Riders work to rule
By TMX Archives on 28th Jan 10
SO, were the changes to the radical new indoor observing rules a success in Marseilles, following universal criticism when they were introduced in Sheffield? Basically, the answer is yes. Obviously, those riders for whom they worked against still have criticisms. But there again they always will. Whatever rules you run with, someone is going to lose out so don't ever expect all the riders to agree to all the rules!
I'm with the FIM on what they are trying to do – which is to come up with a FAIR solution to a tricky problem. The fact is that over the past couple of years crowds were deserting World Indoor Championship trials like the plague. They had got stale and boring and the alternatives were to stop – or to bring about change.
The FIM opted to bring about change – and has discovered that there is no easy fix. Those who just want to go back to straighforward observing rules – and that includes some riders as well as pundits – are missing the point. Without change the series was dead in the water.
The FIM is trying to bring about a system that keeps the observed sections to the forefront. There is a big argument for making more of the dual lane races. But if the end result is all about speed then it is no longer an indoor trial. It would be relatively easy to include three or more dual lane races. It ought to be exciting (although riders have invented many ways of NOT racing each other) but it would no longer be trials.
With Qualifying, a Last Chance Qualifier, a Semi-final and a Final the format is actually no more complicated than for Indoor Supercross, or Enduro. The fact is that at each stage riders are eliminated. In order NOT to get eliminated each rider has to do his best at all times. What's wrong with that? If you screw-up in Qualifying you have the LCQ. Whatever happens SOMEONE is going to get eliminated. This is the nature of the competition. The new system is not perfect and there are still tweaks to be made. Time alone will tell if it can save the World Indoor Champs.
Oh: As I stated in a recent page three column, the riders ‘threat' of a strike in Marseilles was never, ever, going to happen.
Whatever rules the events run under the Indoors represent one of their very few chances of a pay-day.