basil b

Hello, As other contributers have already identified 2 of the main problems facing trials riding are the lack of any public profile and a fundamental lack of land. I have been obsessed and frustrated with riding dirt bikes for 35 years and even I have finally given up now. Speaking from a Scottish point of view unless you own your own land your pretty well stuffed. Anyone from an urban address is double stuffed. Understand that although we (Scotland) have tons of space and can walk anywhere, we certainly can't drive vehicles on it as all the land is well stitched up legally. Landowners (if you can find them) are not open to motorcycles being driven on their land as they see them as chainsaws with wheels (m-xers) that are going to rip the ground up and scare the livestock (Livestock that isn't there!). This brings us back to the lack of any profile the sport has/has not. The wider public are totally unaware of what trials riding is. This is surely where the governing bodies need to earn their keep and issue a plan of how they are going to support & promote the sport and show that motorcycles can be used responsibly. There is a willing audience out there, just look at the bicycle trials scene and the level of skill on display. Bicycles are so much more accessable and this is where we are losing people to. The situation as it is, and will continue to be, is that the only people that can realistically participate and dominate in the sport are those lucky enough with access to private land. the profile of the sport must be raised to foster a more understanding view from the public. Get it on Telly! Cheaper machines are irrelevant if you have nowhere to ride them.