Trials Torque: Trials boys have the Erzberg edge
By John Dickinson on 1st Jun 16
FIRST of all its congratulations to Graham Jarvis on having nailed his third victory in the Erzberg Red Bull Hare Scramble and by a country mile!
With former American trials champ Cody Webb and Alfredo Gomez – World Junior Trials Champ in 2011 – joining Graham on the podium it was a clean sweep for trials riders.
And the finishers list is also packed with those with plenty of trials experience.
Just look at the Brits.
Billy Bolt was a fantastic fifth in his debut at Erzberg and he has only completed half-a-dozen enduros of any stature.
Gritty, experienced Lancashire rider Paul Bolton was seventh and Scott Trial winner Jonathan Richardson – in only in his first full year taking speed events seriously – was tenth.
Keeping going, Ben Hemingway finished 17th, south west brothers Keelan and Ross Hancock were 36th and 57th respectively while TMX bike tester Martin Craven and Bootle club rider and trials organiser Joel Gowan were both categorised after making it through the qualifying.
Jonny Walker was sadly not able to ride this year following a bad accident in south America but the Cumbrian former trials ace, who still turns out for a club wobble occasionally, is a three-times Erzberg winner.
Taddy Blazusiak and David Knight were pioneers in switching from trials to enduro, Taddy going straight to Hard Enduro and the Pole won five consecutive Erzbergs, while Knighter bagged also himself a couple.
In short, if you want to have a fighting chance of succeeding, or even of putting up a good show, at Hard Enduro then get yourself as proficient as you can at trials – the skills learned are proving absolutely essential.
Just check out the results yourself if the above doesn't convince you...
