriate for the season: jacket, over-trousers, boots and thick socks and hat, and gloves that you can write in. Observe just once in lousy weather and the wrong gear, and you’ll understand!
Carry the extra kit to your section rather than wearing it on the walk in. There’s nothing worse than being all hot and sticky and then freezing in sweaty clothes. Put it on before the riders get there, as you might not get a chance later and it’s a lot easier to keep warm than get warm once you’re cold.
In the summer, take sun cream and something to keep the bugs away — and use it; also something to stop the itching if the bugs do get through. Take food and drink: hot, cold or whatever you want. The club may even provide something. Take it with you as your section could be half a mile away and it’s no use in the car!
CHECK THE MARKING/SCORING SYSTEM
The Manchester 17 MCC always use ‘Stop Allowed’ but some clubs or trials prefer No-Stop. Always check the rules before the riders appear, and be clear on this. Check what route markers are being used for each class. Manchester 17 MCC uses Red (right) and Blue (left) for the hardest route and usually White (right) Yellow (left), but it can be pairs of gates of the same colour.
GET TO YOUR SECTION EARLY
Walk through the section and check that all the markers are in place. Which route goes where, and does it make sense. Work out where you’re best positioning yourself so you can see it all. Can you see the ‘Begins’ and ‘Ends’ cards and any likely trouble-spots? Flat ground is best but make sure you’ve not chosen the likely landing spot for those who will try it flat out in third gear and fail big-time, wiping you out in the process.
BEFORE THE RIDERS ARRIVE
Please do not change the section or move the markers unless you absolutely have to, for example for safety reasons, or if they’ve clearly been pulled out. That’s the job of the ‘Clerk of the Course’ and their team, and they see the whole route and not just one section. Your section may look too easy or hard to you, but it could be that way for a reason.
When riders first arrive at your section, they will often try to ‘adjust’ it slightly. It’s okay to allow some limited kicking in the ground and polishing of the slippery surface before anyone has attempted the section, but once the section has been ridden, then it simply can’t happen. Try to stop riders moving rocks, filling holes and ruts.
Moving markers is plain cheating and must be dealt with firmly. Stop observing and reposition any marker you believe has been moved back to where it was originally. A marker moved just a few inches can make an impossible section easy and that’s not fair to those who have already ridden it.
THE MARKING SYSTEM: 0, 1, 2, 3 & 5
Scoring begins when the front axle passes the ‘Start’ gates and ends when it passes the ‘End’ gates. 1 mark is for putting a foot down once, more commonly known as ‘dabbing’. 2 marks are for putting a foot down twice. If the foot slides you decide but pivoting on one foot is okay, just a 1. 3 marks are for footing three or
more times. A 5 is given for leaving the route, missing a flag, moving backwards or falling off. If the rider puts both feet on the same side of the motorcycle, or dismounts and remounts, that’s a 5. They’re not allowed to cross their own tracks either. In a ‘Stop-Allowed’ trial they can stop, feet up. If they stop, have a foot down and take a hand off the handlebars that’s 5. If they put a foot down while stopped, that’s 1 for once, 2 for twice etc., as if they were moving. And if they get through the section without losing any marks, that’s a ‘Clean’ so put a 0 down. The motorcycle must remain within the intended limits of the section, or it’s a 5.
The only parts of the machine that can touch the terrain without penalty are tyres, footrests, engine casings and the skid plate. Strictly speaking, anything else: handlebars, elbows, boots, knees, helmet, face etc. and it’s marks lost. But was it intentional or accidental, and did they benefit from it, the observer will decide. Be strict but fair and always give the rider the benefit of any doubt.
Where possible, make sure you can see the rider’s number before they enter the section. Write the score down immediately they finish,
before anything or anyone else distracts you. Try not to let anyone argue with you against the mark you gave. Just mark what you observed and did you actually/definitely see it?
Misbehaviour can be recorded with a 10 if needs be. Above all, be consistent with everyone. Don’t let them rush you. Wave them in when you are ready or hold your hand up to say STOP! Don’t be afraid to call ‘Mind your backs/Clear the Section’ especially if someone is blocking your view.
WHAT IF…
If you think riders are taking too long watching other riders before trying it themselves, you can call them through. Start with the lowest numbers. Remember you’re doing them a favour by Observing not the other way around.
If a rider is uncertain about their ability to ride the section, they can ask for a five. Encourage them to try but not if they feel unsafe. It’s their neck, so it’s their call.
If a rider dislodges or moves something in the section and that makes the section unsafe you are okay to move it as you think best.
If a section marker gets moved, do your best to put it back where it was, if possible.
If they ride on or over marking tape or break it or a flag, it’s a 5, as is missing/riding outside a marker altogether.
If something happens that blocks a rider while in the section and it’s not their fault it’s called a baulk; they’re entitled to another attempt as long as they ask — don’t offer it. Any marks dropped up to the point where the baulk happened in the section still apply. Those marks are added to any further marks on the second attempt after that point.
If the engine stalls it’s not a 5 if the rider can get the motorcycle out of the section without footing. It’s the same if they can re-start the engine without footing or letting go of the handlebar with either hand.
If the engine stops and they simply roll out of the section feet up past the ‘Ends’ cards, it’s okay to give whatever their score was to that point.
GRADED HILL CLIMBS
Numbered cards will be alongside the section starting with 5 then 3, 2, 1 and finally 0, which is the ‘End’ marker. Give 5 for not getting to the 3 marker, 3 for passing the 3 but not getting to the 2 marker, 2 for passing the 2 but not getting to the 1 and 1 for passing the 1 but not the 0. Of course, a 0 for passing the 0. The rider can foot as much as they wish and only the last score marker passed by the front wheel spindle counts.
SIDECARS
Only the driver is allowed to foot, and if the passenger touches the ground, then it’s 5. Try to stand on the motorcycle side of the section. They can’t dab on the sidecar side, and two people and a motorcycle sidecar tend to block the crafty blindside dab!
REMEMBER THAT YOU’RE THE BOSS, JUDGE AND JURY
Rule 1: The Observer’s decision is final and unchallengeable. Rule 2: In the event of a dispute, refer to Rule 1.
Trial Magazine would like to thank both Ken Roberts and Rick Stewart from the Manchester 17 MCC Limited for providing this article.