Noassar Trial
In a year when the COVID-19 pandemic has restricted so many aspects of everyday life around the world, it was uplifting to hear of a motorcycle trials competition held in Spain, from a very good friend of Trial Magazine, Carlos Casas. We have been very privileged in the past to have visited the Noassar Park for the FIM Trial World Championships, and seen the more than 1,000 hectares of private trials-riding offering every type of terrain to be found in any trials competition.
Found in the valley of Camprodon, on the outskirts of the neighbourhood of Font Rubi, it is located in the welcoming and mountainous village of Camprodon in the province of Girona. The event was held over the two days of the 29th and 30th of August and promoted by the experienced Moto Club Olot, with support of an excellent results package from TrialGo. Competitors had the choice of competing over one or both of the two days, with the majority opting for the ‘Two Day’ option.
Leading the way in 2020 and joining Joan Ricart, Amos Bilbao and Alvaro Blazquez as the fourth winner of this event was Jaime Busto.
The event opened on the Friday with the exciting presentation of the new 2021 Vertigo
model. Between 16.00 and 20.00, riders came to sign on and collect their rider details. With displays of route maps and time allowances for each rider, the event certainly had a very professional edge to it. All the officials were briefed about the event, which would run under the no-stop rules. A time limit for Saturday of five hours, and four-and-a-half-hours on Sunday, plus 30 minutes would be applied to keep the riders moving.
It was very good to see that a few foreign riders had made the trip to enjoy the two days of the Camprodon event. With 200 riders entered, and 20 sections to complete on day one and 18 on day two there would be plenty of action. With such a large entry, five classes divided by coloured riding numbers were introduced to give riders of all levels of ability a good day’s riding.
ALL SEASONS
Trial Magazine has had an encounter of the severe rain that can affect this area first hand in the past, and on the Saturday, it was no different as torrential rain covered the trials area. In total contrast, on day two, the sunshine came out for the riders to enjoy a much better day’s competition. With 200 riders, supported by 50 registered fans also out on the course, they enjoyed the spectacular ride out on the route, found in all the areas of the Noassar Park.
BLACK ROUTE
Vertigo’s top rider, Jaime Busto, chose to compete in the event in preparation for his attack on the 2020 FIM Trial World Championship and put on an excellent display of riding. In truth, he was never challenged and, despite the severity of the hazards on this hardest of routes, he took a clear victory over the Montesa Talent School rider Pablo Suarez on the four-stroke by a clear 33 marks. In a distant third position was the Beta Trueba Trial Factory Team rider Gerard Trueba after a very challenging two days.
RESULTS: 1: JAIME BUSTO 21; 2: PABLO SUAREZ 54; 3: GERARD TRueba 84.
RED ROUTE
Once again, it was a Vertigo on top this time in the skilful hands of one of Spain’s latest trials talents Pau Martinez. The hazards were still very testing in severity in this class, and it
turned into a close battle between Great Britain’s Alexz Wigg and Saturday’s leader Francesc Recio.
The 2019 European Youth Champion Pau had to use all his young skills on day two to overtake both Recio and Wigg for a well-deserved victory, with the top three positions separated by only a handful of marks. It was also good to see the female Vertigo rider Berta Abellan come home in 11th position amongst some outstanding male riders. RESULTS: 1: Pau Martinez 22; 2: Alexz Wigg 26; 3: Francesc Recio 27.
BLUE ROUTE
On this ‘middle’ route who would have believed that the top three results would go all the way to the wire! The top three finishers were obviously very evenly matched in their abilities, but in the end, it was the nerve of Santi Serra which held to the end for the closest of victories.
RESULTS: 1: Santi Serra 35; 2: Claudi Obrado 37; 3: Miquel Bemrejo 39.
GREEN ROUTE
Introducing the green, and also the yellow route, made for a much easier time for the trials enthusiasts who just enjoy riding their motorcycle. You can still be very competitive without the worry of attempting hazards beyond your ability. It still turned into a very competitive two days though as Javier Serra held a ten-mark advantage over Marc Catafel, who won the family battle over Jordi.
RESULTS: 1: Javier Serra 41; 2: Marc Catafel 51; 3: Jordi Catafel 54.
YELLOW ROUTE
Once again this was aimed at an easier level of riding from the green route, but it still supplied a good competitive two days of riding. Once you get on the podium, you just want more and the very young and able Angel Llopis has already made this journey in the Spanish Junior B Championship. He repeated this good form at the two days of Camprodon with a convincing, clear victory over Marino Galilea. RESULTS: 1: Angel Llopis 21; 2: Marino Galilea 77; 3: Jose Polomino 95.
2021: TWO DAYS OF CAMPRODON TRIAL, WHY NOT?
Here we have listed some excellent reasons to compete in the 2021 Two Days of Camprodon Trial; or why not come all year round for a family holiday?
VENUE: NOASSAR PARK CENTRE EXPERIENCE
Noassar Park Centre Experience has everything motorcycle trial lovers need to look for when they want to practice their favourite sport. With more than 1000 hectares of a private and fenced trial area in the valley of Camprodon in the heart of the Pyrenees of Girona, inside you will find streams, roots, slopes, rocks and every obstacle you can imagine ready to be ridden.
HOTEL: PUIG FRANCO
To make a truly memorable event, why not stay at the on-site Hotel Puig Franco? It is located less than a hundred metres from Noassar Park. The 18 cosy and rustic rooms are dedicated to some of the greatest riders of all time such as the world champions Toni Bou, Jordi Tarres, Martin and Dougie Lampkin, Laia Sanz and Emma Bristow, to mention a few. In the hotel is the restaurant ‘Mitic’ waiting to offer you a memorable gastronomic experience, and amongst the other main facilities are a spa, swimming pool and relaxing areas.
THE FINAL WORD: ALEXZ WIGG
“I have ridden all over the world in so many different events, but the Two Days of Camprodon Trial rates very highly amongst the best. I arrived early on Friday for the presentation of the 2021 Vertigo model launch, which was so good to see before we signed on in the early evening.
“The heavens opened on day one, but the organising Moto Club Olot took it all in their stride, and the excellent TrialGo results service had the results up in no time at the end. This new way of observing is more reliable and definitely the way to go for the future.
“On day two, as the sun shone through, I tried so hard to win, but up against the young talent that is Pau Martinez; I was beaten by a much fitter rider.
“With both days offering a good ride out of around 15km the whole experience of this trial is one I would most certainly endorse, and I recommend it to any trials enthusiast.”