Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125626
.... ... t Q" ~ ~ TRIALSBy Fred Belair Trtall! is beyood any doubt a motorcycle sport wbieh is beeom1Dg Increas..,J 1DC17 popular bol:ll In Europe and In U America. But, wbat is that motorcyclist :.. sport c:a1led Trlals? Many people I:bInk U it is a COUIJllicated and bardly spectacular spee1alt;y capable of drawing l:Ile attentioo ofl:lle Initiated only. Of course, it is necessary to mow the peculiarities of Trlals to appreciate its qualities tbougb it is by no means an Intricate puzzle. We may define Trials as a motorcycle test where the rider's Skill, endurance and regularit;y are the main factors In wlnning. Trlals is a pure sport. The men who take part in these competitions are amateurs. If l:Ile Trial requires physical and mecbanical endurance and great skill, it is tundamentall7 a sport for one's own personal tun. The cross-country trlals course is usually composed of dirt roads, rough country and forest patbs where the rider Invariably enjoys a fast ride even when time is not pressing. Internationally, the race is two laps of 30 - 40 miles each, wil:ll over two dozen nOll-stop sections in all. About 12 or 15 mUes per hour is usually the average speed set for the race. At first sight, this speed looks slow, but it must be borne in mind that some areas are very d1ff1cult to negotiate. Besides, before eng2g1ng on the non-stop zones, riders usually stop and examine l:Ilem minutely on foot, and walt to see how the other riders who have preceded them tackle the stretch. Thus a considerable length of time is lost wbieh greatly affects I:Ile general average speed and compels I:Ile rider to hurry uP after. We have referred to the non-.stop sections. These are some comparatively short stretches wIlere the rider's skill counts for much; l:Iley form part of l:Ile course and riders are penallzed dependIng on the way they get through them. Primarily, the rider is required to negotiate the stretch without stopping and wil:ll both feet on his foot-rests. Only I:Ile very best succeed, for non-stop sections are usually so rugged and irregular that ~ A True Sport riders can bardly get throucb tbem feet uP. A rider crossing a IIOII-stop section feet uP and witbout stopping ls not penalized. If be touches tbe ground just ooce but does not stop (this is called "one dab") be ls penallzed 1 mark. Should he touch tbe ground more I:Ilan ooee wil:ll one or both feet to help the mount get forward, he is penallzed 3 marks. Now, should bls mount fall to make progress (because of a jam, or through any other cause) be is penalized 5 marks. This situatioo is usuall7 mown as "fal1ure". Non-stop sections are usuall7 composed of natural elements, wil:ll natural obstacles not subject to changes or manipulation. A classical llOo-stopisapebbly steep stream bed formed by rains Or the melting of ice and snow, the bed to be tackled from bottom to toP. The course may also run along shallow streams wIlere the bottom does not show very clearly, slippery slopes, steep SandY patbs on wbich wbeels are apt to skld, stony patbs of all sorts, etc. In a good non-stoP section, the beginning and l:Ile end of the run and its whole stretch are quite visible. The difficult;y does Dot lie In zigzagging or driving as you would in a gymkhana, but to ride along a natural very steep course full of natural obstacles In a practically stralght line and into that the rider may choose the best way according to bls personal abilities. Still, the beginning and end of the section are signalized - the opening is not under 4 feet In width - with arrows, ribbons, small squares or flags, so there won't be any doubt as to the course to be covered. PENALIZATlONS. Penallzations affecting the rider's classification may vary slightly depending on the rules in force for each particular Trlal, but l:Iley usually consist of: TIME. One minute delay at the start: 1 mark. A delay in excess of 20 minutes . at the start entalls rider's elimination. For every minute delay at the Flnlsh: 1 mark. In some Trlals a maximum delay is spec1f1ed, and rider is dlsquallfied if he exceeds it. FAULTS. To refuse to tackle a non;stop section: 10 marks lost. Incorrect attitude