www.acu.org.uk / ISSUE 33 / WINTER 2013 / £3 Brits on top of the world Win tickets to: Sheffield World Championship Arena X-Trial The International Dirtbike Show The NEC – Motorcycle Live Show 25% discount off dainese Back Protectors CONTENTS www.acu.org.uk / ISSUE 33 / WINTER 2013 / £3 Brits on top of the world Win tickets to: Sheffield World Championship Arena X-Trial The International Dirtbike Show The NEC – Motorcycle Live Show 25% Discount off Dainese Back Protectors Issue 33 Winter 2013 SportMoto is published by the Auto Cycle Union Ltd ACU House // Wood St Rugby // Warwickshire CV21 2YX T: 01788 566400 F: 01788 573585 42 Advertising and design Contents Black Country Mick Tonks 3 30 The Ark Design & Print University Pudsey Business Park 4 Editor’s Comment 47 Kent Road 32 Islef o Man Festival Leeds LS28 9BB 5 Leader from the T: 0113 256 8712 of Motorcycling M: 07710 287255 Chairman F: 0113 256 8724 34 Sidecarcross www.thearkdesign.co.uk 6 News Motocross Editorial 36 Richard Blyth [email protected] 13 Basic Rider Assessment 38 Cheshire North West Cover picture 14 Cheadle (Staffs) Jamie McCanney Auto Club Quads Credit: Future7Media 39 Independence 16 Sheffield 2014 40 ACU British SportMoto is published by Youth National the ACU for its members. All 18 Trials rights reserved. No part of this Championships publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any 21 2013 World 42 Motoscotland.com means, electronic or mechanical, Trial Penrith including photocopying, recording 44 Advertising Feature or any storage or retrieval 2013 ACU British system without the consent 22 of the publisher. While every Enduro Championship 47 International Dirt effort is made in compiling Bike Show SportMoto, the publishers cannot 25 Grass Track be held responsible for errors or omissions. All opinions expressed 48 Motorcycle Live by the contributors do not 28 Preston and District necessarily reflect the opinion of Motorcycle Club 50 Drag Bike the publisher. www.acu.org.uk SPORT3MOTO Ed ITOR’S COmmENT Editor’s Comment When is a racing incident not a racing incident? When two riders are involved in a racing incident, value that needs to be considered or races, inevitably when asked, they are bound to have championships or titles being lost. Riders might get differing views of what happened and why the injured as a result of a racing incident or… worse. incident took place, if they don’t their Team Reps So judgements have to be made. Race more than likely will have? This comes as part and Direction or if there is no Race Direction, the parcel of motorcycle sport – in fact any sport to Clerk of the Course needs to decide on a course be honest. of action and make a call on what ‘on track’ The definition of accident in the dictionary behaviour is permissible. Was it a racing incident? is ‘an unfortunate incident that happens Was it intentional? There also has to be a level unexpectedly and unintentionally’, or ‘something of consistency, and distinguishing between one that happens by chance or without apparent incident and another is not easy. cause’. Of course there are thousands and thousands So, do two riders intentionally run into one of other Clerks of the Course or Race Directors sat another? No – probably and hopefully not. But, is in front the telly watching the race – making the there or could there be apparent cause? Probably call because it is easy to do so, just like there are and more than likely. With championship points 55,000 referees sat in Old Trafford at every home or titles on the line, the same with any other sport, match… they and the rest of us are not in that these types of incidents are going to happen. position and are not therefore held accountable. A large part of the appeal of our sport is that Errors of judgement are made by Riders, racing in their desire to be the best – to win – to be a incidents do happen, but spare a thought for the champion, competitors take risks and ‘racing Clerk of the Course or the Race Director who incidents’ can sometimes be the result. Without has to make the call and that call might be the them, without the excitement, the ‘do or die’ deciding factor as to who does and who doesn’t attitude, the spectacle for the crowd to watch – take the top step on the podium… no-one would turn up. Richard Blyth But there is not just an entertainment SportMoto Editor steve gough steve SPORT4MOTO www.acu.org.uk LAROE dE fR m the CHAIRmAN Leader from the Chairman Having just returned from a successful final years