Rules

To ride a trial you must be a member.

Registration for trial riding must be completed by 10.15 am on the day of the  trial.

Riders must display their registration number on their bike.

Bikes must conform to the Machine Eligibility Rules.

Riders must wear a helmet and suitable clothing for the weather conditions.

Sections can be riden when instructed by the Observer who will record the score.

Positions set by riders are in order of least marks scored over the trial.

Scores are set by number of times feet leave the pegs (dabs) or failed attempts.

Riders must ride between coloured flags depending on level of ability registered for.

Machine Eligibility Rules

  1. All machines shall have:
    i Main frames constructed from materials and using techniques freely available to the general
    public.
    ii A period appearance with two rear shock absorbers (except rigids) and drum brakes.
    iii Engines, gearboxes, yokes (billet yokes with internal pinch bolts allowed) & front forks which
    externally appear to be as originally manufactured.
  2. Machines shall be classified as follows: – 

i. Pre 1970 up to 250cc (maximum 4 speed)
ii. Pre 1970 over 250cc (maximum 4 speed)
iii. Twinshock

Competitors in each class have the opportunity to compete on 3 different routes; Expert, 50/50 and
Clubman. Where possible a non-championship Elite route will be added

3. Each rider shall enter on a specific machine for his sole use. Should that machine break down he may complete the trial on any machine but will not be eligible for championship points.

4. New members only qualify for points after paying their subs, but if previous year’s members pay by 28th Feb. they qualify in all rounds.

5. The Club Championship shall be decided as follows within each class: – 

i. For each Championship Trial, Points will be awarded to qualifying riders in each class as – 10 points for the class winner, 9 for second,  diminishing to 1 for tenth and any other finishers.

ii. Should there be a tie for a place, it shall be decided in favour of the rider with most cleans, then furthest clean, then oldest rider.

iii.To qualify for an award in the Championship a rider must enter 6 or more Championship trials in a year. Their best 8 scores of points will then be counted    and the rider with the highest total winning. Should there be a tie, it will be decided in favour of the rider with most 1st places, then 2nd places etc, then oldest rider.

iv.A member that chooses to ride the rigid route non competitively on a springer, eight or more times in a year, shall be entitled to a trophy.

v.If a rider observes at a championship trial, on one occasion per year they will be awarded 5 points as though they had ridden.

Competitors in each class have the opportunity to compete on 3 different routes; Expert, 50/50 and
Clubman. Where possible a non-championship Elite route will be added

Constitution

CONSTITUTION
1.The principal aim of the Club is to promote & encourage the continued use of drum braked
twinshock or rigid trials motorcycles.
2.The officers of the Club shall comprise of a) a Chairman, b) a Secretary, c) a Treasurer, d)
any others appointed at the AGM. The members present at the AGM shall democratically
elect these posts each year.

  1. The AGM shall be held once a year on a date to be decided by the committee.
    i. The Club rules and trials regulations shall only be changed at the AGM.
    ii. Proposals from prior AGM’s will not be accepted.
    iii. Proposals are to be submitted in writing at least a week before the AGM. These
    will be circulated to members prior to the AGM.
  2. The members present shall constitute the Committee at the monthly meeting. Any motion
    shall need a proposer and a seconder. Only paid-up members have the right to vote.
  3. An Emergency General Meeting shall be convened with the status of an AGM should a
    written motion signed by 4 members or 5% of the membership (whichever is the greater) be
    received by the Officers. One month’s notice will be given to all members of the meeting and
    the motion.
  4. Membership is open to anyone who pays the subscription, from the time of payment to the
    end of that calendar year. Membership can only be refused or terminated by a motion at a
    committee meeting for bringing the Club into ill repute, and the person in question will be
    invited to attend and state their case.
  5. The following scale of expenses shall be paid to officials :
    i. Clerks of the Course for trials – 3x Trial entry fee
    ii. Results Secretary per trial. – Trial entry fee
    iii. Entries Secretary/Treasurer per trial – Trial entry fee
    iv. Photographer – Trial entry fee
    v. Observer that signs on before a trial – Trial entry fee
    vi. Entries Secretary/Treasurer at NBBC
    viii Observer at NBBC – payment to be considered prior to event

