I am back at my desk following a very successful NZ champs and congratulations must go to the Pioneer club for a great event.
For my part the ‘Forum’ the I attempted to run on the Saturday was not my finest hour. In fact it was not Moto Trials finest hour. I am sorry that I took the meeting to ‘boiling’ point but we must move on and the topics that came out of that encounter were;
1 There are too many grades / trophies
2 We need to do more to encourage children into Trials
3 We need to take Trials to ‘Town’ [as in Red Bull Urban Enduro]
4 We need to support our sponsors. Especially our bike importer sponsors
5 We could adopt a grading system as explained by Derek Scott that would eliminate the grading “issues” that we have with current systems
6 We could adopt a “gated trial” system as explained by John Ravenscroft that would eliminate the grading “issues” that we have with current systems
Those of you who have followed the reports this year will have realised that ‘grading’ has been a major topic and was discussed at length at Wellington at the AGM workshop. It was passed there, to form a ‘Grading committee’ made up of the commissioner and the Island Coordinators and it had been my intention to try and get some consensus at the NZ champs [in Chch] as to how we could introduce a rule to try and curb ‘grade hopping’.
I was also going to look into the popularity of creating a masters grade.
It is difficult for me to instigate such things with only less than 10 people in attendance so I look at the NZ champs as an opportunity to gauge “what you really want”. It was a lost opportunity this year and one I will probably not consider again. The other factor that was known to me but not ‘spelt out’ was that to implement a rule change for 2011, I needed to have sent the rule to the ‘office’ for posting on the website by 31 Oct.
You may see now that I came to the NZ champs after hearing and reading from MANY of you that we NEEDED to do something about grading issues and I was armed with a proposed rule change knowing that I had only a week to get it worded right and posted on the web site [which is where it is now] This rule is designed to stop riders from ‘hopping’ out of grades on a whim. It is designed to get some consistency into the grades. It is NOT designed to tell people which grade they should ride in but obviously when someone wants to change a grade they will have to seek permission and at that stage there will be some ruling as to whether the requested grade is appropriate for the applicant.
I personally think that a system similar to that which Derek Scott eluded to would suit the NZ trials scene very well and would overcome many more issues than only ‘grade hopping’. It may be a “system overhaul” for the future. We discussed the partial use of this system at the AGM with the junior grade but it did not meet with majority approval. I will continue to look at this system and publish details of how it could work if I gauge there is enough support.
The “gated trial” would also work very well on many ‘fronts’ and the Hamilton MCC has tentatively set a date to run such a trial on the 23 January at Piopio. They would like to see you all there.
Items 2, 3 and 4 from our brief forum are all very good points and clubs/riders should be ensuring that this happens.Item 1 [too many grades/trophies] is also a valid point and is contrary to the other rule I have posted for 2011 which is the introduction of a C grade.
This grade [although not named then] was mooted at the AGM and was to accommodate riders wanting to move from clubman to intermediate in smaller steps. It was to make use of the ‘green line’ that we have available.
It is imperative that the ‘green line’ remain at the same level as at present and is not elevated in difficulty as it is introduced to younger riders
I include copies of the proposed rule changes. You may challenge these through the MNZ website if you feel the need. As I have said, I believe we can do better with maybe a new system but I do NOT believe a better way is to conscript riders into grades. If at any stage you feel that we should be dictating which grades people ride in, imagine how you would feel if we told YOU that you had to ride a grade higher or lower?
If you want any further info do not hesitate to contact me
Jim Henderson Commissioner
New Moto Trials rules for 2011
As from 1/1/2011 riders must remain in the grade in which they enter their first championship event after that date unless they obtain the permission of the ‘grading committee’ to change grades.
The grading committee shall consist of the North and South Island coordinators and the Commissioner.
All applications to change grade shall be in writing and be accompanied by an endorsement by, at least one, MNZ licensed Moto Trials person.
Riders wishing to temporarily ride a grade different to their own without contesting awards or points may be able to compete in an event at the discretion of the host club. They must, however, still notify the ‘Grading committee’ of their intentions. Their intentions will be ratified so long as it complies with host club approval.
Moto Trials rule change:
Rule 30.2.2Reads now….Yellow for intermediate, Blue for President/Junior & Clubman with President having one deviation………..
Change to…..Yellow for Intermediate, Blue for Junior, Clubman & President/C Grade with President/C Grade having one deviation………
The purpose of this rule change will be to allow those needing a ‘stepping stone’ grade to be able to ride in the same grade as the Presidents. It will be a new grade now known as ‘C’ Grade. Trophies [or similar awards] for ‘C’ Grade winners will be sponsored by host club and may be won by either a ‘President’ or a ‘non President’ who rides that grade but championship points will only be accrued in the Presidents class and Championship Trophies for this grade sponsored by MNZ and awarded at the conclusion of series or event.
Jim Henderson