This weekend was my first competition outing and this was a Italian non-stop fun trial. I had no choice to ride the top grade as I am classified as a International Rider, so I was riding my 125cc against James Dabel (no8 world) on his 300cc bike. We signed in on the Saturday and had to take the bike into the competitors area before we started, this is so that no modifications can be made to the bike before we start. This was held in the middle of town so you rode the bike in the streets to get to the sections. Start time was at 10:40 and we had six hours to do a circuit of 35 sections which was a loop of 35km. Was happy with my ride as I finished 10th out of approx 80 riders.
Sunday started off really foggy and you couldnt see any further than 10m in front of you as you were cruising down the streets to the sections. 40 sections to compete with a circuit of 45km with a pit stop half way for lunch and to re-fuel. Finished the day off in twelfth. Very similar to a Scottish Day trial so I have been told. Was a good experience and learnt alot from the weekend event. Best part was riding the bike through the streets, overtaking cars, super motarting sideways round the round about and going through red lights (just kidding Mum) 
Looking forward to the First Italian series this coming weekend and I will be riding the second to top grade and looking for a good result as this trial championship will be run under world trials rules and not non-stop.
Me and Karl loading the bikes in the truck
Me and Karl before we started on Sunday in the fog
Ciao until later.
This afternoon was the official presentation of the 2008 Future Trial Team. It was for the sponsors and the press to view the unveiling of the 2008 bikes. It was held at the factory as Future Trial has only been at this site for only a few months and most of the sponsors had not yet seen the factory.
All riders were introduced individually and was interviewed about the up and coming year and their goals for the season. Then it was Dibs and I to unveil the new Future 125cc and 300cc four stroke bikes. It was a great afternoon to catch up with the extending Italian Future Trial Team.
Me unveiling my bike
My 125cc bike
My 125cc and the 300cc Bike
The Future Trial World Championship Team
Catch another line soon
Jake
Please note that I have updated my calender, you will find this in ‘Upcoming Events’
After a really hard week training with Future Trial, Karl and I went to the first Italian MX Championship about two hours away from where we live on Sunday. One of the mechanics Sergio from the Future Trial Team went with us as we wouldn’t have had a clue where we were going. It was good see Josh and to watch him working with his team, very professional. When we arrived at the Yamaha site Josh was out walking the track and then we caught up with Jamie Coppins who supplied us with the free tickets, cool aye!! After he came back from walking the track we caught up with him while he had a quick bite to eat then it was off to race. It was good to see him ride, there were 30+ bikes in each race, when the flag drops it is soooooo loud, man these guys must be really fit as they race non-stop for 40mins. Josh raced three 40minute races and was really just a warm up to his World Championship Title in April. Between each race it was good to see the mechanics at work and they put in a new clutch for the second motor before the second race while Josh got his breath back in his motor home. Josh had a good pre-race with a eighth, fifth and a fourth as he said that he wants to be at his peak in April.
All in all it was a good day out and a big thanks to Josh and Jamie for organising the free tickets.
I wish Josh all the best for getting his number 1 position that he deserves this year.
Me standing next to Josh’s motor home
Josh’s Bike
Karl and I went out for a practice on Saturday. It was really good to see how I rode on the 125cc in the moist 
conditions. We made some really challenging sections and Karl was really impressed on how I was riding on my back wheel.
Sunday Karl dropped me off at the factory (this was one of the most coldest days yet, brrrrr) and headed off with the trainer in a motorhome, to a local practice day. It was very wet and muddy and all the sections were man made. The trainer was really good at making challenging sections and giving me advice and different techniques to try. Got home at 5pm to get ready for another hard week.
Ciao
Jake
We visited the HM Factory on Thursday night to meet the big boss of Montesa Italy to have a get together on an up and coming season and for him to meet the TRW montesa team for 2008 as HM is one of TRW main sponsors. This was really good for the team to be there to show our appreciation of his support.
We had a tour of the factory which was really amazing to see all the bikes lined up ready for the mechanics to put together and the amount of bikes waiting to be shipped off to all across the world and they were stacked up nearly to the roof.
The big boss was talking to the owner of Montesa Spain on the phone about how he was with all the TRW boys and he asked to talk to all the riders so I got to talk to him for a bit which was really cool. After we went to his house which was really flash, and had a six course meal, was a struggle to eat it all.
Ciao for now
Jake