A weekend of Rich pleasure
By TMX Archives on 30th Jul 08
As we kick-off our new-look T+MX we have a tremendous amount of off-road sport action to pass on to you, our readers
AND we have just ticked-off yet another cracking weekend of off-road sport on the jam-packed 2008 events calendar! The return of Foxhill gave British motocross a tremendous boost with a fantastic spectator turnout for the return of big-time motocross with Maxxis British Championship at the ever-popular Swindon venue. Motocross is of course easily the top off-road spectator sport, while the more prosaic pastime of trials is naturally much more of a participant sport. And equalling Foxhill's fantastic success in its own equally successful way was the Richmond Three-day Trial, staged in the heart of God's own county – Yorkshire that is!
The Richmond Three-day is everything that trials should be all about – it works on so many levels. Firstly it provides just about the ultimate trial – a three-day weekend for over 200 competitors. Secondly it is a fantastic social occasion bringing together riders, officials, friends and families and last but not least it is an excellent event that benefits the local, rural community of Reeth and Grinton.
Local businesses are involved so that they benefit while the landowners, farmers and local dignitaries are invited to the meal and associated fun and games on Friday night. That's a full, sit-down meal for 400 people in the marquee!
The whole show epitomises what local events should be all about and virtually every club in the land could benefit from copying the Richmond model. Instead of fighting the local community, Richmond learnt long ago that the way to success is to include it. They work tirelessly to provide funds for local organisations, through the Scott Trial Charities, and everyone benefits. It is truly a win – win situation and hats-off to the Richmond guys and gals.
So we have the very best of MX and trials on a single weekend.
On top of Foxhill and Richmond we also had two brave attempts to make a success of trials as a spectator sport. In the north, was the revived British Experts Trial with British champion Graham Jarvis heading-up the organisation while in the south the North Berks club, with Stu Robinson at the helme, let fly with their Bonanza Supertrial. Two similar events but with different aims. Graham was using the Experts as a trial run for the World Championship event he has scheduled to run at the venue next year. The Berks guys and gals were attempting to spread the trials word in the local community around Didcot. Both events were aimed at spectacular riding and both achieved their aim.
Being honest, trials is never ever going to rival MX as a spectator draw but events like the Experts and the Bonanza certainly have their place and both promotions can be built upon.
LAST week I had the pleasure, and honour, of spending a morning with David Thorpe, four times World motocross champion. The occasion was Dave's official ‘unveiling' as CCM team boss for their exciting Grand Prix project, as you will have already seen on page 3 of this issue.
David is the absolute epitome of a professional sportsman. At the age of 46 his fitness and mental levels shame so-called pros 20 years his junior. David's three world MX titles were more than enough to ensure his place in the MX hall of fame but that fourth crown, the World Vets title, that he picked-up last year was the perfect testament to his enthusiasm and tremendous work ethic. If have the aspiration to becoming a professional sportsman then David Thorpe is your role model. End of.
The exciting CCM dream of re-entering the MXGP paddock in 2009 with spotlights lit and airhorns blowing is now very much up and running. And with Dave Thorpe in charge CCM is going to enter the paddock in considerable style. The International MX world really will sit-up and take notice. Dave is fully committed to this new project in his life and really looking forward to the challenge. Always committed to the Union Jack as his sterling MX des Nations performances prove, Dave will give the proverbial 110 per cent to the project and will use his unique and considerable influence, in the nicest possible way of course, to give the re-born CCM squad its best possible chance of success.
T+MX is behind this project all the way, just as we were back in the day when the legendary ‘Sabden Warrior' Bob Wright and co waved the flag on the World's GP circuits on the old BSA-based CCMs. We will keep you, our readers, informed of the progress of the CCM World Championship team every single step of the way.
So hold on tight – it's going to be a fabulous ride...