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117 YEARS OLD
INTERNATIONAL SPORT • FIM TRIAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
TOP GUN TONI BOU TRIAL GP
Every year, at the close of every FIM TrialGP World Championship season, you want to see a different winner from the name Toni Bou (Repsol Honda-ESP), which has become etched on the top spot of the podium for the 17th time in succession in 2023 — he is simply the best, immensely popular, and the crowds love him. His controlled, at times explosive, exciting riding has seen him conquer the trials world beyond belief since 2007, but we ask, where are the challengers? At the start of the season, some light was thrown on the cause when Jaime Busto (GASGAS-ESP) put the machine on the top step at the opening round in Spain. Over the three rounds from Spain to Japan, these two traded blows; were we about to witness the downfall of Toni Bou? They both had three wins. But then what does Bou do? He simply raises his game. He remains the ‘Top Gun’, but the question is just how much longer can he continue shooting down the opposition? We think you will agree, on his current form, for a few more years yet. Article: Trials Media • Pictures: Pep Segales and Christian Valeri. 24
OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2023 • TRIAL MAGAZINE
FIM TRIAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP • INTERNATIONAL SPORT
Jaime Busto (GASGAS-ESP)
As the season concluded in Italy and France, both rounds were covered in a brilliant band of sunshine that hit the venues. With Toby Martyn (Montesa Honda UK-GBR) back in action and later joined by Luca Petrella (GASGAS-ITA) after missing his home round, it was back to 12 riders in the TrialGP championship for the final round in France.
ROUND SIX: SESTRIERE, ITALY 22ND & 23RD JULY
Warm blue skies shone on this Alpine area and its high-altitude, power-sapping location. The ski resort’s steep wooded climbs and mostly natural dry, rocky sections provided a technical test, but for Toni Bou, it soon turned into another day at the
Gabriel Marcelli (Repsol Honda-ESP)
office, albeit a hot one. He ran out an easy winner in front of Italy’s number one rider, Matteo Grattarola (Beta), while a battle raged behind these top two for the final podium position, which went all the way to the final section, between Raga, who had missed the previous round due to urgent knee surgery, and Busto. Raga had struggled through for a three, but keeping his cool, Busto secured third place with the loss of a single mark to maintain his 100% podium record this season. Day two was very much the same, although section two was cancelled for the TrialGP riders on the opening lap to allow organisers to reroute it around a large boulder that had become loose. In complete control all day, Toni Bou again
dominated as his fellow Spanish rider Marcelli showed his true form to move to the second step on the podium well in front of Raga. As Busto slipped to sixth, he knew he had lost any hope of challenging Bou for the title with only one round and two points-scoring days remaining.
DAY ONE RESULTS: 1: Toni Bou (Repsol Honda-ESP) 20; 2: Grattarola 30; 3: Busto 36; 4: Raga 37; 5: Marcelli 49; 6: Aniol Gelabert 57; 7: Miquel Gelabert 62; 8: Bincaz 69; 9: Casales 75; 10: Martyn 87 – DNF: Fajardo. DAY TWO RESULTS: 1: Toni Bou (Repsol Honda-ESP) 9; 2: Marcelli 18; 3: Raga 23; 4: Miquel Gelabert 31; 5: Grattarola 31; 6: Busto 47; 7: Aniol Gelabert 52; 8: Casales 75; 9: Bincaz 75; 10: Martyn 94 – DNF: Fajardo.
