Re: Support classes at MotoGP / Formula One / V8 Supercars etc.
These are not classes that are divided by skill, as this discussion is pertaining to and is, thus, irrevelent. These classes (GP2 & GP3 at F1 events, 125cc, 600cc at MotoGP and Formula Ford & Mini Challenge at V8s) are all heavily restrained by regulations, many of which relate to the amount of development, materials & engineering, age and experience of the driver / team and/or costs allowed within the championships. If competitors fall within the requirements, OK; otherwise they need to find something else. Alternatively, they can move up a "class", as regularly occurs in MotoGP; the money the strugglers are on in the 800cc class often outweighs the purse of the defending 250cc world champion, not to mention the far better sponsorship opportunities from further TV exposure and the prestige of competing in the number 1 championship for road racing.
On the flipside, older V8 Supercars drivers tend to move back to Minis or other classes at the twilight of their careers as the level of competition/fitness becomes too great / costs are too high / desire becomes too low. They still have to fall into the regulations of the sport, unlike if B/C/Clubperson were run, where either sandbagging or grade cut-off discretion (i.e. Skill Level) becomes the primary deciding factor in the results.
The Road Racing National Championships do recognise C/D Grade champions; this is somewhat easier to do with this sport, however, as the races are not run parallel with other events, which is the main sticking point in the entire discussion. And, they have training and requirements for corner marshalls and can interchange with riders in other classes, so the competition can still self-sustain. Oh, and they have a nationalised grading system that is entirely equitable.
The British Trials Championship runs Championship, Expert A and Expert B classes. How do they manage this? Easy; no Veterans or Juniors event. They run these separately and gain helpers from these.
Re: Support Class National Championships
Incorrect, the Support Classes are recognised National Champions; my understanding is that the only reason they are listed as Support Classes is so that the Open Solo title holder is acknowledged as "the Australian Champion". Just as the F2 champions were acknowledged as such, but the only World Drivers Champion is the winner of the F1 World Championship.
Re: Observers
Please don't take this too harshly but I, as an observer at three Titles and rider in just the one, am somewhat offended that riders would expect observers from other states to come across to observe, simply because you would prefer to ride in what would be a totally meaningless class and shirk your once-in-five-years requested observation weekend. Ask too much of the supporters and they will abandon you.
Regarding B/C/Clubman riders to compete and gain observers via their families: This won't happen, they'll want to follow their rider. You'd be fortunate to gain, on average, one observer per rider, and even then they won't be anywhere near as decisive in their interpretations of the rules, so the sport loses out for what could be viewed as your personal gain (Again, I don't mean offense, but given the number of classes available already, this is how it may come across if you decide to incorporate grades).
Your trials subcommittees want your help. No help from riders = no sport, it doesn't get any simpler.
Re: Open Solo Champion in 10 years
Easy. Pick the best 12-14 year old rider in the country. He'll be in A-Grade from 13-14, clean the Junior Titles held when he's 15 and 16 and then move straight to Open Solo, go to the TDN as the Junior Development rider and possibly do some European camps between 15-18 and start representing Australia at 18-19 at the TDN, competing at Junior and Youth level. This cycle has been happening for some time now; it is known to be the best way to develop young riders. Especially as our young riders are getting much better development assistance these days in the form of trials schools and development days, we will not likely be finding a first-time rider at 17 or older becoming a national champion from here, sorry to say. Trials has possibly the steepest learning curve of all motorcycle sports; you can't come in late and expect to be brilliant. Fantastic if I'm proven wrong, but it is increasingly unlikely.
Re: Difficulty and Exclusivity
This is a National Championship trial. Are we forgetting this? It is a spectacle event. It must be elitist for the most part to decide the deserving winner, as every other national championship event in every sport is. Virtually every other trial in the year is set for all standards (if not, most events are set-up for the largest grade, "C", and other class lines are made from this datum - rightly so); in order to decide the best you must separate the best, and that goes for all Championship classes. The Six Day is a poor example; it is set to be an English clubman event with a few "dealbreakers" along the way to get Expert and Championship riders to drop points.
What Twinshock appears to be suggesting is a Six Day type event in Australia; a single-line trial with everyone involved. Good idea? Certainly. Will people attend? Definitely, would get loads of people to turn up. Hold it as the National Titles? Not a chance; it is an unfair representation of the normal existence of the sport.
Re: Classes to show the inclusivity of the sport
This is one advantage. This is also already provided by having the already-incumbent classes at the titles.
The titles already have a very sharp minority of competitors in the Open class of somewhere around 10% of the entry. Add grades in and all you do is further dilute their numbers, turning the spectacle into just another weekend trial. You've already got between 7 and 15 of those per year.
Here's a better question: How do you manage riders, sections, time limits and, believe it or not, the environment (erosion, noise etc.), when your entry goes from 130-160 riders at this time, to what would likely end up at around 280-300? How many sections per day will you need? How many extra observers do you now require?
As for me; again, I'm a badly-struggling A-Grade rider who would be loving a Solo-B division over the Masters line at the Titles. And I will continue to take the view that grades should definitely not be available as the Trials community needs to assist itself as best as possible at the biggest competition of the year. Please do your sport the biggest favour and help if you don't qualify for a class. Noone, especially possible new riders, want to see a shambolic event with 280+ riders all having massive time trouble getting through sections when, instead, you could have 150 riders and the event run as smoothly and spectacularly as possible.
P.S. Sorry, Scorps has pretty much just said all of this in 5% of the size
