Observed Trials

OBSERVED TRIALS

COMPETITION GUIDE

The basic idea in observed trials is to ride a motorcycle over short stretches of seemingly impossible terrain without stopping or putting a foot down. These pieces of inhospitable real estate might route a rider straight up or straight down a cliff; through a stream bed filled with mud and slimy, algae-covered rocks; or over boulders and trees.

As is the case of other forms of motorcycle racing, the machines are specialized to do what trials demands. They are light, narrow, torquey and built to steer quickly with lots of steering lock to manuever around, over or through obstacles.

A trials meet has riders tackle sections, each manned by an observer. If the rider gets through the section without stopping or putting a foot down, he has cleaned the section and gets no points. (In trials, lowest score wins). If he puts down one foot once (or dabs) but doesn't lose forward momentum, he gets 1 point. If he dabs more than once but keeps moving, he gains 3 points, and if he crashes, rides out of the markers defining the section, or stops, he gains 5 points for failing the section.

Typically, 10-15 sections are linked by a loop, and each rider usually makes two laps of the loop. There is a time limit for finishing all the required sections, and a rider gains one-tenth of a point for each minute over the limit that it takes him to finish. If he takes an hour or more to finish, he is disqualified.

Riders don't get to practice on the sections, but may walk through a section before attempting to ride through it.

Local clubs often hold trials meets. There is a national series for expert riders, made up of 8 to 10 events across the country, with the rider finishing first in the series becoming the national champion. The championship events are sanctioned jointly by the AMA and the North American Trials Council (NATC, 4523 E. 18th St., Denver, Colo. 80220).

Because it involves a different type of skill without the emphasis on speed present in other forms of motorcycle competition, trials riding is probably the least understood form of motorcycle event. It's easy to dismiss the incredible, one-wheel turns of trials aces as some sort of bizarre sideshow to motorcycle racing. However, one rider put trials in perspective when he pointed out that anyone who can ride a motorcycle can negotiate Daytona's road race course or Ascot's half-mile or Carlsbad's motocross track—maybe not quickly, but they can ride around the course.

But many excellent, expert-level road

racers, dirt trackers or motocrossers could not ride a a motorcycle through an observed trials section typical of national events.