ROUND SEVEN: VERTOLAYE, FRANCE 2ND & 3RD SEPTEMBER
Matteo Grattarola (Beta-ITA) TRIAL MAGAZINE • OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2023
Adam Raga (TRRS-ESP)
The seventh and final round of the 2023 FIM TrialGP World Championship moved to central France and the village of Vertolaye, some 70 kilometres from Clermont-Ferrand. This new venue offered a wide variety of terrain over the 12.5km course in the heart of a hilly area, with its wooded climbs and rocky outcrops providing some formidable challenges. Toni Bou arrived confident and, as usual, hungry for more success. As we have seen in the past, this motorcycle trials superstar just raises the bar on the very most important occasions, and in France, on day one, he was crowned the 2023 FIM TrialGP World Champion with a performance worthy of such a champion. He was a class act. Day two was a repeat as the sun shone down on Toni Bou with no one else even within a shout. Jaime Busto and Gabriel Marcelli should have been closer; these are the two nearest challengers to Bou and should be moving towards the top spot, finishing second and third in the championship this year. 25
INTERNATIONAL SPORT • FIM TRIAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
BILLY’S ROCK & ROLL WIN TRIAL2
No one could have predicted how this championship would ever go; in truth, it was about three riders in the end. It arrived in France at the final round in September, two points-scoring days, with the advantage to Billy Green (Scorpa-GBR) by just six points from Jack Peace (Sherco-GBR) with Pablo Suarez (Montesa-ESP) a further ten adrift. 2023 had seen six different round-winners at this point; joining the top three would be Sondre Haga (GASGAS-NOR), the defending champion with two wins, followed by Jack Dance (GASGAS-GBR) on two wins, Arnau Farre (Sherco-ESP) on two wins and Jack Peace (Sherco-GBR) on one. Billy Green threw it all away on day one in France, finishing 17th with no points as Pablo Suarez won to go to the head of the championship with Jack Peace, who finished sixth; the points would be 183 for Suarez and Peace with Green relegated to third on 179. One points-scoring day remained; it would be a true rock and roll ride to Billy Green’s first FIM Trial2 world title.
Billy Green (Scorpa-GBR): “I rode not bad in Italy on day one and knew I needed a win on day two. It was quite an easy trial, quite technical, but the pressure was at boiling point, and the win was very much needed. “I went to France thinking that all I had to do was put together two decent results, and I could maybe just take the title. Day one was a disaster; everything I tried just did not work out. My Minder, James, pushed me all the way, but it was not happening. “Day two was a case of giving it everything, but a big crash on the second section damaging the Scorpa, bent handlebars, smashed brake master cylinder, bent front fork brace and skinning my backside in a strange way settled me down. We soon had the machine knocked back into shape, and, more relaxed, I was riding much better for whatever reason. “With my poor 17th-place finish, I was riding just ahead of the others, and I literally just rode my own trial, listening to James whilst also watching the clock. It was tense at the end, but in my heart, I knew I had given it my all, and the result was the one that gave me the title. “I want to thank everyone who has supported me, from winning my first FIM 125 World Championship in 2018 to this latest FIM Trial2 victory – thank you.”
Article: Trials Media • Pictures: Pep Segales and Christian Valeri 30
OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2023 • TRIAL MAGAZINE
FIM TRIAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP • INTERNATIONAL SPORT
Pablo Suarez (Montesa-ESP)
Jack Peace (Sherco-GBR)
ROUND SIX: SESTRIERE, ITALY 22ND & 23RD JULY
DAY ONE RESULTS: 1: Sondre Haga (GASGAS-NOR) 7; 2: Peace 13; 3: Dufrese 16; 4: Gianluca Tournour (Sherco-ITA) 17; 5: Green 17; 6: Suarez 18; 7: Martinez 20; 8: Harry Hemingway 20; 9: Mattia Spreafico (VertigoITA) 24; 10: Arnau Farre (Sherco-ESP) 25; 20: Dance 45; 25: Harry Turner (Scorpa-GBR) 50; 32: Ben Dignan (Montesa-GBR) 68; 34: Duncan MacColl (Beta-GBR) 69; 41: Oliver Smith (TRRS-GBR) 82. DAY TWO RESULTS: 1: Billy Green (Scorpa-GBR) 6; 2: Suarez 11; 2: Peace 13; 4: Tournour 18; 5: Dufrese 19; 6: Dance 19; 7: Carlo Rabino (Beta-ITA) 21; 8: Mats Nilsen (TRRS-NOR) 21; 9: Spreafico 22; 10: Haga 25; 12: Harry Hemingway 28; 13: Turner 28; 25: MacColl 55; 30: Smith 61; 41: Dignan (Montesa-GBR) 89.
