Trials Torque: Sport7 set to liven up World Champs
By John Dickinson on 23rd Nov 16
SPORT7, the company appointed by the FIM to promote the 2017 Trial World Championship, released the calendar early this week, slightly delayed while some final details were sorted and theres a big surprise.
There are eight rounds in total with two-day rounds at the ‘flyaways' in Japan and United States the main surprise being that all six of the rounds staged in Europe will features just a single day's competition.
They will still be two-day events though with the first day devoted to official practise followed by a Qualifying session to determine start position – similar to other motorcycle sports like MotoGP, British Superbikes, MXGP etc
The new-look season gets underway on May 13/14 – the weekend after the Scottish Six Days Trial ends – at Camprodon in Spain.
Just two weeks later Japan follows, at Motegi as usual, when a three-day format will see two days of competition following the opening day's practise and qualifying.
Great Britain kicks-in for Rd5 – after Andorra and France – on the weekend of July 8/9 when the event returns to Tong, Bradford, following its successful debut as a TWC venue this year.
The second flyaway follows to the USA and the series ends on September 16/17 in Italy.
The Trial des Nations brings the season to a close at Baiona, Spain the following weekend.
The Ladies series begins with the round in America, the first time the Women have competed outside Europe while the Trial125 class will contest the opening five rounds – including Japan.
All in all the series is being treated to quite a shake-up and we'll bring you further news on the run-up to the opening round.
Said Jake Miller on behalf of the promoter Sport7, "The 2017 calendar is part of the plan to deliver more consistency across the championship in-order to improve the overall standard of all the events in the future.
"Our focus is very much on quality, and as such the one-day competition format for all European events is with this in mind.
"Our aim is to create two days of great entertainment with official practice, the chance to meet the riders, other extra activities in conjunction with the local organiser plus qualification (for start position) scheduled for a packed Saturday programme ahead of the main event on the Sunday.
"We are currently awaiting final approval from the FIM regarding a number of different proposals we have made in order to sharpen things up, and to bring TrialGP up to date and in line with the other motorcycle disciplines in terms of its professionalism now that it has a promoter.
"As the calendar shows we have reduced the number of Trial125 events to try to increase entries in this class and are taking the Women outside of Europe for the first time ever having first consulted with the girls.
"We believe that qualifying for start position will shake things up, as giving the best riders the best starting positions without having to fight for that right as we currently do now seems like an unfair advantage before the Trial has even started.
"We are sure that the best rider will still be the champion come the end of the season, but hopefully the changes we have proposed and the new format will create a much more exciting and enthralling battle at each of the events along the way.”
