ACU TrialGB is ready to rumble
By John Dickinson on 21st Mar 19
The 2019 ACU British Trials Championship kicks-off this Saturday, March 23, and the Hookwood Trials Club promoted event heralds the beginning of a whole new Championship era ACU TrialGB.
Yes, ACU TrialGB is the future and the new branding is being championed by Brian Higgins who has a two-year contract with the ACU Trials and Enduro Committee to act as Series Manager. Brian has a long history of management and event management within the ACU and was formerly a National class trials rider as well as being a handy enduro and motocrosser, so has vast experience from both sides of the fence to draw on.
He was also heavily involved with Sport7 when the new-look Trials World Championship was introduced so has recent history. The series will continue with RT Keedwell as the headline sponsor but Point S and Wulfsport have been introduced as Series support sponsors. Says Brian: The Point S input is important as they will be used to help with local advertising to each event through their dealer network.
Wayne Daniel and Gavin Fable are very supportive and have produced 1,000 route markers and have sponsored the newly-introduced Red Plates.It is planned that a couple of their Dealers from each area will be at the events to present them. As for Wulfsport, Bill Brown and I go back a long way and after Bill was aware that I was involved as Series Manager he wanted to be a partner.
2018 Elite Youth Champ Mitch Brightmore makes the jump straight into Trial2 this year
They will have a major impact at each event with the Wulfsport Arch as part of the Start Area. There will also be an arch in one of the main spectator sections. These sponsors will be involved and prominent at all rounds.
The basic format of the trials will remain the same with short courses of 12 sections lapped three times. But the sections will be marked differently. The new Trial2 class is important and in order to encourage good quality riders to contest this class, the Experts class sections will be less difficult than previous. The whole idea is to rejuvenate the British Trials Championship, make it more professional, more relevant, more prominent and also more accessible.
Warm-up Area: This is new for 2019. In the past there has been a free-for-all practise prior to the start of the trial. This year the team will layout a specific Warm-up Area which will open at 9am on race day and close when the last rider starts. Practising will not be allowed in any other area.
Starting Ramp: The Wulsport Start Ramp will be at each round, where each competitor will be called to the ramp by public address and introduced before being flagged away.
Podium Truck: This year willl benefit from a Ford Transit Curtainsider which transports the equipment and also doubles as the presentation podium. The backdrop to the podium is a massive 7m wide and will feature all sponsors and partners.
Importers: Six of the UK trials bike importers are considered to be partners for their support in the lead-up to the series. They are working partners and kept up to speed at all times with everything that is going on and they will feature on the podium backdrop.
Site Visit: Brian Higgins will conduct a site visit to each venue at least one month prior to each event. Brian did this when he was Manager at the Maxxis MX events for some 10 years and he says it ticks all the boxes with everyone knowing exactly what they are doing on event weekend. Jim Connor and team were very receptive to this at Hookwood when visited.
Pre event Publicity: Brian will contact local newspapers to each area with laymans text about the trial in their area together with a couple of images for them to use. The first round majors on World 125 Champion Billy Green and local hero Sam Connor. This will be followed with a post event report and results. There will be in-house designed posters for each INDIVIDUAL round.
Road Signs: New road signs for directions to the events have now been produced and look much more professional.
Route Markers: The sections will be laid out by the clerk of the course and his team, but the route marking will be via specially produced Point S arrows which will carry the next section number on them, so riders always know which section they are heading for. In addition there will be section direction signs for spectators as they will be segregated from riders as much as possible. The team will also have an on-board laser printer to enable extra signage to be made for each event on site.
Website: Theres a dedicated website, acutrialgb.co.uk which is being constantly updated with fresh information.
PA System: The series has its own dedicated public address system on the truck which will go to each event. This means that prominent announcements
can be made plus a more professional podium presentation which Brian will conduct with club officials presenting the trophies.
Timetable: There will now be a standard timetable for all rounds.
Observers: Brian said: I must start by stating my appreciation for the work they do in difficult circumstances. To assist them at each event I will conduct a standard observers briefing at 8.45am on event day in conjunction with the clerk of the course. In addition to this we have produced a 2.5minute observers briefing dvd which highlights the no-stop rule and when to blow the whistle for a five. This will also be available for pre event club nights AND for riders to view if they come and see Di or myself at any event.
The Classes
ACU TrialGB: (Old championship class) Now limited to 14 riders for the series. (10 plus four wildcards) Hugo Jervis has been given a wildcard place as he did not finish top 10 last year. Minders allowed.
ACU Trial2: (Old Masters class) Now up to 12 contracted riders for the series and this class will get much more publicity than before.
ACU TrialExpert: Is targeted more for new riders who want to test the series but will still carry full British Championship Status.
The Time Limit to complete the course has been reduced from 6 hours to 5.5 hours to keep each event flowing.
Masters Champ Ross Danby (TRS) will be the man to beat in the new
ACU Trial 2 class
Runners & Riders
New era notwithstanding the big question remains who will be the 2019 ACU Trial GB champ? Well, thats easier asked than answered as reigning champ James Dabill has not committed himself to the full series (yet) but then again he didnt last year either!
The Beta factory rider has entered the opener at Hookwood but beyond that, who knows? This year Beta have another option, though, in Cornish ace Toby Martyn who now has a winning round behind him to boost confidence.
There are 10 invited riders set to contest the new top Trial GB category at Hookwood.The 2017 British Champ Jack Price surely heads the list but the Gas Gas rider faces Shercos twin-lead attack of Dan (above) and Jack Peace (below) while the Scorpa twins Andy Chilton and Tom Minta both have ambition.
Stir in TRS challenger Iwan Roberts and add the improving Billy Green and Hugo Jervis and thats an impressive list. Promising Devon teenager Billy will be mounted on the Montesa 300 four-stroke this year and we all know how well his fellow west countryman Toby Martyn performed on the bike last season.
The observing rules remain No-stop BUT this year the Trial GB class (only) are allowed Minders so be prepared for lots of shouting! The rationale behind Minders is to assist our riders who will be contesting the Trial World Championship
The new ACU Trial 2 class has been enthusiastically received with its total of 14 riders. Last years Masters Champ Ross Danby (TRS) will be the man to beat but Expert Champ Richard Sadler (who has switched from Beta to Gas Gas) will be right on the case.
Local star, veteran Sam Connor (Beta) will take some stopping at Hookwood. Alex Wigg (Gas Gas) drops down a class, joined by Shercos Luke Walker and James Fry. 2018 Youth A Elite Champ Mitch Brightmore skips the Experts and jumps straight into Trial 2.
The ACU Trial Experts class boasts no fewer than 35 contenders and surely the hot money will be split between experience and youth, thats Dan Thorpe (Gas Gas) and rising Isle of Wight star Chris Stay (TRS) respectively.
Or maybe over the course of the season might we see a Lady take the title? World Ladies champ Emma Bristow (Sherco) has dropped the British Ladies series in order to concentrate on the Experts so watch out lads! Gus Oblein, Adam Juffs and Charlie Smith represent the Youths on the move into adult competition.
2019 Calendar
March 23: Hookwood TC, Surrey Cup
May 19: Neath MC, St Davids Trial
June 1: Tynemouth MC
June 2: Tynemouth MC
June 16: West of England MC, Anthony Rew Trial
June 28: Westmorland MC, Lakes Trial
August 4: Yeadon Guiseley MC, Mackenzie Trial
September 14: East Lothian MC
September 15: East Lothian MC
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