Sondre Haga (GASGAS-NOR)
Arnau Farre (Sherco-ESP)
By the time the championship arrived in Italy, in his mind, the 2022 FIM Trial2 World Champion Sondre Haga knew that this year would not be his again. Even so, he had a super ride on day one, in what was quite an easy trial at this high-altitude venue, as Jack Peace remained focussed on keeping his championship hopes alive with a good solid second place as his nearest rivals Billy Green and Pablo Suarez were just off the pace, finishing in fifth and sixth places. On the second day under red hot skies, it was once again Billy Green who made his championship intentions clear by taking the win from Pablo Suarez and Jack Peace, who were separated in second and third position by just two marks. With Haga in a pretty secure fourth place in the championship, the fight for the title would move to France, making it a very neutral contest for the title between the top three.
TRIAL MAGAZINE • OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2023
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ULTIMATE INDOOR • DL12
DL12
2024 FIVE-STAR LINE UP
With the countdown already well underway for DL12 Indoor Trial V2.0, we look at five riders who aim to pack a podium punch in Sheffield in the New Year. Following a prolonged, pandemicenforced absence, Britain finally regained its rightful place on the global trials map in January of this year when the inaugural DL12 Indoor Trial was staged at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena, where the sport received a fitting homecoming and was welcomed back by a capacity audience of passionate fans. A world-class field in the heart of trials’ spiritual White Rose County homeland, could it possibly get any better? Well, how about a DL12 Indoor Trial V2.0 on Saturday, 13th January 2024? Words: DL12 Trials Media • Pictures: Trials Media. 50
OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2023 • TRIAL MAGAZINE
DL12 INDOOR DL12 •TRIAL ULTIMATE • SHOWTIME INDOOR
A very happy winner: Adam Raga-ESP).
D
Dougie Lampkin (GBR) and Toni Bou (ESP).
ougie Lampkin has never been a man content to rest on his laurels; you don’t win 12 FIM World Championship titles by sitting around on your jacksy, waiting for opportunities to come knocking! Together with event co-promoter Jake Miller, the trials legend is working feverishly to pull together a bigger, better and even ballsier second edition of the event. The final entry is still in the process of being finalised, but you can guarantee that the very best riders on the planet will be in action in the Steel City in the New Year, and with the ink now dry on five contracts, this is as good a time as any to take a look at the Titans of Trial confirmed so far.
TONI BOU (ESP)
REPSOL HONDA As has been the case for the last 16 years, any top-flight trials entry list has to start with Toni Bou. Since claiming his first FIM X-Trial and Trial World Championship titles in 2007, the Spanish motorcycle superstar has yet to taste defeat across an entire World Championship season as he has rewritten, and then rewritten again, the record books time after time with the four-stroke Cota 4RT. At the age of 36, although he will be 37 by the time DL12 Indoor Trial V2.0 rolls around, the Catalan King has just sewn up another FIM TrialGP World Championship and is showing no signs of slowing down. He currently leads the FIM X-Trial World Championship standings indoors as he bids to dominate the sport for the 17th consecutive season. Having said that, Bou’s last visit to Sheffield saw him fail to end the night on the top step of the podium for just the second time in 15 appearances after a heel injury sustained on the Rock Oil rocks sidelined him before the Final. TRIAL MAGAZINE • OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2023
Toni Bou (ESP) leads the way on section inspection.
Toni Bou (Repsol Honda-ESP). 51
EARLY YEARS • TONI BOU
A NEW TALENT TONI BOU
During my years watching motorcycle trials, I have seen some remarkable talent rise through the ranks to become world champions. Some riders have surprised me by going all the way, and in my opinion, there has been some wonderful talent that never made it to the very top to become an FIM World Trials Champion; Steve Saunders always springs to mind. Watching Great Britain’s Dougie Lampkin from a very young age was a pleasure as, in the early days, I had some doubts about whether he would take the title. It was pure dedication that took him to the top, not just from Dougie but also from his family led by the very first FIM World Champion, his father Martin, in 1975 on the Bultaco — wonderful times, I might add. When speaking at the 2005 FIM World Round at Hawkstone Park with Martin, he mentioned a new talent from Spain who had caught his eye, a certain Toni Bou. It was during the practice session that we were speaking, and I made a note to myself to keep an eye out for him. He was young and enthusiastic and rode the Beta like ‘Spiderman’, positioning his body at a rapid rate of knots to keep the Italian machine stable and his feet on the footrests. Martin Lampkin had an eye for talent and had certainly hit the money with his prediction on Toni Bou! Words: Yoomee • Pictures: Eric ‘EK’ Kitchen, Peter J Beardmore, Trials Media, John E Shirt. 62
2007: Winning the opening world round in Spain. OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2023 • TRIAL MAGAZINE
TONI BOU • EARLY YEARS
2002: On the podium: left to right: Toni Bou (ESP) Isacc Pons (ESP) Tom Sagar (GBR) James Dabill (GBR).
