PREPARATIONS are well underway for the sixth round of the 2011 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship to be held at Nevis Range, Fort William in the Scottish Highlands over the weekend of Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 July.
Considered by many of the top riders as one of the best rounds of the 2010 season, the Grand Prix of Great Britain at Fort William will once again play host to sixty of the most accomplished, composed and skilful motorcycle trials riders from around the globe.
They will battle it out over a mixture of stunning natural and technical man made sections, with the added pressure of a set time limit for each section, for valuable points towards the 2011 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship World Pro (male only at Fort William), World Junior (male and female) and World Youth (male and female) titles.
As the saying goes, ‘If it’s not broken, don’t fix it’, but that hasn’t stopped legendary course designerm Martin Lampkin, from organisers L & M Events, making several key changes to last year’s layout.
Martin Lampkin said: “There’s no doubt that last year we created a winning formula – everybody involved commented on how well the event ran and were especially complimentary about the wide range of sections.
“With this in mind I am keen to make sure that none of last year’s magic is lost, but I am also aware people will want to see some new challenges for the world’s best riders.”
On a visit to Nevis Range event organisers, L+M Events, were greeted by a landscape that had substantially changed, in certain areas over the past ten months.
A harsh winter and heavy rainfall have contributed in shifting the local terrain, especially around the river sections out on the course.
“It’s incredible to see how the rocks have been moved since last year,” continued Lampkin.
“Obviously for us this is great news as spectators and riders alike will benefit from having fresh sections to navigate.”
It’s not only some of the natural sections which have been modified – Martin is also exploring the possibilities of creating a brand new section close to the paddock, in the Nevis Range car park, plus three new man made hazards.
The FIM rules have been modified since last year, and each rider now has 90 seconds to pass through each section rather than the sixty seconds that they had last year.
Despite this Lampkin is confident he can create a course that still pushes the riders to their absolute limits.
“Clearly the FIM rule changes will make a difference when it comes to building the sections, but I see it as a positive thing – the spectators get to watch the riders in the sections for longer and it gives me greater opportunity to make a more dynamic course,” concluded Martin.
The actual paddock area itself has undergone generous changes for this year with an increased event village and extra car parking spaces.
Substantial investment has also seen the creation of a state of the art café at the Nevis Range Mountain Resort with incredible views of the mountain – a facility that both teams and spectators will benefit from during the event.
Full information on the 2011 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship at Nevis Range, Fort William, including travel and accommodation, and to buy tickets go to http://www.ukworldtrial.com/ or call the event hotline on 0845 643 6756.
Ends
Media contact:
Paddy Cuthbert, Podge Publicity – T: 07968 699636 / E: paddy@podge.co.uk
Notes to Editors:
Useful websites:
2011 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship at Nevis Range, Fort William – http://www.ukworldtrial.com.
FIM – http://www.fim-live.com/en/
ACU – http://www.acu.org.uk/
Trials Central – http://wwwtrialscentral.com/
The 2010 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship at Fort William
The inaugural SPEA FIM Trial World Championship held at Nevis Range in 2010 was a huge success with the spectacular setting creating one of the best events the championship has seen in its 35-year history.
The natural sections plotted by Martin Lampkin provided a unique challenge for the competitors and brought out some superb riding that was warmly appreciated by the assembled crowd who enjoyed the atmosphere of this incredible location.
The UK’s only mountain gondola allowed the fans easy access to all parts of the course and provided them with unrivalled views of Lochaber and the Scottish Highlands
Funding and support
The 2011 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship at Nevis Range, Fort William is supported by EventScotland, Highland and Islands Enterprise and The Highland Council together with Nevis Range, Alcan, Forestry Commission Scotland, VisitScotland, Outdoor Capital of the UK, TMX and Hope.
The sport
Motorcycle trials is unique in the world of motorsport. It is the only discipline where the winner is decided on skill alone. It is a test of riding skill and balance over observed sections. When competitors ride the timed sections their feet must remain on the footrests of the motorcycle as they negotiate seemingly impossible obstacles, both natural and man made. They must negotiate steep gullies, slippery rock steps, rocky streams or boulder-strewn gorges. Sections vary in length and severity, and riders are penalised if they put their feet down to help them ride the section, and more so if they fail to negotiate the section in its entirety.
The sport originated in the UK nearly a century ago and has enjoyed a long association with Fort William and Lochaber – ‘The Outdoor Capital of the UK’ – as host to the world-famous Scottish Six Days Trial that celebrates its centenary in 2011.
World Championship classes
World Pro – As the name suggests, this is the world’s elite – the professionals, the best on the planet.
World Junior – This class is for riders aged 16 to 23 years-old and is a feeder class for the top category.
World Youth – Riders in this class are restricted to 125cc machines, and must be aged 16 to 18 years-old.
The Trial des Nations
The Trial des Nations is regarded as ‘the Jewel in the Crown’ in world motorcycling and is strongly supported by the majority of national federations affiliated to the FIM.
This annual event normally attracts teams from around 25 nations and caters for both female and male riders. The competition takes place over three days with the final round of the FIM Women’s Trial World Championship opening proceedings ahead of the two-team events. The three-member ladies teams then fight it out on Saturday prior to Sunday’s main trial, when the mighty four-man squads battle it out for top honours.
Governing bodies
The 2010 and 2011 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship and Trial Des Nations 2012 will be run on behalf of the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) which is the World governing body of motorcycle sport.
The Auto Cycle Union (ACU), the British motorcycle federation, has sanctioned these events to be run within its territory.
The events will be run in accordance with the FIM sporting code, trial regulations, technical rules and environmental code, with delegates from both the FIM and the ACU present throughout the events to ensure compliancy.
EventScotland
EventScotland is the national events agency. EventScotland is working to make Scotland one of the world’s leading event destinations. By developing an exciting portfolio of sporting and cultural events EventScotland is helping to raise Scotland’s international profile and boost the economy by attracting more visitors. For further information about EventScotland, its funding programmes and latest event news visit www.EventScotland.org
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Contact: Paddy Cuthbert
Phone: 07968699636
Email: paddy@podge.co.uk
Website: http://www.ukworldtrial.com.
