PRESS
RELEASE. 31st MAY 2023.
Following submissions to the Trials & Enduro Committee from the
Series Manager and National Steward this week, the base overall time limit for
the remaining four rounds will be increased by ten minutes, to five and a half
hours. This follows many riders losing time penalties or in some cases, having
to ask for fives, at the fourth round on Sunday.
Equally importantly, the Committee have recognised that sections
need to be less demanding, especially on the Trial 2 and Trial Expert routes as
queues build up on some sections and it is impossible for some riders to meet
the time schedule. This particularly
applies to the Trial Expert class when they catch up the Trial 2 and Trial GB
riders on their final lap.
It has been noted that in the past, the ten minute break and
previous second lap re-start time helped to eliminate this, but this rule will
not be re-introduced this year in order to minimise changes.
The Series Manager has been instructed to work with each remaining
Clerk of the Course in the second half of the season in the lead up to each
event to ensure the four easy, four medium and four harder section system is
applied in the above two classes.
Series Manager Brian Higgins commented, “Firstly, thanks to all
organisers for their efforts in promoting these rounds. In all four rounds to
date this year all parts of each section laid out have been alright in
isolation, but in many cases there are too many technical parts in each
section.
Whilst the extra ten minutes will assist, I am very aware that
reducing the severity of sections will be the most important factor towards
eliminating the problem.
He enlarged, “I have already spoken with the next two Clerk of the
Course’s and at the pre event visits, I will be involved with the section
length and severity. Again, I am aware that the top three or four riders in
each class like the current layouts, we will be aiming to half the scores for
the majority of riders.
“I would urge all regular riders – and local Centre Experts – to
continue to support the series and I have gone on record by stating the above
will be implemented and I will take full responsibility to ensure it happens.
It should be noted that the above changes does not have any
reflection on the work done by the four organisers whose events have been
completed who have done an excellent job.
Entries
for rounds five and six are now live on the Ride ACU website.
ENDS.