towards an olfJeer or a marsMll of the meet1llr. or towardS another rider: 100 marks lost. STYLE: Wblle negotlatlng a non-stop stretch: Touching ground wil:ll ooe foot: 1 mark lost. Touching ground wil:ll ODe foot, more I:Ilan ooce, or wil:ll boI:Il feet: 3 marks lost. For one "fallure" (stop.. ping forward motion, killlng engine): 5 marks lost. Rider incurs the same fault if he tries to push his way forward bY leaning with any part of his body (foot, hand, etc.) on any obstacle whatever, be it a tree, a wall, a rock, etc. ' TRIALS MOTORCYCLES, The motorcycles used by trial riders have developed a great deal quicker I:Ilan l:Ile trlal ~ -,. start willi a complete Trtal sasoo before, since tbey would learn to ride fast OIl muckt;y surfaces, stoay patbs and all kinds of rugged roads all by theJDH1yes, away from the eyes ofl:lle crowd. As to l:Ile seeood aspect of the Trial, it is a great school for I:Ile young motorcycllst, since he learns to master his mOlDlt to a limit wh1ch the non-initiated consider marvelous, and he keeps his balance under I:Ile most trying conditions. It is not onlY a test bench. Motorcycllsts of different ages, possessing diverse degrees of dexterit;y, feel that Trlals is real fun and a means of keeping physically fit, a pure sport which allows you to keep !g.contact.w11:1l nature. '-: proper. Engines are both powerful and smooth running. With one of these mounts you can slow down to a minimum speed, or even to nil, without using the clutch, and the moment you give the engine a mtle gas the. mount shoots ahead instantly. Frame, wheels and the rest of the machine down to its minutest parts are considered so that the rider will enjoy maximum balance, rellablllt;y, ground clearance and ease of h8rvllf ng. The organization technique bas also progressed bY leaps and bounds, and so it is possible to get the final results as the riders reach the goal. The. use of the individual card bas proved a decisive factor. Every rider bas a card, and \IPOO leaving the non-stop sectioo, the corresponding officer of the course punches bls card at the 0, I, 5 or 5 mark square. WHAT IS THE ATTRACTION OF THE TRIALS? We have so far outlined the maln peculiarities of this enthusing modern sport, the Trial. In practlc~, Trlals af!ers two different facets, one of them being a most charming course, usuallyasplendld run across the mountain where one can ride at a faIrly good speed in all sorts of ground, enjoying nature. The Trlals course is an excellent medium to help you become a good rider no matter the specialt;y you favor. Young riders who intend starting with motocross should . " '" In fact, you pit your sklll against that of oI:Iler riders In an amiable, clean atmosphere of comradeship as opposed to the uncertain climate of rivalry so common to other sports wIlere competitors want to be first at all costs. Among the tr1al1sts there exists always a warm friendship, no matter in w!Iat part of l:Ile world the sport is In vogue. A spirit of cooperation and comradeship no one would dare to impair through antagonism of exaggeration. That's wily such riders as aPProach the Trial for I:Ile first time feel Interested and at home stralght away. Because it is a sport in wbich you always win and learn, a sport wh1ch enriches you, not with money but with ethical and moral values. In a word, a real sport. WYCKOFF MOVES UP IN DIXIE John Wyckaf!, a transplanted Yankee, has adapted so well to soutbern llfe that he has belped triple sales for Dixie Internatiooal, his employers. Dix1e is the a must or every serious enthusiast fit AlOG & PE JbRMANCE MANUAL Jolin Wyckoff world's largest distributor of motor~ cycle parts and accessories to motorcycle dealers In the U.S. and 18 foreign countries. In reeognitloo of his sales efforts, Wyckaf! has been promoted from District Salesman to National Sales Manager, it was reported by Joe Baca, President of the Columbus, Ohio based firm. Wyckaf!, wIlo is also a correspondent for Cycle News, works out of Stone Mountain, Georgia. New! $2.00 Equipment and modifications for Hodaka. Honda. Yamaha. Kawasaki. Suzuki, Bridgestone. Sachs & others. rDBh~ra•. VAN TECH 317 North Victllf)' Boulevard, Burbank. Calif. 915Cl2. (213) 842-4847.