Seconds out Round one
By TMX Archives on 20th Apr 12
WELL, with the very first round of the 2012 British Trials Champs heralding a brave new world of no-stop observing rules there was no choice but to get on the well-worn road north to Fort William and see for myself. Dont see how anyone can make an objective comment if they arent actually there!
So, with limited wordage available here let me first say, to cut what could be a long story mercifully short, that as a spectator I got a buzz from the event.
Allowing for the fact that the sections were deliberately set on the easy side and there were no monster steps it actually made a change to really watch every rider from Ins cards to the Out cards. The anticipation builds as you watch the rider stay feet-up further and further into the hazard while sometimes desperately trying to keep the front wheel turning. It is a simple thing but once a rider stops in a section, it breaks your concentration and its easy to look away. With no-stop you just have to watch all the way.
Some riders no stop naturally, others struggled mightily. As you would expect, although somewhat ironically, given that they don't like no-stop and make no secret of it, James Dabill and Michael Brown looked like they ride no-stop all day and every day. Dibs in particular made it look so easy with a classic flowing style. He'll hate me for saying that!
Dibs scoffed at me at the end of the day when I told him that I had actually enjoyed my day spectating. I don't blame him. I'm well aware that James can clean sections set twice as hard as those he faced on Sunday. Being equally honest I also know that British Championship trials should certainly not be marked out for my benefit as a mere bystander.
But if no-stop isn't the answer - the question remains, "What is?” The series certainly couldn't continue as it was with just six riders in the Championship class! No-one wants to mark out a trial for six riders.
And this certainly isn't a problem unique to Britain. The World and National Trials Championships in ALL countries have a huge problem with entries, or to tell the real truth, the lack of them.
The ACUs current experiment to tackle the problem, aided and abetted by the trials importers, is to put on British Championship trials to appeal to a majority of riders. The problem is this is alienating the talented few.
I remain open minded. Yes, I enjoyed Sunday's no stop trial but I do see where the likes of James and Michael are coming from. They want an event to really push their skill levels.
The argument unfortunately just goes round in circles. I don't have a magic answer. Nor does anyone else - so lets just see where the no stop experiment takes us...
