ACU rulebook reminder spices up Trial GB series showdown
By Words & photos: Anthony Sutton on 6th Sep 24
The fifth and final round of the 2024 ACU Trial GB British Motorcycle Trials Championship presented by Talon Engineering runs at Geddington in Northamptonshire this weekend. And, after the Trial GB Series Manager Barry Huskinson dropped a rulebook reminder earlier this week it looks like there could be a sting in the tail that could liven up the final round considerably.
At the end of 2022, two-time British Champion Toby Martyn found himself as a full-time competitor in the 2023 FIM X-Trial series that clashed with some of the early rounds of the 2023 Trial GB championship. To put Martyn on a level playing field with the other potential championship winners a rule was added to the regulations that allowed all riders to drop their worst round in the championship – in Toby Martyn’s case this would be a no-show as it just wasn’t possible to be in two places at once.
This rule, which should have been removed since it was no longer necessary, remained in the rulebook, and now we find ourselves in a position where all riders can still drop their worst rounds. This raises the potential for a tie at the top of the headlining championship, which means that a tie-breaker might have to come into place.
The ACU Trial Standing Regulations which govern the sport of motorcycle trials define how all championships are decided. There are two relevant regulations, TSR 24 and TSR 23.
TSR.24 FINAL ASSESSMENT OF CHAMPIONSHIPS. “The Championship Regulations for any Championship must state the number of rounds to count for the Final Assessment e.g.: “All rounds to count” or “All rounds held less one, or all rounds less two to count”. If no indication is stated then it will be assumed that all rounds held will count”.
TSR. 23 – B) TIES AT THE END OF A CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES. “Should a tie occur in a Championship series it shall be decided as follows: a) In favour of the rider with the greatest number of wins in ALL rounds held. b) If not resolved, then the greatest number of second places and so on down to 15th place in ALL rounds held. c) If not then resolved, by the rider with the best performance in the final event held. If neither rider competed in the Final round, the highest position will be awarded to the rider of the last round in which either competed”.
This means that a win for Jack Peace (Sherco) on Sunday will result in him winning the British Championship no matter what current leader Harry Hemingway (Beta) does. They’d both have two wins and two second places and Peace would then be awarded the title as he finished higher in the last round in which either competed. That last part is important as it means that essentially we’re in a winner-takes-all scenario on Sunday with the title going to either Hemingway, or Peace provided he takes the day win.
Now had it been worded that the highest position would be awarded to the rider of the last round in which BOTH competed then Hemingway could simply sit out Sunday and confirm himself as champion. That’s not the case and British trials fans are in for a battle royale on Sunday because the Trial GB class is super-competitive and Billy Green (Scorpa), Jack Dance (GASGAS), George Hemingway (Beta) or Harry Turner (Sherco) could still play their part.
While Jamie Galloway has done enough to be crowned Trial 2 champion no matter what, the Expert class is also opened up by the rulebook. Sherco’s Luke Walker leads the way by two points and both he and second-placed rider Brad Bullock share the same worst score which evens them out. Still, a win for either rider would swing it their way. Dan Thorpe, Charlie Smith, Emma Bristow and Tom Affleck could still benefit but the rider with the most to gain is seventh-placed Tom Swindlehurst who was a no-show at round two so will have nothing to drop. A good ride from him could potentially see him stand on the championship podium on Sunday evening.
Geddington can be found at NN14 1AL with the trial entrance off the A43 north of Kettering in Northamptonshire. The first rider gets underway at 09:30 with the whole shebang tied up by 16:45 when champions will be crowned at the awards ceremony. Rider start times will probably be posted later today at the series' official website acutrialgb.org.uk.
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