B
orn on 17th October 1986, Toni came from an enthusiastic motorcycle family headed by his father, also called Toni. I do not have any record of his early years apart from the fact that he rode through the youth system riding a mixture of machines, including an Aprilia 50, Merlin 50, Beta 80 and Gas Gas 125, 160 and 250 before he surfaced in the FIM European Championship on a 250cc Beta at 14 years old. After the FIM World Championship-winning years of Jordi Tarres on the Beta in 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991 and again from 1993 until 1995 on the Gas Gas, and Marc Colomer (Montesa) in 1996, Spanish riders had been kept away from
2003: Checking the line in Spain with Jeroni Fajardo.
the championship as Great Britain’s Dougie Lampkin had dominated the tournament from 1997 consecutively until 2003. As Japan’s Takahisa Fujinami won on the two-stroke Honda in 2004, Spain had a new rider on the top: Adam Raga (Gas Gas), who won in 2005 and 2006. So where did Toni Bou come into the equation and start to show his brilliance in this slow-speed, two-wheeled sport?
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP This was a brilliant championship and an ideal feeder for any trials rider with world championship aspirations until the FIM separated it from the world championship.
Some of the European rounds stood alone, whilst some were run over the same weekend as the world championship, a superb way of bringing riders into the very cutting edge of the sport. Toni Bou first found success in the 2001 FIM European Youth 250cc Championship on the Beta. It was a three-round championship; Toni had a good start with a win in France and a third in Spain before finishing second in Spain in the final round. The winner of the title would be another super talent from Spain, Jeroni Fajardo (Gas Gas). He totalled 57 points with two wins, with Bou second on 52. Toni Bou (Beta) came back in 2002 to take the FIM European Youth
2003: Already showing his style at the Spanish world round. TRIAL MAGAZINE • OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2023
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HISTORY • INDOOR
INDOOR TRIALS FIM 1993–2022
Indoor – or demonstration trials – date back to the ’70s. I vaguely remember Don Smith on the Kawasaki going to Holland before I competed in what was some summer fun with the village fetes and galas. I am sure so many riders can remember when local clubs worked with local communities to put on such events, where man and machine would ride over some man-made hazards; they were actually very popular and a way of earning some extra cash.
With Spain still leading the way with motorcycle manufacturing in the trials world, they wanted more exposure for their home-grown products. In 1978, the very first Barcelona indoor trial was run. It was a way of showing off the skills of motorcycle trials, but based on its initial popularity, it soon became a mainstay event on the international calendar. It would open the door for other countries to stage indoor trials as they had noted the success in Barcelona. Other indoor types of events would begin to appear across Europe and America, and as far afield as Japan, focusing more on a riding demonstration and not always as a competition. Fans of motorcycle trials were more than happy to go and see an indoor show instead of trudging across open moorland or fields. It is quite hard to believe that the FIM Indoor World Trials Championship was born so long ago, in 1993. In 2023, as the indoor series approaches its 30th birthday, in this feature, we take a brief look over the indoor trials since it became an official FIM Trial World Championship. Words: Yoomee • Pictures: Solo Moto, Pep Segales, Trials Media, Joan Valls, Mario Candellone, Eric Kitchen. 86
OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2023 • TRIAL MAGAZINE
INDOOR • HISTORY
In 2017 the Barcelona Indoor Trial celebrated 40 years since the first event in 1978. The winner four decades ago was Jaime Subira, seen here on a Montesa.
