Open Solo - Hard or Soft?

[Axel]

Now that the dust has settled on a superbly run event in the beautiful Barossa Valley, the question remains. Was the Open Solo Class hard or soft?

Clearly, the opinion of the three “super” riders that had their placings decided on a countback (something that has perhaps never happened in Australian Mototrials history) was, that it wasn’t challenging enough to sort out their placings. Does the trials community take note of their opinions or do we say “not so” and continue on as always with no changes? If we continue on as usual and enjoy the fact that there were 23 entries in the class, second only in numbers to veterans, or do we consider changes to further challenge and increase the overall standard of the sport?

What are the disadvantages of increasing the degree of difficulty? Some riders may chose not to enter and stay home, or would they just take 5’s for the harder sections and accept that they are too hard for some?

What are the advantages of increasing the degree of difficulty? Score differences between the top 11 riders were quite minimal. A score of 59 over two days of open solo at our premier event is certainly not a failure. Would any of these top 11 be “scared off” by a percentage of harder sections? Or would they rise to the challenge and increase the standard of the sport?

Then there is the timing of sections. Should this now be introduced to the Open Solo Class at Aussie Titles and perhaps all Open Trials for Experts? Would this effectively increase the degree of difficulty or would it not be enough alone? Are our TDN riders disadvantaged because this is not normal practice on their home training ground? Or do they cope well with being timed once per year?

Should a “non title” B section be introduced to Open Solo that would cater for the A Grade riders? Perhaps a rider would chose to try and win the B section rather than over tax themselves against the ever increasing ability of the A section riders. Perhaps the numbers would increase with many A grade riders not currently finding a place for themselves at the Aussie Titles if they are not old enough for Masters?

Then there is the previously discussed issue of international entries. Should we look towards effectively opening ourselves up to the international ranks and run a separate “international” class and encourage more to join us? Or perhaps try for a “Super Trial” type event every second year?

Lots of “food for thought” and I am sure there are lots of valuable opinions out there amongst you all. Do we stick within our “comfort zone” or is this a time to look to a more challenging future for the sport?

[ned kelly]

Definitely timing will both make it more difficult, and hold them it better stead for International competition. Bring on the stopwatch.
It was embarressing to have two NSW Experts having a winge at the presentation. Very unimpressed with that lack of professionalism.

[austini]

Agree with the whinging at the presentations, definatly not the right forum to have a go at the section setters. I rode Vets and I must admit it was a little easyer than expected, saying that all the top ten finished where I would expect them too.
What would have happened if it had rained????? Vets would have been harder but enevidently the same placings just the gaps larger.
For open solo, well i'm sure section severity wouldn't have came up at the presentations if it had been wet!!!!
I had a great trials week and it was great to see the standered of the other Vets, I could of whinged at the yellow plates on the reverse of the vets blue plates but thats all part and parcel of riding against such fine riders. I could of complained about the bloody Kiwi's taking so many Australian awards!!! but I thinks its just great to compete against such a diverse field.
I feel Ben H should be commended for choosing not to be included in the results however I feel he should of, as far as I can see there is no difference between Poms taking out open solo as Experts taking out Junior, A graders taking out youth and B graders taking out Vets.
If you are eligible to ride in that grade you should take the honours regardless of skill level.

Thanks to Ben Z and all the other Barosserons and Adelaideons who had any input into the best week of trials I have ever competed in...

[Trev]

The positive to come out of the result at the Titles was that NSW's top four riders finished in the top four places.

It's easy for me to say 'please disregard their comments', however the fact is that the presentation ceremony wasn't the appropriate place for them to be made.

However, being positive again, if you check out the section by section scores elsewhere on this wonderful website, you'll see that the boys dropped their points in different sections, different quantities and on different laps. This is why Trials has it's countback system.

To me the result demonstrated just how close Colin, Kyle and Mick are.

It was fitting that Colin got the Aussie Title trophy, after missing his opportunity in a couple of earlier Aussie Titles where he was relegated to Best Placed Australian.

The South Australian Trials Community should be very proud of their combined efforts with Trials Week 2007.