WORKS TRIALS BIKES

At the Ventoux Trial Classic in October, the WTB (Works Trials Bikes owners group), recently formed to preserve historical trials motorcycles, for the first time displayed four exceptional machines; some of them previously hidden from public view for decades.

On display were: Don Smith’s personal Bultaco Sherpa Type 27 – the multiple European Champion rode it to victory in the famous St-Cucufa trial in 1967; built by five-time French Trials Champion, Christian Rayer in 1971/72 (with help from the factory) was the Yamaha 360 prototype — it led Yamaha to eventually produce its famous TY model; Yamaha 250 OW 10 cantilever, as ridden in 1974 by Mick Andrews, won the Scottish Six Days and the French world round in Sancerre, before being ridden to second spot in the 1975 French championship by Christian Rayer — Christian attended the Ventoux exhibition; and Rob Shepherd’s works Honda RTL 360 was also on display — he rode it to fourth place in the 1979 SSDT before the machine was given to Belgium’s rising star Eddy Lejeune and eventually to Honda development rider Kiyo Hattori.

The WTB membership is now rapidly growing and comprises not only motorcycle owners but also former works riders, engineers, mechanics, journalists and historians of the sport from around the globe.