T
hat first major indoor event happened in Spain, at the city’s Palais des Sports stadium in Barcelona, on the Thursday evening of 24th January 1978; it literally sold out. Free access was granted to those who possessed a copy of the SoloMoto magazine, which had organised the competition in response to the Spanish motorcycle manufacturers Bultaco, Montesa and Ossa. It was the springboard for the thoughts of a full season of indoor events where the top riders could show their skills and gain some extra financial income.
EARLY INDOORS As we moved away from the Spanish motorcycle manufacturers’ domination of the trials world in the late 1970s, more European manufacturers joined the trials scene, followed by the Japanese in the 1980s. In Great Britain, we witnessed the massive success of the ‘Kickstart’ arena-style events on television, where American rider Bernie Schreiber on the SWM became a significant influence, along with Eddy Lejeune (Honda-BEL) and the home talents of the big three in the ’80s led by Steve Saunders, John Lampkin and Tony Scarlett. All three had also ridden in Japan at the invitation indoor, and word was spreading like rapid-fire about this new way of witnessing motorcycle trials close up. With continued success, in 1992, the Barcelona indoor event moved to the Palau Sant Jordi stadium. The venue had a much larger floor space and offered the opportunity for more spectators to attend, as well as a better selection of sections for the riders to perform on. This allowed the powers in the FIM to put forward their proposals for an official FIM Indoor World Trials Championship in 1993, which was accepted. As Spain’s ‘King’ of indoor trials, Jordi Tarres, approached the end of his success on the Beta, he moved to Gas Gas; would he become the first official FIM Indoor World Champion? TRIAL MAGAZINE • OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2023
Bernie Schreiber (ItaljetUSA) jumps over the invited guest at the 1981 ‘Kickstart’ arena trial in Great Britain. Spain’s ‘King’ of the indoor trials, Jordi Tarres (Beta) in 1987.
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SUMMER TIME • WEEKENDER
WHAT A HOOT! OSET WEEKENDER
OSET was back with a bang in August with its inaugural ‘Weekender’ event. Over the past couple of years, the company has been pretty quiet, so it was good to see the electric off-road motorcycle manufacturer getting back to one of the things it does best: fun events for kids. The move clearly signals positive intentions for the future. Hosted by the purpose-built trials venue Hooton Lodge, in Rotherham in South Yorkshire, the setting proved ideal for the dozens of families camping on site and enjoying everything the location had to offer. Words: Michelle Horne • Pictures: OSET – Jan Peters.
O
SET parent Rose Batty said: “One of the reasons we invested in OSET was the opportunity to meet other riders and families in an environment that is perfect for beginners and really helps bring on their riding. You soon come to realise that it’s so much more than simply buying a motorcycle and learning to ride. We’ve made great friends, and it’s a real community of people that are all coming together to have fun and ride.” Simon Welham an OSET parent based in Leeds, agreed: “This was the first OSET event our son had been involved in and we loved it. We’ll definitely be back and can’t wait for the next one.” Simon Armstrong, events and promotions manager at OSET Bikes, added: “It’s great to hear feedback like that. We worked very hard to create an event that would see the kids having a load of fun on their motorcycles without even realising how their skills were improving.” With trials training, the first ever KlickStart — a welcome homage to the famous 1980s show — and a trial to boot, batteries were most certainly empty — metaphorically and literally — by the end of the weekend. OSET welcomed their own Oliver Smith, alongside ex-OSET rider and FIM Women’s Trial2 Championship competitor Sophie Bailey, to the roster of trainers to complete a full morning of trials practice. Split by ability and size, training focused 98
on improving techniques to tackle obstacles previously outside the riders’ comfort zones. For a beginner, this was as simple as being able to have the confidence to stand on the foot-pegs and ride up and downhill, through to more experienced riders looking at body positions and identifying lines through sections. Following a break for lunch, it was the part of the weekend kids and parents had been looking forward to the most — Klickstart.
