Costa Brava Two Day
The attraction of some quality trials-riding time in late November once again proved as popular as ever to the rapidly growing classic trials rider calendar. Despite the fact that the well-established Costa Brava Two-Day event in S’Agaro at Platja de Sant Pol, Sant Feliu on the Costa Brava in Spain, is at the back-end of the year, it had still attracted a large influx of 453 starters from far and wide. Spread across the nine classes, they were all welcomed into the popular holiday destination.
The ease with which you can compete in the event, arriving either by airport or road, has a swarm of vans carrying machines and hire cars carrying people who appear ready and assembled for the 8.15am start on the Saturday. With the start area and secure paddock to house the machines included in the grounds of the trials headquarters at the S’Agaro Spa Hotel, it becomes a motorcycle trials paradise for both riders and followers, people with a passion born from a love for and association with motorcycle trials.
Long-time friendships reacquainted, and new ones formed, everyone visiting enjoys the social aspect of the trials world.
The 2018 event had concluded in very difficult weather conditions as unprecedented strong winds and rain battered the exposed location on the second day. In all honesty, some of the hazards had been far too difficult; a situation made even worse as the rain came down. The usual dusty tracks had turned into very testing rivers as the water level rose beyond belief, and some of the more exposed rocky headland sections had to be abandoned.
When we arrived at the 2019 event on Thursday evening, the weather was very cold, and a light rain shower had dampened the area but not the enthusiasm of the organisers.
Joan Comas and his family of supporters from The Moto Club 2d Trial Costa Brava were quick to point out the local weather forecast had predicted a dry weekend, a little overcast but no rain and some very welcome sunshine. The smile on Joan’s face and the translation from his son, Nils, confirmed that he would be correct.
A class for everyone
After listening and taking on board the comments from the 2018 event, the organising team had made suitable adjustments to the nine available classes aimed at catering for riders and machines of all abilities. There were four routes defined by colours; red (hardest), blue, green and yellow (easiest). In truth and for obvious reasons, yellow is the one which attracted the most riders; you can ride on almost anything as long as it’s a twin-shock motorcycle.
In the groups of hazards, some areas are just for the yellow route, giving the section-marking team an easier task than having to put different colour markers all over the place which ends up being confusing for everyone.
For the first time since I had attended this event a few years ago, the organisers arranged the loan of a machine from Montesa, the superb Cota 4Ride, to allow me to embrace the atmosphere of the event and its magnificent location.
Day one
Friday night’s walk back from one of the local restaurants had been a very cool one as the cold wind blew in from the sea. Drawing the curtains back at the hotel the following morning, Saturday was welcomed by a cold but fine day. A quick check on the weather forecast showed sunshine later in the day, which was a welcome relief.
After my good friend, Trevor Bennet, had filled me up with fuel, with camera equipment in my rucksack, I was away.
For the first time in the short history of the event, the organisers had introduced a scanning system to record the riders’ scores. It would work via the rider’s number board, which was supplied by the organisers and which carried a unique type of bar code. As each rider came down the starting ramp, the board was ‘scanned’. It enabled the organisers to provide a ‘live’ scoreboard. Also, for the rider’s safety, it would record their progress around the course.
As I was on the Montesa, I was able to enjoy being a part of the event, and I was soon enjoying the banter with the riders. It was so good to see the hazards, which have some very spectacular locations overlooking the superb Costa Brava coastline. In my opinion, the various hazards on the different routes looked quite good and very rideable. What was interesting was the rider feedback at the hazards. The grip level from the rocks far exceeded what many of the English riders were expecting.
On day one, I focussed mainly on the red, blue and green routes and, watching the exploits of these riders, confirmed what high-level riders we now have in the classic trials. The terrain between the hazards is quite testing. Bearing in mind, I was on a modern machine with excellent suspension, superb brakes and a big comfy seat!