MIND GAMES
After experiencing a serious back injury earlier in the year, my journey back into the world of competitive trials has been nothing short of a struggle. I was ready this year, ready to push, but this unexpected setback tested not only my physical resilience but, more significantly, my mental game in returning to the demanding rhythm of the sport. Physically, I’ve never been in better shape; countless hours of rigorous training and rehabilitation have sculpted me into the fittest version of myself. However, the mental aspect proved to be a huge challenge.
My own expectations weighed heavily on my shoulders as I sought to regain my competitive edge. Returning towards the end of the season, when fellow riders were well-accustomed to the demands of the sport, made it increasingly hard to return where I left off.
I am gutted to have been unable to achieve my third title as the ACU Trial GB British Champion. It felt great to achieve first place and stand proud on the podium’s top spot at Summerbridge in the last round of the ACU British Championship.
Standing on that top step allowed me to start feeling my normal self again; it is a position I am determined to reclaim definitively in the upcoming year.
A pivotal moment in my journey back to competing arrived at Vertolaye in France during the last round of the FIM World Championship. It was there that I finally felt like my former self and achieved a seventh-place finish, just nine marks shy of the podium. This achievement was a significant milestone for both myself and the team. It enforced our belief in our potential, fuelling our confidence for the forthcoming season, where we aspire to reach even greater heights. While I may not have secured a higher championship standing due to missed events, that final round in Vertolaye was a big confidence boost and has motivated me more than ever.
The setbacks may have been unexpected this year, but the determination to rise above them and become stronger to achieve higher continues to grow more than ever.
Keep your eyes open and give me a cheer – Toby ‘Mush#212’ Martyn