MOTORCYCLE TRIALS

(Redirected from Observed Trials)
Montesa Cota 4RT

'Motorcycle trials', also termed 'observed trials', is a non-speed event on specialized motorcycles. The sport is most popular in the UK and Spain, though there are participants around the globe.
Trial motorcycles are distinctive in that they are extremely lightweight, lack seating (they're designed to be ridden standing up) and have suspension travel that is short, relative to a motocross or enduro motorcycle.

Contents
Characteristics
'World Trials Champions'
'Outdoor Series'
'Indoor Series'
See also
External links
Organizations
Training
Publications/Media
Clubs
United States
Canada
United Kingdom
Australia

Characteristics


A 2000 Beta Rev 3

The event is split into sections where a competitor rides through an obstacle course while attempting to avoid touching the ground with the feet. The obstacles in the course may be of natural or constructed elements. In all sections, regardless of content, the designated route is carefully contrived to test the skill of the rider. In many local observed trials events, the sections are divided into separate courses to accommodate the different skill level of riders, who compete in skill-rated classes.
In every section, the competitor is scored by an observer (hence the sport's name) who counts how many times the competitor touches the ground with the foot (or any other part of the body). Each time a competitor touches the ground with a foot (commonly called "dabs" or "prods"), the penalty is one point.
The possible scores in each section consist of 0, 1, 2, 3, or 5. If a competitor makes his or her way through the section without touching the ground with a foot, a score of 0 (called "cleaning the section") is earned. If he or she touches the ground only once, the score of 1 is earned. If he or she touches down twice, the score of 2 is earned. If he or she touches the ground three times or more, the score of 3 is earned, as long as the section is completed without stalling the motor, dismounting, going out of bounds or going backward. If the competitor fails to complete the section a score of 5 (sometimes colorfully called "a fiasco") is earned. The winner is the competitor with the least points at the end of the event. Some events are also timed with penalty points assessed to late riders.
There is a world indoor and outdoor championship, as well as indoor and outdoor national team "world cups" (''Trial des Nations''). British competitor Dougie Lampkin is notable for winning seven world outdoor titles in the 1990s and 2000s. Previous observed trials greats include Northern Ireland's Sammy Miller (1960s), Finland's Yrjö Vesterinen (1970s), Spain's Jordi Tarres (1980s and '90s). The current outdoor world champion is Adam Raga from Spain and the current indoor champion is Antonio Bou also from spain.
In addition to the world championship events, there are other major events, such as the Scottish Six-Day Trial (SSDT) and the Scott Trial.
Major current manufacturers of trials bikes are Gas Gas, Beta, Sherco, Montesa Honda, and Scorpa. In the past there have been many manufacturers, from countries such as Spain, Japan, Britain and Italy - see List of motorcycle manufacturers.
Classic classes exist for vintage bikes. Classes include pre-1965 or -1967 motorcycles (typically British), as well as newer vintage events for observed trials motorcycles with two rear shock absorbers. In most cases, twin-shock motorcycles were manufactured before 1985 and are typically Japanese or Spanish. A recent addition has been a class for aircooled monoshock bikes, this covers machines up to around 1990.
A competition event is called an "observed trial" or "trial" (not plural), unless referred to as an "observed trials event." A newer name for the sport, MotoTrial, is gaining popularity, but is far from universally used or accepted.

'World Trials Champions'


'Outdoor Series'

YearNameCountryMachineNotes
2007Toni BouRepsol Montesa HRC
2006Adam RagaGas Gas
2005Adam RagaGas Gas
2004Takahisa FujinamiHonda
2003Dougie LampkinMontesa HRC
2002Dougie LampkinMontesa HRC
2001Dougie LampkinMontesa HRC
2000Dougie LampkinMontesa HRC
1999Dougie LampkinBeta
1998Dougie LampkinBeta
1997Dougie LampkinBeta
1996Marc ColomerMontesa
1995Jordi TarrésGas Gas
1994Jordi TarrésGas Gas
1993Jordi TarrésGas Gas
1992Tommi AhvalaAprilia
1991Jordi TarrésBeta
1990Jordi TarrésBeta
1989Jordi TarrésBeta
1988Thierry MichaudFantic
1987Jordi TarrésBeta
1986Thierry MichaudFantic
1985Thierry MichaudFantic
1984Eddy LejeuneHonda
1983Eddy LejeuneHonda
1982Eddy LejeuneHonda
1981Gilles BurgatSWM
1980Ulf KarlsonMontesa
1979Bernie SchreiberBultaco
1978Yrjö VesterinenBultaco
1977Yrjö VesterinenBultaco
1976Yrjö VesterinenBultaco
1975Martin LampkinBultaco''Title becomes "World Trials Champion"''
1974Malcolm RathmellBultaco
1973Martin LampkinBultaco
1972Mick AndrewsOssa
1971Mick AndrewsOssa
1970Sammy MillerBultaco
1969Don SmithMontesa
1968Sammy MillerBultaco''Title becomes "European Trials Champion"''
1967Don SmithGreeves
1966Gustav FrankeZündapp
1965Gustav FrankeZündapp
1964Don SmithGreeves''Title becomes "International Trial Master"''

'Indoor Series'

YearNameCountryMachineNotes
2007Toni BouRepsol Montesa HRC
2006Adam RagaGas Gas
2005Adam RagaGas Gas
2004Adam RagaGas Gas
2003Adam RagaGas Gas
2002Albert CabestanyBeta
2001Dougie LampkinMontesa
2000Dougie LampkinMontesa
1999Dougie LampkinBeta
1998Dougie LampkinBeta
1997Dougie LampkinBeta
1996Marc ColomerMontesa
1995Marc ColomerBeta/Montesa
1994Marc ColomerBeta
1993Tommi AhvalaAprilia

See also



Bike trials riding

External links


Organizations


North American Trials Council - NATC

US Motorcycle Trials Association - USMTA

American Trials Association

AutoCycle Union - ACU, The UK Governing body
Training


MotoVentures

International Trials School

Trials Training Center
Publications/Media


On the Pegs: Trials World Radio podcast

r2wtrials

Trials Competition newspaper

Trials Inc.

Trials Central

Trial Online

Dirt Riders International

Trials Talk
Clubs

United States


Central Arizona Trials

Tri@l Bike

Rocky Mountain Trials Association

Columbia Observed Trials Association

GAS GAS Trials Bike Museum

Puget Sound Trialers

New Mexico Trials Association

Wasatch Trials Association "unofficial" site

Wyoming Motorcycle Trials Association

Eastern Idaho Observed Trials

Inland Northwest Trials Association

Pacific International Trials Society aka Sacramento PITS

Utah Vintage Riders

Mid Atlantic Vintage Trials

AMA District 6 Observed Trials

3D Trials

AMA District 4 Observed Trials

New England Trials Association

Trials Incorporated

Upper Midwest Trials Association

Wisconsin Observed Trials Association

Florida Trials Association
Canada


Canada Pacific Trials Association
United Kingdom


Doublefive Kent Motor Club (UK)

Manchester 17 Trials Club (UK)

Lightweight Motor Cycle Club Trials Northern Ireland (UK)
Australia


Trials Australia

Motorcycling Australia (MA)- Australian Governing Body

AJS Motorcycle Club of South Austrlaia Main Moto Trials Club in SA

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