ML Events, the renown organisers of the highly applauded DL12 Indoor Trial trilogy, are delighted to announce that they are bringing the FIM X-Trial (Indoor) World Championship back to Great Britain after a ten-year absence in conjunction with the ACU. Saturday 24 January 2026 will see the First Direct Arena – Leeds play host to the historic return of the global series that last visited these shores in 2016, as X-Trial Leeds comes to life.
The stunning modern city centre venue with its curved seating layout will offer fans a new level of experience and the perfect view of a course that will again be designed and built by Dougie Lampkin and his team, which will feature new sections to suit the unique arc-shape setting. With the top three riders in this year’s X-Trial final World rankings namely Toni Bou, Jaime Busto and Gabriel Marcelli automatically guaranteed a place in the new Leeds event, they will be joined by two British wildcards plus three riders selected by the series promoter, which on current form may include more home interest. The eight World class riders will face a new for British fans format, with the best three riders from the qualification heat transferring directly to the final.
The last remaining place in the main event will be decided amongst the other five riders who will battle it out in a winner takes all last chance play off. Starting order for the final will be determined by a sprint section before the four finalists work their way through the six sections in the reverse direction.
X-Trial Leeds will incorporate the now well-established Trial Expo, with the dedicated exhibition space on the upper level of this amazing facility being home to all the major manufacturers / brands and retailers who will be displaying and selling their latest offerings. Entry to Trial Expo will be included as part of the new full access ticket package that will soon be available along with VIP and standard access. For next January’s event, Leeds Arena will be limited to just short of five thousand seats with another sell out occasion predicted, as the same proven team are set to deliver a further world class event, at a new venue, with a new format, some new riders and new sections early in 2026.
Proud to have the FIM X-Trial World Championship returning to Yorkshire, event co-promoter Dougie Lampkin explained: “With the support of the ACU and being the first event allowed to have motorcycles inside Leeds Arena, it’s given us the perfect chance to bring the series back to Britain a decade after it was last here. Jake (Miller) and I are really excited by this new opportunity, which in truth has come to life much sooner than we had both imagined but means that we can now create an event on a new level for the British fans at this outstanding and modern venue.”
Pleased to add his own words to this important announcement ACU President Tim Lightfoot added:“X-Trial Leeds is a direct result of our new collaboration with Dougie, with more positive things planned in the future. The ACU is proud that this World Championship competition, under Dougie’s leadership is returning to the UK after such a long absence and we are confident that him and his ML Events team will produce a worthy event.”
On behalf of Esdeux Organisation – X-Trial series promoter Bernard Estripeau said: “We are very happy to have the UK back in the calendar and to have the opportunity to work with ML Events, we know Dougie (Lampkin) and Jake (Miller) very well and are sure they will create a high level event as they have done many times in the past and especially during the last years at Sheffield.”
Priority pre-sale tickets – full, VIP and standard access – will be available from Wednesday 23rd April 2025 – register here for pre-sale access.
Tickets – full, VIP and standard access – will be on general sale from Friday 25th April 2025.
Visit xtrial-leeds.com for more information, register here for pre-sale access and to book tickets in due course.