Trials Torque: Toby’s Vertigo reality
By John Dickinson on 18th Jan 17
CORNWALLS TOBY Martyn is rapidly coming to terms with the fact that he is now a fully-fledged factory Vertigo rider.
The talented 16 year old from Truro was at the Sheffield Indoor a week last Saturday in order to meet his new team-mate, Jeroni Fajardo, and at the weekend he travelled to Belgium to get kitted out in his new Jitsie gear and take part in a photo session for the same, with Jitsie top-man Jan Cardinaels.
Cardinaels was a good rider in his own right and can spot talent when he sees it and also understands that young riders need all the help they can get when attempting to compete at International level.
Toby said: "It is all a lot to take in, I can hardly believe that I'll be working with Dougie Lampkin and I really mean to make the most of the chance.
"We have a really busy year ahead with Trial2 as well as the European and British series.
"I'm sure that the new 250 Vertigo will be a great bike and Jeroni was really friendly and said that I must get out to Spain and train with him before the start of the season. It is going to be all-go for me as I am still at school and have exams this year so I'll just have to work out how to juggle schoolwork, revising, travelling and riding.
"I do need time on the bike but I think the (Trial2) 250 formula will be perfect for me. I will ride the 250 exclusively in all series.”
Former European Youth Champ, he scored a maximum 300 points when winning all three rounds as he raced to the title in 2015, Toby had a somewhat disjointed year in 2016 as he turned 16 in June and never really got to concentrate on any one series.
He rode the adult RT Keedwell ACU British Championship but could only ride the early rounds as non points-scoring Guest until his birthday but finished a fine eighth overall and took his first podium at the Guisborough round on the North Yorks Moors.
At the Trial World Championship Toby joined Trial2 for the last three rounds which comprised five trials, the single-day Belgian round plus two days in Great Britain at Tong, Yorkshire and Italy.
He scored a total of 31 points and finished in 15th place.
That was important as it meant that he qualified automatically for the new-look Trial2 class in 2016 which is now a full World Championship.
The new rules also state that the manufacturers have to name one rider in TrialGP and one in Trial2 – so the Vertigo team is Jeroni and Toby!”
"I love the travelling and can't wait to get started working with Doug and just getting out on the bike.
"This is everything I could hope for.”
