It’s becoming a tradition that many in the off-road media look forward to each year, and that’s when Beta USA’s Tim Pilg invites us to experience trials riding for the day. Once again, Pilg summoned us to the MotoVentures Motorcycle Rider Training facility in Anza, California, which is located literally right across the street from Cahuilla Creek MX Park, where we had the chance to reconnect with the sport of trials riding. Beta’s roots in trials run deep, so they’re always eager to promote the sport.
This year, Beta also invited many of its team racers from other disciplines to participate in this year’s Press & Pro Trial Challenge, including supercross/motocross riders Benny Bloss and Mitchell Oldenburg, as well as former 450MX Champion and now Beta ambassador Zach Osborne. Off-road racers Dare DeMartile and Jhak Walker gave it a try, as did Beta’s own Rodney Smith, a multi-time GNCC Champion.
You know what always happens when more than one motorcycle rider gets together, right? Competition. To spice things up, media members are paired with a Beta factory racer for some “good ol’ boy” competition. Two-rider teams are formed through a drawing, which eliminates the possibility of bringing “ringers,” and they compete on a 10-section course run twice, aboard several Beta Evo trial models. Our own Off-Road Test Editor Ryan Nitzen was paired with XC2 GNCC racer Jhak Walker and was in title contention all day before the pressure got to them, well, at least Ryan, finishing in third place, just missing second place by a tiebreaker.
Although Nitzen was a wee bit disappointed that he and Walker didn’t win, he understood it was more about having fun, which he and everyone had, and that’s exactly what Pilg had intended. Mission accomplished.
“This was the most amount of time I’ve spent on a trials bike in one day, and it’s so much harder than it looks,” Nitzen said. “The guys who are good at this discipline make it look so much easier than it is in real life.”
“It was a blast to improve as the day went on,” Nitzen added. “Plus, you’re on a level playing field with guys like Zach Osborne, Benny Bloss, Mitch Oldenburg and Dare DeMartile; when does that ever happen? I can see how trials can really improve your overall bike skills for any other two-wheel discipline.”
The bottom line? Give trials a try.CN
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