Trials Torque: Jake Miller – the man with the vision
By John Dickinson on 10th May 17
Jake Miller is the man behind Sport7, the company entrusted with the development of TrialGP for the next five years, so as we approach the opening round of an exciting new era this is Jakes take in his own words...
"After months of preparation, planning and much talking about this project, the time is nearly here for us to deliver the first event in the new TrialGP era.
"Section wise the venue in Spain is without question one of the best the series has ever visited. The sections will be very traditional and will really suit the no-stop rules, there is so much scope you could run the whole championship there without ever using the same piece of land more than once.
"That said, the course will be very compact and easy for fans to follow the action.”
"Recent rain in the area means that the going could still be greasy under the trees by the time the Trial comes, making conditions very tricky and ideal to perhaps throw up a few surprises in the results”
"Talking about surprises, it really is going to be interesting how qualification, for start order plays out.
"We have been through the process time after time on paper looking at the various scenarios.
"But until the first rider rolls through the timing gates on Saturday afternoon will we not know how it will work in reality.
"Over the last two months we have been busy converting two shipping containers into a mobile office and meeting room that will be connected by an arched atrium and this central area will house the results team, the TV crew and selected media.
"Having this facility onsite should really help centralise the organisation of the event and give a professional focus point in the paddock.
"By the time you read this piece they will already be on their way to Spain ready for our early arrival in Camprodon a full week before the event. We will have a strong and experienced team on the ground.
"Event manager Brian Higgins will head up operations and will be the main point of liaison for the teams and riders in the paddock.
"He will be supported by the same guys who have helped us deliver our previous World Trial rounds in the UK and our various Red Bull events over the last fifteen years.
"Inside the new portable TrialGP Event HQ will be the girls who have been responsible for creating and managing the new online entry system that has led to a record number of pre-season sign ups.”
"The sheer scale and extent of the challenge has been and remains incredible.
"Only if you had been a fly on the wall inside our offices over the last six months would you truly be able to appreciate the thousands of hours worked, the many battles endured, the true range of diplomacy used and pure dogged desire and determination that has had to be repeatedly employed to bring TrialGP to life.
"Despite these huge efforts by all the team, we are under no illusion that the road ahead will not be without further challenges, as most humans are always averse to change.”
"We have a strong vision of how we will bring consistency and new higher levels to this niche sport, which in turn will hopefully benefit all inside the paddock over the longer term, especially the younger riders some of whom will become champions in the future.
"Step by step we're confident we can show we are the right people to take trials back in the right direction.”
"As someone once said, ‘If it was easy everyone would be doing it'.
"That is perhaps why it has been absent of a promoter for so many years. Let's get Spain delivered and we will then have a good target for the rest of the season. TrialGP is very much ready and waiting to make its mark.”