KLICKSTART A bespoke course designed and built by OSET saw kids complete a slalom, turning circle, seesaw, balance beam and footy challenge before being pelted by water guns held by their friends and completing the course by hurling wet sponges at their ‘poor’ parents! As a timed event, seconds were added on for incomplete obstacles. Upon completing the course, the fastest little ones clambered up to the ‘hot seat’
Charlie Constantine. OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2023 • TRIAL MAGAZINE
WEEKENDER • SUMMER TIME
After Party — Rocco McVitie.
Arthur Wood with Elliot Smith.
to maintain their position as long as possible. Carl Batty said: “It was a real laugh. The kids absolutely howled with joy and raced to grab the water guns so they could squirt their friends. They soon realised it was as much about being accurate as being quick, so there was no point in going too fast through the different elements and messing up the obstacles.” The Klickstart proved such a hit OSET wheeled out a second incarnation at the ACU British round at Rock ‘n Hop less than two weeks later. It’s got Bigger and Better written all over it. And for those that are old enough to remember the original, it’s just as popular, just as fun and has the ingredients to be just as intense. It will be interesting to see where it leads. As the weather held, kids from ages 2–12 played in the big open field, with the big hit proving to be another classic: a massive game of rounders once the motorcycles were all on charge, ready for day two. TRIAL MAGAZINE • OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2023
Got Cha - The kids get Simon Armstrong.
Follow the line. 99
SCHOOLBOY • TRIALS
Keith Dopson.
A NEW CLASS SCHOOLBOY TRIALS
Growing up around motorcycles with my father, Ron, and older brother, Alan, was the norm as a schoolboy. In the late ’60s, we shared a converted 125cc BSA Bantam. My father had a 250cc Bultaco, and we would attend trials to either watch or observe. If we were fortunate enough, we could take the BSA along to ride around if there was an area at the trials venue. My brother and I would move to share a 125cc Dalesman we had obtained, both patiently waiting until 14 years of age when we would be allowed to apply for an ACU competition license. I competed in my first trial in September 1974, finishing one mark off the awards, riding my father’s 250cc Bultaco; the Dalesman had been sold. The trial was a Pennine Eagles one at Holestone Farm above Matlock, in Derbyshire, run by Cath and Ernie Roper. The club specialised in trials for under-18 and over-35 riders; I finished one mark off an award. One month later, I took an award, a first-class in the Under 18s class, finishing fifth overall. At our local Manchester 17 Motorcycle Club, we were told that a new class would soon be introduced at trials events: a Schoolboy Class. Words: Yoomee • Pictures: Surrey Schoolboy Trials Club, Barry Robinson, Joyce Hulme, Eric Kitchen 102
1970: Who had a BSA Bantam? I did! I am on the far left, with my brother Alan in the middle. OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2023 • TRIAL MAGAZINE
TRIALS • SCHOOBOY
Barry Roads can still be found riding in trials, seen here with Clive Roads and Nick Heane.
M
My good self, John Hulme, on my Ossa in 1976 in a Manchester 17 MCC Youth Trial.
y early trials years were all in adult trials with some very high-scoring finishes. I had now acquired my father’s 250cc Bultaco, which I grew into with every ride. In November 1975, the Manchester 17 MCC ran a trial for Novices and Schoolboys; this was my first introduction to a Schoolboy class. It was held at Wicken Walls Farm, nr Buxton in Derbyshire; here you would find Hawk’s Nest, sections still in use today. Thirty schoolboys took part out of an entry of 58. Adults and boys between the ages of 14 and 16 did five laps of 12 sections, whilst boys in the other two classes, 12–14 and under 12, omitted two sections; below are the results.
ADULT: Alan Hulme (250 Bultaco) 11. FIRST CLASS AWARDS: Gerry Hawkins (250 Montesa) 20; Peter Steckles (250 Ossa) 35; Gary Booth (250 Ossa) 37; Charlie Holmes (125 Honda) 37. YOUTH 14–16: Andy Shutt (250 Bultaco) 10. FIRST CLASS AWARDS: John Hulme (250 Bultaco) 13; Chris Davies (250 Bultaco) 14; Andy Ainsworth (250 Bultaco) 27. YOUTH 12–14: Mark Holland (Yamaha 80) 21. FIRST CLASS AWARDS: Scott Rowland (123 Montesa) 21; Howard Jackman (123 Montesa) 25. YOUTH UNDER 12: Andy Walker Yamaha 80) 105.
