Motorcycle trials

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Motorcycle trials, also termed observed trials, is a non-speed event on specialized motorcycles. The sport is most popular in the UK and Spain, though there are participants around the globe.

Trial motorcycles are distinctive in that they are extremely lightweight, lack seating (they're designed to be ridden standing up) and have suspension travel that is short, relative to a motocross or enduro motorcycle.

1 Characteristics
2 World Trials Champions
- 2.1 Outdoor Series
- 2.2 Indoor Series
3 See also
4 External links
- 4.1 Clubs
- 4.2 Publications

[edit] Characteristics

A 2000 Beta Rev 3

The event is split into sections where a competitor rides through an obstacle course while attempting to avoid touching the ground with the feet. The obstacles in the course may be of natural or constructed elements. In all sections, regardless of content, the designated route is carefully contrived to test the skill of the rider. In many local observed trials events, the sections are divided into separate courses to accommodate the different skill level of riders, who compete in skill-rated classes.

In every section, the competitor is scored by an observer (hence the sport's name) who counts how many times the competitor touches the ground with the foot (or any other part of the body). Each time a competitor touches the ground with a foot (commonly called "dabs" or "prods"), the penalty is one point.

The possible scores in each section consist of 0, 1, 2, 3, or 5. If a competitor makes his or her way through the section without touching the ground with a foot, a score of 0 (called "cleaning the section") is earned. If he or she touches the ground only once, the score of 1 is earned. If he or she touches down twice, the score of 2 is earned. If he or she touches the ground three times or more, the score of 3 is earned, as long as the section is completed without stalling the motor, dismounting, going out of bounds or going backward. If the competitor fails to complete the section a score of 5 (sometimes colorfully called "a fiasco") is earned. The winner is the competitor with the least points at the end of the event. Some events are also timed with penalty points assessed to late riders.

There is a world indoor and outdoor championship, as well as indoor and outdoor national team "world cups" (Trial des Nations). British competitor Dougie Lampkin is notable for winning seven world outdoor titles in the 1990s and 2000s. Previous observed trials greats include Northern Ireland's Sammy Miller (1960s), Finland's Yrjo Vesterinen (1970s), Spain's Jordi Tarres (1980s and '90s). The current indoor and outdoor world champion is Adam Raga from Spain.

In addition to the world championship events, there are other major events, such as the Scottish Six-Day Trial (SSDT) and the Scott Trial.

Major current manufacturers of trials bikes are Gas Gas, Beta, Sherco, Montesa Honda, and Scorpa. In the past there have been many manufacturers, from countries such as Spain, Japan, Britain and Italy - see List of motorcycle manufacturers.

v • d • e

Current Motorcycle Trials manufactures

Beta · Gas Gas · Montesa · Sherco · Scorpa

Classic classes exist for vintage bikes. Classes include pre-1965 or -1967 motorcycles (typically British), as well as newer vintage events for observed trials motorcycles with two rear shock absorbers. In most cases, twin-shock motorcycles were manufactured before 1985 and are typically Japanese or Spanish. A recent addition has been a class for aircooled monoshock bikes, this covers machines up to around 1990.

A competition event is called an "observed trial" or "trial" (not plural), unless referred to as an "observed trials event." A newer name for the sport, MotoTrial, is gaining popularity, but is far from universally used or accepted.

[edit] World Trials Champions

[edit] Outdoor Series

Year	Name	Machine	Notes
2006	Adam Raga	Gas Gas
2005	Adam Raga	Gas Gas
2004	Takahisa Fujinami	Honda
2003	Dougie Lampkin	Montesa HRC
2002	Dougie Lampkin	Montesa HRC
2001	Dougie Lampkin	Montesa HRC
2000	Dougie Lampkin	Montesa HRC
1999	Dougie Lampkin	Beta
1998	Dougie Lampkin	Beta
1997	Dougie Lampkin	Beta
1996	Marc Colomer	Montesa
1995	Jordi Tarrés	Gas Gas
1994	Jordi Tarrés	Gas Gas
1993	Jordi Tarrés	Gas Gas
1992	Tommi Ahvala	Aprilia
1991	Jordi Tarrés	Beta
1990	Jordi Tarrés	Beta
1989	Jordi Tarrés	Beta
1988	Thierry Michaud	Fantic
1987	Jordi Tarrés	Beta
1986	Thierry Michaud	Fantic
1985	Thierry Michaud	Fantic
1984	Eddy Lejeune	Honda
1983	Eddy Lejeune	Honda
1982	Eddy Lejeune	Honda
1981	Gilles Burgat	SWM
1980	Ulf Karlson	Montesa
1979	Bernie Schreiber	Bultaco
1978	Yrjö Vesterinen	Bultaco
1977	Yrjö Vesterinen	Bultaco
1976	Yrjö Vesterinen	Bultaco
1975	Martin Lampkin	Bultaco	Title becomes "World Trials Champion"
1974	Malcolm Rathmell	Bultaco
1973	Martin Lampkin	Bultaco
1972	Mick Andrews	Ossa
1971	Mick Andrews	Ossa
1970	Sammy Miller	Bultaco
1969	Don Smith	Montesa
1968	Sammy Miller	Bultaco	Title becomes "European Trials Champion"
1967	Don Smith	Greeves
1966	Gustav Franke	Zündapp
1965	Gustav Franke	Zündapp
1964	Don Smith	Greeves	Title becomes "International Trial Master"

[edit] Indoor Series

Year	Name	Machine
2007	Toni Bou	Repsol Montesa HRC
2006	Adam Raga	Gas Gas
2005	Adam Raga	Gas Gas
2004	Adam Raga	Gas Gas
2003	Adam Raga	Gas Gas
2002	Albert Cabestany	Beta
2001	Dougie Lampkin	Montesa
2000	Dougie Lampkin	Montesa
1999	Dougie Lampkin	Beta
1998	Dougie Lampkin	Beta
1997	Dougie Lampkin	Beta
1996	Marc Colomer	Montesa
1995	Marc Colomer	Beta/Montesa
1994	Marc Colomer	Beta
1993	Tommi Ahvala	Aprilia