Trial

British Toby Martyn (Vertigo, in the photo), Italian Manuel Copetti (Vertigo) and German Markus Kipp (TRS) topped the podium in their classes in the first round of the 2017 FIM Europe Trial Championship, held in Zelhem, The Netherlands. After the Youth and Women Series, which occupied the scene on Saturday, it was the turn of the more blazoned riders. Two loops with 15 sections as tradition. The weather was very variable. Sun and rain came over and over again. So sections gained and lost grip many times in the same day. That meant few differences for sections with rocks but a lot of differences for the ones on big logs, because when they were wet it was quite impossible to overtake them. Sometimes it was wise to wait for a while to let sun dry the logs or rocks before jumping. Martyn started soon very well scoring 14 marks at

World Champion Emma Bristow (Sherco) and Oliver Smith (Gas Gas) are the first winners in respectively Women and Youth class of the FIM-Europe Trials Championship, 26th edition, held in Zelhem, the Netherlands. First day of a weekend rich of enthusiasm for this opening round, disputed in a close area full of spectacular rocks, obstacles requested by modern trial. And who could be more modern, but the youngest riders admitted in these International series with the best female riders in the world? Yes, this time the two-times World Champion, British Emma Bristow decided to join the circus. Her riding is one step above all the others, but she wanted to test her mind, probably before going to the Scottish Six Days next week. Loosing just 1 point in the whole competition, she assured herself the first position. Probably not happy to see her, number one in European Champ in the last

After three years in which the FIM Europe Trial Championship started from in Italy, next weekend Zelhem in The Netherlands will open the doors at its 26th edition. A closed area will allow public to follow well the whole competition walking from one section to another. This is the same venue that hosted the series in 2012. The European series knows no crisis with a number of participants increasing year after year.  A success due to a very familiar environment: licensing costs not expensive, dates chosen in school holidays to encourage young people's participation, less rigid regulations. For example, the closed traffic circuit that allows the sixteen year old riders to ride higher-capacity motorcycles than what they should by law. There also is a singular system of attribution of the championship points, ranging from 100 to the first, 85 to the second, 70 to the third, and so on. All

Two German’s clinched the two titles still to be assigned in the last round held in Bilstain, Belgium of the FIM Europe Championship: Franz Kadlec (Beta) in the Europe class and Sascha Neumann (Gas Gas) in the Junior class. Both had hard time in defeating their main rivals. Kadlec won this last round beating by only two points his first challenger, Belgian Maxime Warenghien (Sherco), strong as never competing on home soil. Without any doubt, these two riders were the protagonists of this 23rd edition of the European championship. In both the loops, on the 15 sections, the German one was able to score one mark less: 30 against 31 in the first lap and 29 against 30 in the second part. The competition was quite hard for the muddy rocks typical of this place. In third place Nowegian Hakon Pedersen (Ossa). For Naumann it was sufficient to climb the

On the famous venue of Bilstain, Belgium ,British Dan Peace (Gas Gas) and German Ina Wilde (Gas Gas) became European Champion in the Youth and Women class respectively. In a very changeable weather, with showers and sun shining in alternate appearance, the fourth and last round of the championship for women and Youths has been held. If the final crown for Peace was almost certain, having gathered 3 victories in the previous rounds and managing a decent lead on runner-up, Italian Luca Petrella (Ossa), not so taken for granted the title for Ina, who on the eve shared the top position with her country-mate Theresa Baulm. Indeed in the Youth class, the winner was the challenger, Petrella , the only one able to squeeze a victory from the great power showed by Peace. The Italian’s led from the first lap to the end, scoring 19 marks each lap. On the

Blazoned venue chosen to close the 23rd edition of the European Trial series: the theater of the 80’s and part of the 90’s Belgian world rounds: the Bilstain domain. A large private terrain in North-East of Belgium fully dedicated to off-road motorcycling sport: Trial and Enduro. In this coming week-end it will host all the best riders engaged in the various European championship or cup trophies. Starting on Saturday here are on the stage, the Women's and the Youth's, to continue on Sunday where we are expecting the Over40, the Juniors and the Europe class. On the competition loop, 12 sections to be repeated twice on Saturday competition. Three section more on Sunday’s. Still four titles have to be assigned, because the Over 40 Cup was already clinched by Finn Jussi Haapanen (Gas Gas) , winner of three events and so crowned European champion in Tanvald, in the event before.

FIM President Vito Ippolito and newly elected FIME President Wolfgang Srb were amongst several VIP's who visited the Polish round of the Women and Youth European Trial Championship in Krzeszowice yesterday. They were treated to some excellent competition in all classes. The women's championship is now tied at the top. Following her victory today, Theresa Bauml is now on 270 championship points along with fellow German Ina Wilde who was second today. The first 4 places were taken by German riders with Bianca Huber taking the third step on the podium ahead of Sarah Bauer and Italian Sara Trentini who remains in third place in the Championship. The Youth riders showed some tremendous talent and despite the Jury and organisers making some sections harder they managed to lose less marks than the previous day. Briton Dan Peace again mounted the top step of the podium losing a total of 5

British Gas Gas rider Dan Peace kept up is 100% record in the 2014 European Youth Trial Championship with a win in Krzeszowice today. Dan's 10 mark loss put him 3 clear of a tie between Italian Luca Petrella on his Ossa and Beta mounted British rider Toby Martyn with the Italian rider taking second place with more clean rides. Theresa Bauml was victorious in a closely fought women class losing 23 marks which was 3 less than her German compatriot Ina Wilde who was in turn 4 ahead of Italian Sara Trentini. It was a great day for the German women, taking 5 of the first 6 positions. In the international competition Pia Emonts won the women's class from Nadine Faude and Millie Ray with Scandinavian riders dominating the International Youth event. The trial was held near the town of Krzeszowice in beautiful weather and will on Sunday welcome

As happened in Italy at the first round, Belgian Maxime Warenghien (Sherco), German Sascha Neumann (Gas Gas) and Finn Jussi Haapanen (Gas Gas) won their respectively classes in this second day, in Tanvald, Czech Republic. This was the fourth and penultimate round of the 2014 FIM Europe Championship. Four sections were modified to make them more difficult, after having seen the scores of yesterday, and the weather was again clement for the whole event. After the convincing victory of day one, all eyes were focused on German Franz Kadlec (Beta) to watch and admire his precise riding. And he did not disappoint his fans, gaining the leadership at half competition as he did 24-hours before. Best score (7 marks) and all rivals behind. But this time not too distant. Werenghien scored 12, same for British Jack Price (Gas Gas). Then Norwegian Hakon Pedersen (Ossa with just 3 marks more. At

German Franz Kadlec (Beta) dominated the scene in this first day in Tanvald, Czech Republic, valid as third round of the 2014 FIM Europe Trial Championship. His total score of 10 points is almost one third of what done by the second, Martin Kroustek, proud to bring on podium his Beta 4 stroke: the only one at this level on a not updated model. In third position another “local” rider, Jiri Svoboda (Beta) ahead of one of the favourites, Italian Luca Cotone (Sherco). Against the odds the weather: for the first time in tre latest years, Tanvald offered a sunny day, consequently the scores in all the classes lowered dramatically. Kadlec demonstrated soon to be able to ride one step above his rivals. On the 15 sections, after the first loop, he lost 8 marks. Svoboda was not too distant (13), then Cotone (17). But the second lap of the