This coming weekend will see the 2013 FIM Trial World Championship get underway in Japan as the series begins its thirty-ninth edition. The long trip to the Twin Ring circuit at Motegi, will mark a new era for the championship as the sport returns to its original concept of maintaining forward motion, and the no-stop rule is re-introduced having not been used at this level for several years. This specialist discipline has evolved much over the years and it is hoped that this fundamental change in rules will hopefully add a new dynamic element to the sport, hence creating a more attainable level to encourage new and young riders to compete in the series in the future.
The two-day event in Japan is the starting point for the 2013 tour that will visit no less than eight different countries and three separate continents between April and early September. Confirming its true World Championship status, the series will move swiftly on from Asia to America, with the second round being hosted in Sequatchie, USA in late May. After the initial two flyaway events the action shifts back to Europe in June to begin the most intense period of the campaign.
Andorra will be the third two-day event in a row, with the championship returning to familiar ground, high in the mountains of the small, but rocky principality. The Grand Prix of Andorra held at Sant Julia De Loria will be the first of three combined events throughout the season, with this round also including the opening event for the 2013 FIM Women’s Trial World Championship. The next three men’s events will then follow in quick succession. The single day Trial at Pobladura Regueras in the south of Spain come late June will signal the mid-point in the title race.
Round five of eight will be contested in Italy, again this will be run as a one day event taking the counting days tally to eight out of a possible thirteen, with is most relevant to the Junior and Youth classes that are permitted to drop their worst results as they go in search of global glory. In the World Pro division the eventual champion will be decided with all days counting, thus making consistency the key to any success in this class.
The closing stages of the 2013 FIM Trial World Championship will be played out over the remaining summer months, with the Czech Republic making a return to the calendar in mid-July as the last single day event of the tour, before the series reverts back to its spiritual home in Great Britain later the same month. The double header at Penrith could prove decisive in the title race with the hill top venue always creating a tough challenge even for the World’s best Trial riders.
By the time the French ski resort of Isola 2000 plays host to the final round, which will take place over two days as the month of August runs into September, the main contenders for top honours will have worked their way in to position for one last assault as the season reaches its climax. The advent of the no-stop format is sure to have at least some bearing on the results throughout the year as the riders adapt their styles and approaches to suit the new rules, but the full impact of this fundamental amendment will only become clear once the final rankings are decided. Celebrations or commiserations set aside, 2013 is set to be an interesting and exciting edition for a championship that will reach its fortieth anniversary next season.