OBSERVATION
The process of generating articles for the magazine is one I constantly enjoy as I am sure you can imagine, as in many ways I am ‘Living the dream’ such is my love for motorcycle trials. For the young rider the opportunity to ‘Live the dream’ can be sometimes just a step too far. It’s a fact that the ‘Old School’ — and I use this term very respectfully — in both the Trial World Championship and the British Championship of late is getting ready for some new, fresh riders to raise their game and move into these cherished positions.
The FIM Trial World Championship is the pinnacle of the sport and one which every young ambitious rider aspires to, but how many actually get there? In truth Spain’s Jamie Busto is the only new Pro Class rider to have been able to move into the top sector of the championship as the regular top six or seven continue to be firm in their championship positions.
2017 could be different though, and many people involved in the sport including team managers, sponsors and organisers are waiting for this to happen as the sport needs to gather pace and move forward. Busto has the ability to finish on the podium and he is possibly the only new young rider capable of achieving this in 2017 together with maybe Jorge Casales who took to the podium in 2015 at the American round. This year we have Miquel Gelabert, Franz Kadlec, and Benoit Bincaz who have all tasted Pro class action and will want to improve. With James Dabill well established in the championship, as he has been for many years, he will have the new ‘kid on the block’ Jack Price joining him. The 2016 Trial2 class winner was very strong in the world championship and showed this with a very consistent year, taking seven wins. 2017 will be like starting again and he has secured a factory contract with Gas Gas and a host of personal sponsors to aid him in his quest for championship glory. Miquel Gelabert set the benchmark as a new rider in the Pro class in 2016, proving it can happen with some serious commitment, and Jack knows exactly what he has to do.
As for the British Championship we will have a new winner this year as the current champion James Dabill is committed to the Spanish national series. Our own championship has gone stale; it’s an undeniable fact. The organisers are working hard but maybe we need to look to the ACU for the answers, as afterall, they are the governing body. Yes, we have good strong entries but is it producing us another Dougie Lampkin? Based on so much hard ground-work by the youth series, which has given us the riders of today, I note we only have four rounds of the B,C, D and E classes in 2017. Let’s just hope we are not about to witness a void of talent coming through like we did many years ago.