A real feast for 2009
By TMX Archives on 9th Apr 08
GREAT Britain is looking forward to a feast of World Championship Trials in 2009 as long as the current provisional calendars are given the thumbs-up at the FIM autumn conference. Inked in are Outdoor rounds in England and Northern Ireland PLUS the probable welcome return of the Sheffield Indoor to the World Championship calendar. In the eight-round World outdoor series, as well as the single day round in Cumbria, England on Sunday, May 17, which T+MX has previously announced, and for which reigning British trials champ Graham Jarvis is a principal, we learnt at the Irish world round last weekend that Bangor has been granted the opening round of the 2009 series and that it will be a two-day event. Yes, two full World Championship days on the weekend April 4/5!
The two-day format has been revived by the FIM with ONE two-day round allowed on each Continent. Hence Bangor has the kudos of the European dates quite an important coup is that and it will be joined by America and Japan. Last weekend's round, organised by the Lightweight Club in close harmony with the local North Downs council, was an unqualified success and the FIM will have no qualms about its decision to give the Irish the sole European two-day slot. Graham Jarvis and co-promoter of next year's round in England, John Kerwin, were over in Ireland to check out the organisation last weekend and while their rural Nord Vue venue in northern Cumbria can't match the Bangor venue for sheer beauty or on-the-spot facilities, Graham is confident that they will stage a world class trial with mega sections.
Meanwhile, the 2009 World Indoor series is being given some serious attention as overall control returns to the FIM after being contracted out to outside promoters. FIM Trials Commission representatives have been involved in a series of meetings with prospective promoters and are expected to come up with some fresh and exciting innovations to give the series a new impetus. All parties are well aware that interest has lapsed
drastically this year with the series reduced down to just five rounds and television presentation has hardly been dynamic. Avondale Management (Neil Crosswaite and Martin Lampkin) have been heavily involved in these discussions and there is every chance that their unique and successful presentation format will be adopted for the re-vamped series. As it stands, after opting out of the official series for several years, Sheffield will return to its former position as the first event in an eight-round championship.
The TBA round in France on February 14 is the subject of much speculation with a return to the Bercy Stadium in Paris on many people's lips but our information is that this date is actually destined for Toulouse. Although one of the smaller venues, Bernard Extripeau has traditionally staged exciting and spectacular events here.
There's even the possibility that the re-vamped series will be stretched to nine or 10 rounds yet with Sheffield setting the standard on Saturday, January 3!
PROVISIONAL CALENDAR 2009 WORLD TRIALS CHAMPS
Apr 4/5 Bangor, IRELAND
Apr 25/26 Canon City, USA
May 17 Nord Vue, nr Carlisle, BRITAIN
Jun 6/7 Twin Ring Motegi, JAPAN
Jun 21 Barzio Milano, ITALY
Jun 28 St Julia, ANDORRA
Jul 5 Alicante La Nucia, SPAIN
Sep 13 Andon, FRANCE
TRIAL DES NATIONS (Men & Women)
Sep 19/20 Darfo Boario Terme, ITALY
World Ladies Trials Champs
Jun 28 St Julia, La Rabassa, ANDORRA
Sep 13 Andon, FRANCE
WORLD INDOOR TRIALS CHAMPS
Jan 3 Halam FM Arena, Sheffield, GREAT BRITAIN
Jan 24 Palais des Sports, Marseille, FRANCE
Feb 8 Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona, SPAIN
Feb 14 venue tba, FRANCE
Feb 22 Bielefeld,
GERMANY
Mar 1 Nice, FRANCE
Mar 7 Forum di Assago, Milan, ITALY
Mar 14 Palacio de Deportes, Madrid, SPAIN