3 More Rungs Up the Ladder
Trials des Nations 2014
Where would you find hordes of fans applauding a man on a motorcycle climbing near vertical rocks ? Not in New Zealand, that’s for certain. Yet that is the life of the “top guns” of the trials world, of people like Tony Bou and Adam Saga who are treated like major sport/movie stars in their home country of Spain, where crowds come to watch them tackle the most difficult of obstacles, ask for autographs etcetera.
The young New Zealand men’s trials team of John Haynes (19), Blake Fox (20), Jakob Gundry (16)(pictured below) and Matt Foster (22) plus the two person women’s team of Gabbie Gundry and Stephanie Downs had more than a glimpse of that world when they competed in the Trials des Nations in Andorra in September.
The event totally took over the town of Sant Julia de Loria. The 11km circuit that linked the sections was almost a trial in itself, view the terrain of this tiny country tucked in the Pyrenee mountains between Spain and France. The circuit was in rural areas overlooking steep descents but also wound up the back alleys and the streets of the town. In other places, this might have created havoc but, in Catalonia (a region that includes part of Spain and France plus Andorra), trials riding is huge, holding the same place in the hearts of the people as rugby does in NZ. During the Trials des Nations, there were no traffic problems, no issues; the trials riders had priority and the cops just waved them through.
On their first weekend in Europe together, the NZ team members, as planned, competed in the final round of the World Champs, just for practice, but spent the week in between the two events riding, with more riding and more riding, full on and intensive. Buoyed and challenged by the company of fellow internationals riders, everyone, in both NZ teams, upped their game and rose to new levels. Just being in proximity to the legendary trials riders was awesome and inspiring.
Virtually the same “legendary” Spanish team headed by 8 times world chanp Toni Bou has won the pro class of the Trials des Nations for the last 10 years. Is it time for a change?
“What is the difference between you and Toni Bou?” I asked Jakob.
“Practice” was his answer. “Practice, practice and more practice.” … and he intends to.
With an attitude like that, Jakob’s future and the future of NZ trials looks assured and promising. The results from the Trials des Nations is a good indication. The men’s team finished in 7th place, up 3 places from last year. They are delighted and very keen to return in 2015. They work well together and, if there is a “stuff up”, then one of the others can compensate as only the best 3 scores from a team are counted.
The ladies team of Gabby Gundry (pictured left) and Stephanie Downes did not have that luxury. As a two person team, against mainly 3 person teams, and with all scores counting there was certain degree of pressure. However, they, too, are really pleased with their result. They finished in 9th place – the same position as in 2013 – but this year there were 3 more teams in the mix.
For Jim Henderson, the MNZ Trials Commisioner, all the team members are heros.
“According to my reckoning,” he says, “NZ Moto Trials is seeded at about midway up the World Moto Trials scale. This is because of the grand efforts of our wonderful guys and girls who thrashed out a 7th and 9th placing in Andorra. What is amazing to me is that the NZ team is a composite of 6 riders of the less than only 150 or so riders that we have competing in all NZ. This gives very little ‘depth’ to our sport and it is very much a case of self dedication and commitment that has bought about such a good result for NZ. We owe them, the riders and their supporters. They are heros.”
The "Tauranga" team. Check out the clips below
Click here for a clip from the event.
Click if you're wanting to emulate Toni Bou
