UK World Trials Preview
By John Dickinson on 11th Jun 15
This weekend, June 13/14, sees the FIM World Trials Championship hit GB with the fourth round of the 2015 series, much earlier in the season than we in Britain have been used to of late, and with the contenders just hitting their stride and with everything to ride for theres every reason to get excited and every reason to get out there, savour the atmosphere, and give our lads some support!
The venue for the 2015 Wulfsport OSET British Trial GP is once again Nord Vue, near Penrith in Cumbria and while some of you may find the venue in the north of England a bit of a stretch distance-wise please bear in mind that it is only 10 minutes from J41 of the M6 and therefore very quick and easy to access.
Basis of the very compact course is a disused stone quarry which forms a natural bowl and makes spectating so easy with most sections basically just a few steps away from each other. Section designer is former World Round winner Graham Jarvis and the current Hard Enduro king has given the 12 sections– which will be lapped three times each day - a complete makeover for 2015. Graham has great vision when it comes to sections, knows exactly what he wants to create and then just gets on and does it.
Heavy earthmoving machinery has not only cleaned-up the quarry for the benefit of spectators, Graham has created some awesome new sections that will really test the world's best riders. Pride of place this year goes to a brand new waterfall hazard, in the main spectator bowl, with the sump being concreted as this preview is written!
Also new is a slightly extended lap taking the course out onto Blaze Fell above the quarry. This will allow a variation in sections, with several more natural hazards to compliment the big boulders, and spectators will still be able to see all the sections in a single day.
Each day is a separate scoring round and there will be presentations immediately after the finish each day so you can see your favourite riders on the podium and maybe grab a picture and an autograph.
You can camp on site over the weekend or just drive in for a single day to witness the unique skills of the World Championship contenders. There's also an Ebike trial for youths on Saturday evening which this year will take place down in the paddock/ camping area which ought to be great fun and a buzz for the kids who are competing.
There will also be a trade area and plenty of refreshments available all weekend so all you have to do is turn-up!
obviously the huge draw in the trials world is the incredible Toni Bou. The Repsol Montesa rider from Barcelona has won eight consecutive Trial World Championships and nine Indoor crowns – with a ninth TWC to follow if his start to the current series is anything to go by. As this preview was written Toni had already won the first four scoring days in the two day events staged in Japan and the Czech Republic.
Toni is an amazing rider capable of cleaning sections that others can't get near and if you haven't seen him perform live then this is your only chance in Britain this year.
The World Championship class may be small in number but it is high in quality with Toni's challenger's headed by his long-time rival Adam Raga. With the Gas Gas factory currently closed Adam is currently running his factory machines out of the Spanish Federation truck and with his tight knit team working well Adam's results have been as good as ever so far this year.
Jeroni Fajardo heads the Beta factory effort and the 30 year-old Catalan has been right on the case so far in 2015. Many feel that Jeroni has underperformed in his career and that 2015 could be the year he delivers the goods.
Sherco is represented by the veteran Albert Cabestany who has surprisingly struggled a little so far in 2015 but the arrival of his younger team mate, Pol Tarres, nephew of the legendary Jordi Tarres, after recovering from a knee operation, could be just the spur that Cabes needs. Sherco also field French ace Alexandre Ferrer who is a rock steady top 10 performer.
Then there's the popular Japanese former World Champ Takahisa Fujinami. Fujigas battled through 2014 nursing a knee injury sustained in a motocross training accident but a winter operation sees the veteran Repsol Montesa stalwart much fitter. This is Fuji's 20th season on the World Championship circuit and very likely his last so that's a reason in itself to get to Nord Vue.
But as one star prepares to exit the circuit another is already on the rise and Repsol Montesa have already snapped-up up the rapidly rising star that is 17 year-old Jaime Busto.
Busto has already made his mark this year and is looking good to not only take over from Fujigas but give his illustrious team leader Bou some competition in the near future!
Next, a fantastic reason to jump in the car and head to Nord Vue – James Dabill on the factory Vertigo! As if an exciting all new trials bike isn't reason enough for a visit we have the reigning British Champion riding it!
It is only just over six months since the Vertigo made its first public showing and just five months since James gave the advanced machine its competition debut at the Sheffield Indoor.
Since then Vertigo team manager Dougie Lampkin has given the Combat machine a sensational win in the Scottish Six Days Trial, with James third, proving that the reliability matches the performance. Now the focus is back on James to show what the machine can do at World Championship level.
The bike features a trick-looking steel tube trellis chassis into which is fitted an all-new two-stroke motor which is fuel injected and features an electric water pump and low mounted fuel tank.
It sports advanced electronics which manage both fuel injection and ignition with the first four gears having individual mapping for optimum performance.
James, who is leading this year's British Championship by a distance, has tasted champagne on the podium at Nord Vue before and here's hoping that with your support he'll be there again this year!
With Michael Brown unfortunately out of action as he recovers from a shattered kneecap the only other Brit in the Championship class this year is Jack Sheppard.
After a slow start to the season, East Anglian Jack is right back on the case on the factory Jgas and will be looking for a good result this weekend.
It is in the World Cup class that the British lads are really making their mark and there is every chance of success at Nord
Riders committed to the series are Billy Bolt, Jack Price, Dec Bullock, Dan Peace and Iwan Roberts and they will be joined by Luke Walker, Joel Edwards, Tom Minta and Hugo Jervis.
Billy, just 17 and from Wallsend in the north east, has just switched from Ossa to Scorpa but you would never know as the results just keep coming. His two second places in the recent second World Cup round in the Czech Republic show that he is right on the case.
French riders dominated the first two rounds with Scorpa's Benoit Bincaz taking both days in Japan but then bombed in Czecho where his countryman Quentin Carles de Caudemberg triumphed.
Billy was right on his case though and is confident he can beat all his World Cup rivals.
Jack Price has also shown great early season form in the Scottish Six Days, British Champs and World Cup and is a podium challenger along with Welsh champ Iwan, Dan Peace and Dec Bullock.
Along with Luke, Hugo, Joel and Tom they make up one third of the entry and the British challenge is packed with quality.
The 125 class has so far been dominated by Italian Marco Fioletti but the British round sees Sam Johnson, Stuart Mack an Harry Sherriffs on the scene to give the British crowd an interest in the class which competes over the World Cup sections.
