Motourage

Rain or shine, the first weekend of May always brings a gaggle of observed trials motorcycle riders together to compete in one of the first events of the season, presented by the Welland County Motorcycle Club hosted at the Port Colborne Quarry in Southern Ontario Canada.  The competitors dusted off their trials helmets, shook the cobwebs off their equipment and polished their rusty skills in the warm-up area as they patiently waited for the start of their first of four required loops. With rain-swelled clouds threatening overhead, the end of the event was guaranteed to be wet and slippery.

In trials competitions riders achieve the lowest scores by keeping their feet off the ground and themselves on their motorcycles, while negotiating a series of obstacles placed within a loop.  Waznie Racing’s Jordan Szoke, competing aboard his #1-plated Raga Gas 300 – having won the Canadian National Championship last season at the Arden event – collected a meager two points in his first loop while negotiating the eight carefully laid out sections. 

By the beginning of the third loop the rain clouds burst, making already challenging lines more difficult as the competitors tried to pick up a few extra points with the loss of traction in the slippery muck.  The checkers stationed at every section braved the weather as well as they scored the riders through the entire event. 

Jordan completed the trial within the required time earning 27 points to earn him the first victory of the season.

 “What a great way to start off the year,” said Szoke “With our Road Racing season coming up soon at the end of May this is a great way for me to relax and have some fun before it’s time to get to work. So far I feel I am riding really well. I always practice very hard on my trials skills throughout the season and strive to always get the best results.”

Defending Canadian Observed Trials and Superbike champion Jordan Szoke

Organized by the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM), the Trial des Nations is the most important international motorcycle trials competition. It has been held annually since 1984 at different countries.  Each team is composed of four riders in the male category, and since 2000, three riders in the female category.  The team with fewest total penalties is awarded the title.

It is a true honor to represent your country in the Trials Des Nations, which could be described as the Olympics of Observed Trials. The Canadian Team is made up of the top Canadian riders who work hard throughout the season to ready themselves to compete against other countries in Tolmezzo, Italy on Sept  18, 2011.

2011 Team Canada:
Jordan Szoke – Ontario
Jonathan English – Ontario
Will Duggan – British Columbia
Devon D’Argis – British Columbia
Jon Nelson – Ontario (Minder)

The current major obstacle with sending a Canadian Trials Team to Europe is funding. Without funding and support we simply would not be able to represent our country abroad.  Donations are accepted directly to the CMA and your sponsorship will be acknowledged on the CMA TDN Web Page.

For more information on how you can help the Canadian TDN Team Contact Bob Billyard at bob@ossacanada.ca.

The AMA announced today the 2010 schedule for the 10-round AMA Racing/NATC Observed Trials National Championship Series, as well as the dates for the East and West Youth Championships.

Riders vying for national titles in several age-, skill- and machine-based classes in the AMA Racing/NATC Observed Trials National Championship Series will begin their campaigns on May 1-2 in Tishomingo, Okla.

Photo by Darlene Lynch

In the East, top youth trials riders will face off July 2-4 in Sequatchie, Tenn., while in the West, youth titles will be decided on July 17-19 in Las Vegas, N.M.

“The feats that these riders achieve on their motorcycles, from scaling vertical cliffs to crossing seemingly impassable rock gardens, will keep any fan coming back for more,” said AMA Director of Racing Joe Bromley. “Trials is one of the oldest forms of motorcycle sport, and we’re excited to begin another year in the storied history of this incredible discipline.”

From Oklahoma, the AMA Racing/NATC Observed Trials National Championship Series will go to Exeter, R.I., for rounds three and four; Cayuta, N.Y., for rounds five and six; Pueblo, Colo., for rounds seven and eight; and Norden, Calif., for rounds nine and 10. The complete schedule, as well as contact information for the East and West Youth Championships, is below.

For more information, visit www.natctrials.org.

Read more…