Surrey Schoolboy Trials Club members (from left) Chris Sutton (Bultaco), Clive Dopson (Montesa) and Stephen Dunkley (Ossa).
SCHOOLBOY TRIALS With information from Clive Dopson and Eddie Renham, it appears that the Surrey Schoolboy Trials Club was the first of its kind to be formed by Keith Dopson, Chris Sutton’s father Rag and Colin Boniface’s father Bill. Each was an enthusiastic trials rider, organiser and a father of a son struggling to find anywhere to compete.
The club held its inaugural trial on 19th March 1972 at Linchmere Common, between Liphook and Haslemere, and there were 27 riders in two classes: Seniors 14 to 16 years and Juniors 12 to 14 years. It appears all rode the same route of five laps of eight sections. The first two places overall were taken by Chris Sutton (250 Bultaco) on six, with Colin Boniface (250 Bultaco) on 23 in the Juniors, followed by Clive Dobson (250 Bultaco) on 39 as the best Senior rider. The club agreed to organise one event a month, which it managed in 1972 apart from August, so it was nine events in the first year. The club went from strength to strength, encouraging riders and fathers from other areas to visit and start their own clubs. In 1974, the ACU formed a Youth Division to manage the youth sport, mainly covering scrambling and trials with some grass track racing. When the first chairman of the Youth Division, Bryan Hunt, retired, Keith Dopson became the chairman, showing the influence of the Surrey Schoolboy Trials Club. Legendary trials reporter Ralph Venables was a great supporter of youth sport. His book, Schoolboy Scrambling and Other Motorcycle Sports, was published in 1975. In the book, there are many interesting photographs of competitors of the time, plus a list of 36 clubs that catered for youth sport. However, only one club, other than the Surrey Schoolboy Trials Club, was specifically for youth trials.
TRIAL MAGAZINE • OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2023
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OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2023 • TRIAL MAGAZINE
TRIALS • SCHOOBOY
John Reynolds flies high on the Dalesman in the early ’70s.
On 16th September 1973 John Reynolds won the Wetherby Club trial, the very first ACU recognised National Trial for Schoolboys.
PROGRESS Other clubs soon noted the interest in the new Schoolboy Class. The first of its kind held in South Yorkshire attracted 33 entrants from 10–16 years old, run by the Sheffield and Hallamshire club on Sunday 19th August 1973. After six laps of 15 sections which were mainly dry, 15-year-old John Reynolds (Ossa) won, with second place taken by 13-year-old Chris Sutton, who had travelled to the Holmesfield venue near Sheffield from Woking in Surrey. The progress of the Schoolboy Class took a huge step forward just one month later, on 16th September 1973, when the Wetherby Club, with sponsorship from the Macrae Kipper Group, held the very first ACU-recognised National Trial for Schoolboys. The trial would consist of a threemile lap based at Patley Bridge on the Fell Beck Farm of the Shepherd brothers Rob and Norman, two well-respected trials riders. The course would include 17 sections ridden over four laps on a variety of typical Yorkshire sections. There was a great turnout of 73 riders, separated into three classes: 16–17, 14–16 and Under 14. It was a huge success, and the winner, John Reynolds, was presented with a trophy from Rob Shepherd. Below are the results.
BEST PERFORMANCE: John Reynolds (250 Ossa) 35. 16–17: A Sharp (250 Bultaco) 50; R Saddington (250 Ossa) 72; Mowse (250 Bultaco) 94. 14–16: Mike Skinner (123 Montesa) 56; R Carr (250 Ossa) 66; J Johnson (250 Bultaco) 87. UNDER 14: Peter Cartwright (250 Bultaco) 48; Chris Sutton (250 Bultaco) 58; S Blagden (250 Bultaco) 153. TRIAL MAGAZINE • OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2023
Based on his early success, John Reynolds would soon receive support from Harrogate Ossa dealer Gordon Johnson. 105
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