A YOUNG Italian couple share a passion for the SSDT.
Twenty-one year-old Sara Trentini (number 127) is one of only four women competing in the 2012 Scottish Six Days Trial (SSDT).
This week sees the attractive young Top Trials Team rider take on the biggest challenge of her professional career, but throughout she has been able to count on the support of her Italian boyfriend and team boss, Michele Bosi (number 126), who is competing in the SSDT for the sixth time this year.
Sara is no stranger to international trial events, having already competed at professional World-class level. Sara had her first taste of the SSDT in 2011 when she came along to watch boyfriend, Michele, who then encouraged her to enter this year.
The couple agreed that the SSDT, which is famous for being one of the toughest trials in the world, would be ideal preparation for the 2012 FIM Women’s World and European Trial Championships, in which Sara will also compete later this year.
Speaking on day two of the SSDT, Sara said that the event had proved to be a lot tougher than she had originally anticipated.
However, her objective was not simply to finish, but to finish with a good result.
Michele has been supporting Sara every step of the way, sharing his knowledge of the SSDT and also his experience as the professional minder of British 2012 FIM Trial World Championship contender, Jack Challoner (number 125), to guide Sara in her Scottish debut year.
The SSDT is a very physically demanding trial – six long days of riding through the Scottish Highlands in the wind and rain is certainly not most young couples’ idea of a romantic holiday.
Michele commented: “This week has been a true test of our relationship – as both Sara’s team manager and partner, I pushed her hard to come back here and ride this year.”
Sara added: “For sure it has not been easy, but I am having fun. It has been a great learning experience for me – I would not be able to get this level of training back in Italy. I will definitely be needing another holiday after this week is over though!”
But before the young couple can book their two weeks in the sun, they have four more days of their gruelling Scottish adventure to complete. This year’s remaining female riders include Britain’s Emma Bristow, Becky Cook and Katy Sunter.
The SSDT is organised by the Edinburgh & District Motor Club. EventScotland is continuing to support the event this year as part of its national funding programme. There are 275 competitors taking part in this year’s event between 7th and 12th May.
The SSDT is free for spectators to watch on all days. The official event programme, containing routes and spectating opportunities along with a range of interesting articles and additional information, is available to purchase in and around Fort William.
It is available to buy online and further details can be found on the event’s website at www.ssdt.org.
High Resolution copyright free images for media / editorial use are available on request.
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Notes to editors:
Motorcycle trials – the sport
Motorcycle trials is a competitive sport that tests riding skill over a course of observed sections (or hazards/obstacles). Competitors must negotiate steep gullies, slippery rock steps, rocky streams or boulder-strewn gorges, and are penalised if they put their feet down to help them to ride the section or if they fail to complete the section in its entirety.
Motorcycle trials are unique in the world of motorsport, with it being the only discipline where the winner is decided on skill alone and not speed.
The Scottish Six Days Trial
The annual Scottish Six Days Trial is managed by the Edinburgh and District Motor Club. It is a particularly challenging motorcycle trials event as it tests competitors’ stamina, endurance, strength and consistency over long distances, with 275 riders completing more than 100 miles and 30 sections on some days of the six-day event. The routes cover a combination of rough moorland, rocky tracks and public roads.
The SSDT started in 1909 and, with breaks during the two World Wars, celebrated its 100th anniversary in May 2011, making it the oldest and also one of the most prestigious motorcycle trials events in the world.
The SSDT is based in the Lochaber region of the Scottish Highlands and is traditionally held in May every year. Each day of the trial starts and finishes in Fort William, providing a major tourist attraction for the town.
Admission to watch the SSDT is free on all days. Full event details, including the best spectating points throughout the week, can be found in the official event programme, which will be available to purchase in April 2012.
An independent economic impact survey commissioned by the event organiser and funded by Event Scotland in 2011 showed that the Scottish Six Days Trial provided a direct economic impact of around £1,100,000 to Fort William last year.
Event overview and history: http://www.g2fgroup.com/html/ssdt/html/SSDT12-addinfo.html
EventScotland
The Scottish Six Days Trial is supported by 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.
The Year of Creative Scotland 2012 will spotlight and celebrate Scotland’s cultural and creative strengths on a world stage and is a Scottish Government initiative led in partnership by EventScotland, VisitScotland, Creative Scotland and VOCAL.
More information and resources to help businesses engage with Year of Creative Scotland are available at www.visitscotland.org/yearofcreativescotland-toolkit
For all press enquires please contact:
Siobhan Turner / Jake Miller @ G2F Media
Email: siobhan@g2fmedia.com / jake@g2fmedia.com
Tel: 0161 763 6660.
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Contact: Siobhan Turner, G2F Media
Phone: 0161 763 6660
Email: siobhan@g2fmedia.com
Website: http://www.ssdt.org/
