No Stop trials rules
If you are not into motorbike trials you won't be able to follow this post very well, I do appologise but am not going to explain it from scratch. This is pretty off topic as such but its a blog and is a part of the previous post so somewhat relavent.
The No stop rule for trials is very contraversial. As the name implies the riders are not allowed to completely stop at ANY time in a section. In a nutshell it works, but then again it doesn't. It doesn't matter what the rules are for trials, the top riders will always remain as the top riders. It does allow for lesser riders to be competitive as the obstacles are not nearly as severe or I might add, spectacular. This is the intent of the ruling body and I can see their point, more riders are needed at the top levels. A total of 40 odd riders at a world event over 3 clasees is not large in anyones language. This being said the quality of the riders is OUTSTANDING.
The Australian riders also did themselves proud in this event, and could teach the international riders volumes on how to respect and appreciate the volunteers efforts over a weekend. Aside from a couple of the British riders and Fujinami and ALL of the Australian riders, no thanks of any description was given at least at our section. Observers are difficult to find, good observers very difficult, riders take note. I was proud to be an observer at this event and was designated chief observer of my section. It seems I am a masochist of sorts....LOL Like any set of rules if everyone abides by them a wonderful day is had by all generally, but that also works both ways. The observers also have to enforce those rules and also be consistent. Despite the best efforts of the organisers ( Very much appreciated ) to ensure we all understood the rule of no stop, which included a surprise personal demonstration from the world champion Tony Bou, it was from what I saw on the Saturday, inexplicably from the very start some were quite poor, mainly in enforcement of the rule but due to the former, also not nearly consistent enough. Again some riders and/or their minders are to blame over and above the abilities of the observers concerned. It is a difficult job for the observers and made doubly difficult with the no stop rule. I can only speak from my own experiences. Observers are human, we are at a different vantage point, we are often further away and a different angle/perspective. For myself if I see it I call it, I am not cowed by the occasion or reputation of the riders or if they take exception, fazed in any way, if I call it it stands. It is the riders/minders manner of taking exception to our interpretation of what we see that makes for poorer observers. I'd like to see some video of that AND a tony bou section ride, its just as intense. What the riders/minders do when arguing with us is very self defeating as the quality they actually want can be eroded as observers become afraid of the confrontation a questioned ruling can cause. The pool of quality observers is definitely shrinking. Without observers there is no event, without quality observers with the courage to call it as they see it occur, the event is moot. The results not a true reflection of riders such as Albert Cabastany who regardless of the observers enforcement/consistency rides to the rules and occasionally pays the penalty for doing the right thing. I'll be back to observe next time they have it here in Australia, be warned.......................................................if you ride my section Don't Stop...................
