CAREFUL RIDING
Year 7 pupil, Bobby Webb, has an interesting activity that he enjoys outside of school – classic motorcycle trials. We were delighted to hear about Bobby’s recent success in the West Country Motorcycle Trials, he came fourth in the recent West Country competition. Remarkably, he is only 12 years old, competing against adults on a full size motorcycle.
Motorcycle trials, also known as observed trials, is a non-speed event on specialised motorcycles. The sport is most popular in the United Kingdom and Spain, though there are participants around the globe. Motorcycle trials are often used by competitors in other motorcycle sports (such as motocross or road racers) as a way to cross-train, as trials requires fine throttle, balance, and machine control.
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. Routes are carefully fixed 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. It is all about careful riding and skill, rather than speed.
Bobby, who competes on a Somerton classic, obviously has a natural talent for the sport and is coached on occasion by Mick Andrews, an English former international motorcycle trials rider and FIM European Trials Champion in the 1970s and five times winner of the Scottish Six Days Trial.
Congratulations Bobby and we look forward to hearing about future successes.