Observers

INTRODUCTION

The object of observed trials is to ride specified “Sections” with “Start”, “Intermediate” and “End” gates. Scoring will be based on the “points-lost” (marks) system. The numerical score will increase from a starting score of zero. Final placement will be the inverse of the numerical score; i.e. the lowest score wins. The sections are laid out in a loop configuration, where the competitor rides each of the sections one at a time to form a lap.

PRE-REQUISITS

All competitors must be members of the Club,sign on and pay the required entrance fee before the competition begins. 

Riders must complete the entry form and select the class in which they wish to ride. 

The machine must conform to the class described and selected on the entry form. Additionally, all riders under the age of 18 must provide their date of birth on the form and be signed in by a parent or guardian. 

Number or letter cards will be issued and these must be clearly displayed on the front of the machine. 

All riders must wear a correctly fastened crash helmet and be appropriately dressed (no shorts etc).

The Clerk of the Course may appoint a scrutineer to check the condition of machines and riding equipment. If a machine or riding equipment fails to pass the safety and eligibility checks it will not be allowed to compete unless corrective measures have been taken that are to the scrutineer’s satisfaction.

SCORING

Section Scoring shall begin when the machine’s front wheel axle passes the “Start” gate markers and stops when the front axle passes the “End” gate markers. 

Section points are allocated as follows:

  • Error Penalty Points (mark)
  • None (clean) = 0   
  • One dab = 1   
  • Two dabs = 2   
  • Three or more dabs = 3   
  • Failure in a section = 5
  • Section not attempted (observer informed beforehand) = 5
  • Section not attempted (observer NOT informed beforehand) = 10

A rider is penalized in each section only for the one error that results in the most penalty points. In any given section, penalties are not cumulative, except for the first three “dabs.” 

(Example: If a rider dabs twice before riding out of bounds, the score for the section is 5 points, not 7).

THE COURSE

Sections will be separately numbered and should be ridden in numerical sequence. 

No section may be ridden more than once per lap unless directed by the Clerk of the Course or requested by the Observer if rider is running late. 

Riders shall start Lap One at the point designated at the rider’s meeting by the Clerk of the Course or his representative. Second and subsequent laps will start at the same point.

It is the sole responsibility of the rider to make sure that he/she has completed the required number of laps and sections within the laps. Un-attempted sections will be scored as in the table above.

ADDITIONAL RULES

1. Unsportsmanlike conduct or offensive behaviour can result in a penalty of 10 points at the sole discretion of any Observer or authorised event official.

2. Practice in any marked section before or during the event will result in disqualification of the rider from the event. Riders may stop and inspect sections on foot prior to riding for a score, providing their machine is parked out of the section.

3. Whilst walking the section, a rider that alters a section by moving rocks, making a path, changing the condition of the section, etc. shall be given a score of 5 by the Observer for that section.

4. When a rider leaves his/her machine to inspect the section, the machine does not hold the rider’s place in line. When the rider returns to the motorcycle, he/she goes to the back of the line. Failure to do so may result in a 5-point penalty.

5. The rider must obtain permission from the Observer to ride into the section for a score. Failure to obtain permission may result in a score of 5 points if the Observer is unable to monitor the competitor’s ride though the entire section.

6. All persons walking the section must immediately vacate when a rider enters the observed section. The competitor riding for a score always has the right-of-way within a section. Failure of others to vacate can be deemed unsportsmanlike conduct.

7. If, whilst riding a section for a score, a rider is severely distracted or his/her line is blocked by spectators, other riders, an animal, blowing debris, etc. The rider may claim an Obstruction” and request a re-ride. At the discretion of the Observer, a re-ride of the section may be permitted. Any score lost up to the point of the blocking will stand and be added to any score lost beyond that point on the second attempt.