City Trial is just streets ahead
By John Dickinson on 27th Sep 13
Theres a kind of holy grail for those trying to promote off-road motorcycling to the masses and it involves the concept of taking the sport to the people rather than attempting to lure people to the sport.
The closest you can normally get is by promoting an event in an arena, which works to a point.
But even the best-established indoor trials, motocross and the recently-introduced enduro events rely heavily, almost exclusively, on enthusiasts, probably travelling some distance to the events, rather than attracting the mythical Joe Public who live – millions of them – close to the majority of urban arenas.
There really is only one way to get the public educated and that way is almost impossible – and that is to take it right into their midst into the heart of a city centre where they will actually have to walk right past the show – or right through it!
Which of course is exactly what happened last Saturday, with the Red Bull City Trial which did a pretty good job of making Manchester's shoppers stop dead in their tracks – and then marvel at the skills on show.
This was the second year of the Red Bull City Trial and it had moved to a new, bigger, better and more populated venue and acquired a new format.
The series of head-to-head races, rather than having the accent on observed sections, is easier for the general public to understand – first past the post wins – and also generates much more excitement.
There was also the clever touch of incorporating the city trams into the course, making the experience more urban than ever.
Now, some of you may well say loudly, ‘But it's not trials!' And I actually heard this said on the day.
But that's not really the point.
The point is to show people who would never come across a trials event in their everyday lives, that such a sport exists.
And that it can be exciting – and skilful – and practised by very personable young guys who aren't going to mug their grannies.
The lads from abroad gave excellent interviews in English and endeared themselves to the ever changing audience.
Red Bull in turn provided an excellent event that cost relatively small-change in their promotional budget. An urban trial in Manchester as opposed to running two F1 teams over a season?
Yes, everything is relative but I reckon the City Trial gave value for money and their short video clip showed the excitement generated.
The real pay-off, for everyone, would be to roll the idea out to other major cities in Britain, Europe and world-wide.
Go for it...
