Motorcycle Trials

Motorcycle Trials or ("observed trials" or "observed motorcycle trials") is a non-speed event on specialised motorcycles. The sport is most popular in the UK and Spain, though there are participants around the globe.

Observed Trials motorcycles are distinctive, in that they are extremely lightweight, lack seating (they're designed to be ridden standing up) and have suspension travel that is short, relative to a motocross or enduro motorcycle.

The event is split into "sections" where a competitor rides through a natural obstacle course while attempting to avoid touching the ground with his feet. In many local observed trials events, the sections are divided into separate courses to accommodate the different skill level of riders, who compete is skill-rated classes.

In every section, the competitor is scored by an observer (hence the sport's name, Observed Trials) who counts how many times the competitor touches the ground with his foot. Each time a competitor touches the ground with a foot (commonly called "dabs"), he is penalized one point.

The possible scores in each section consist of 0, 1, 2, 3, or 5. If a competitor makes their way through the section without touching the ground with their foot, they are given a score of 0 (called "cleaning the section"). If they touche the ground only once, they are given the score of 1. If they touch down twice, they are given the score of 2. If they touch the ground three times or more, they are given the score of 3, as long as they complete the section without stalling the motor, dismounting, going out of bounds or going backward. If the competitor fails to make their way through the section they are given a score of 5 (sometimes colourfully called "a fiasco"). The winner is the competitor with the least points at the end of the event. Some events are also timed with penalty points assessed to late riders.

There is a world indoor and outdoor championship, as well as indoor and outdoor "world cups" (Trials des Nations). British competitor Dougie Lampkin is notable for winning seven world outdoor titles in the 1990s and 2000s. Previous observed trials greats include Britain's Sammy Miller (1960s), Finland's Yrjo Vesterinen (1970s), Spain's Jordi Tarres (1980s and '90s).

In addition to the world championship events, there are other major events, such as the Scottish Six Day trial (SSDT) and the Scott Trial. Also, countries worldwide have national championship series.

Major current manufacturers are:

• Gas Gas
• Beta, Sherco
• Montesa (Honda)
• Scorpa (Yamaha)

Classic classes for old bikes (typically British pre-1965 or -1967) exist, as well as a twinshock vintage events for observed trials motorcycles with two rear shock absorbers. In most cases, twinshock motorcycles were manufactured before 1985 and are typically Japanese or Spanish.