Saturday December 5th 2020
December 5th, 2020Editorial.
There is no doubt that the year 2020, will be remembered for the Pandemic - but also bringing changes to how all Motorcycle Sport is run.
At this point in time, we have no clue as to the future of Trials Competition in Canada, but we are sure that there will be some significant changes coming.
From my perspective I see the future of our sport to be very limited, unless things change - the simple fact is that promoting Trials events as stunt shows, will do nothing to either sell bikes or encourage new riders.
While younger riders will always argue against advice from the older generation - statistics do not lie, so I urge any detractors to scroll back and look at the entry lists from the World Trials scene, which we posted a few days ago.
In the 1970’s the Japanese were mislead into thinking that Trials, would be the next big surge in motorcycle sport, but of course they not only ended up with egg on their face, but also warehouses full of unsold trials bikes. -
The idea of simply putting a row of Trials bikes on a dealers showroom floor that would be gobbled up by all these “New” customers - simply did not happen then, and it certainly won’t happen in this day and age. ( and remember back then Trials bikes had seats!!)
- There are a number of reasons for this, because the sport of Trials has become so “Specialized” - the average sales guy at a regular dealership, hasn’t a clue about either the bikes or the sport. - Trials bikes that start off in the front row of the showroom are usually soon regulated to a back corner.
Obviously. marketing any product, requires both knowledge and research, and unfortunately a lot of the people who build the machines and the World body that promote the sport, have made some rather big mistakes.
It is my opinion that while things need to change - with careful planning and input from long time Industry Specialists - the Trials scene just might improve - The bottom line is that -We need to learn from the past - looking back to the 70’s the Japanese listened to the wrong people .
The increase in Enduro bike sales began when a lot of top Trials riders found the new Hop & Bop sections in World Trials did not suit them, and switched to something they understood - riding a long loop on difficult terrain - Bingo!!! - we have hard Enduro.
Note: We do of course recognize and appreciate the tremendous skills shown by the World Trials Stars, like Toni Bou - Adam Raga etc. - But this is now like a different sport.
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As most of our readers know , we have always been an advocate for old English style, long loop Trials - using natural terrain. - It was therefore interesting to see a post by Steve Bamford, who runs Trials Tours in Southern Spain. ( See poster) - Now as you can imagine, his business has been hit hard by the Pandemic, but he is taking this time to plot new loops and sections in the hills around his beautiful location. - He stress’s that he caters to all levels, but the sections are all natural, with none of this man made stuff. - I think Taff might know Steve as he is originally from Wales.
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Steve Foord is back on a new Beta Trials bike - looking fit after his huge accident a couple of years ago. - Steve is another guy ( just like Sam) who contacted us years ago saying he was coming to Canada and wondered if we could help him - this we did with Shercos for a couple of years and then arranged for him to get a Beta Enduro bike from Mountain MC - Steve won the WTC Canadian Trials Championship back in 2009 and went on to have a brilliant career in the Enduro events - Glad to see that he is back riding.
UPDATE : Just heard back from Steve and he is back in an aircast for 6 weeks - not sure what happened - he also mentioned that his Dad is not doing good and is in a home suffering with ALS. - Our best wishes go out to Ray and anyone else suffering with this terrible disease.
And this was when he decided the Sherco was not for him ( ha ha) The National at Summerland - I have a sequence of this, but to his credit he held onto the bike. ( This was a tough section)
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Magical Mick riding in the Scott Trial - think this might have been his last time at this famous event ( I don’t think Mick ever won it- but might be wrong) -
I remember taking him to a section similar to this near Bragg Creek back in 1974-75? - it was huge and difficult for us local Experts, but Mick went up it, like it was a main road.
In my opinion we need more sections like this in our Trials - yes old style , but not dangerous
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video for today >>
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