before my tenure and in that period, he did round of the Maxxis ACU British Motocross a great deal of work to change the perception Championship, this marks the final throes of and in many respects modernize the ACU. He the 2013 season for many of our Organising gave a lifetime to motorcycle sport and was held Clubs. Whilst I was at Farleigh Castle for the in the highest regard on the world stage at the Maxxis event, it gave me time to reflect on FIM, where he was an Honorary Vice-President of one of our better seasons, certainly in terms the Road Race Commission and of course within of weather – that is definitely the case. Last ACU circles in which – apart from his recent work year, given the unseasonal weather we all had as Chairman – over many years he made a vast to endure, in ACU terms we had 246 events impact and lasting impression on Road Racing, cancelled, which across all our disciplines caused both on the short circuits and on the roads. My some major headaches in trying to reschedule heartfelt condolences and best wishes go his calendars etc. This year though, that has not family during this sad time. been the case and I think you will all agree that As your Chairman, I need to make you aware we have witnessed some superb racing at all that for the first time in many years, your Board levels. Going back to the Maxxis, I would just of Directors has taken the decision to increase like to offer my congratulations to both Kristian the Annual Competition Licence fee. The licence Whatley and Elliot Banks-Browne on their British fee was last increased in 2008, so after five years, Championship victories in the MX1 and MX2 it has been decided to increase the fee by £2.00 – classes respectively. from £43.00 to £45.00 and this comes into effect At the highest level, we have played host for 2014. to some top international world events, the Much work is now being undertaken Motocross Grand Prix held at Matterley Basin, a behind the scenes in preparation for next year. very successful World Trial in Penrith, a World Unique Codes to enable competitors to apply Long Track championship in Kent and of course for a competition licence on line will soon be our regular trip across the Irish Sea to the Isle distributed to Clubs, competition licence forms of Man for the TT. Across all our disciplines, we are being amended and the draft for next year’s are thought of very highly at the FIM and that Handbook is now being worked upon. The ACU is testament to the organization and sheer hard will have a presence at both the Dirtbike Show work put in by volunteer Officials and Organising and the NEC show and I will be in attendance for Clubs. most of the Dirtbike show, so hope to see many On a very sad note, I would just like to of you there. acknowledge the sad passing away of Jim Parker. Finally, it would be remiss of me not to Jim was the Chairman of the ACU for the seven mention the fantastic achievements of both Tai Woffinden and Sam Lowes. Tai became the first Scott Redding British World Speedway Champion in thirteen years, lifting the title despite riding with a broken collar bone and the first Englishman to win the championship since Mark Loram in 2000. Also to Sam Lowes who won the World Supersport title. Sam now goes off to compete in Moto 2 in 2014. But to both riders – many congratulations and richly deserved on both accounts. We now enter the final couple of rounds of the Moto GP season and watch with great interest to see if Scott Redding will be successful in lifting the Moto 2 world title. I hope those of you who are still competing have a successful and safe end to the season and have a good winter’s break. Best wishes Brian Higgins Chairman www.acu.org.uk SPORT5MOTO NEWS Pinhard Trophy Once again the Sunbeam MCC are of previous winners of such distinction.” seeking nominations for one UK Sunbeam MCC awards the trophy in Motorcycle Sport’s most prestigious memory of Frederick William Pinhard awards – The Pinhard Trohy. who died in 1948 whilst serving as This award has been presented since Secretary of the Club. 1950 to the best Under-21 year old All sections of the ACU together sporting motorcyclist competing under with the Scottish-ACU are invited ACU or SACU jurisdiction. to submit entries as well as anyone Entry Forms, Regulations and a List Last year’s winner was Tom Woolley who feels personally eligible to make of Previous Winners are available on Runner-Up in the World Flat-Track an entry. Entries can be for active the club website.