On paper at least the career rungs on the Hertz FIM Trial World Championship ladder seem relatively straightforward – Trial3, Trial2 and then TrialGP – although, in practice, only the very best riders get to experience these three distinct stages first hand.
This season British rider Jack Peace (Sherco) has made the move to the highest level and it is safe to say that the twenty-five-year-old is acquitting himself well having twice recorded fifth-placed race finishes following the opening two rounds in Spain and Portugal.
The Trial3 champion in 2016, winning the Trial2 title last year inspired Peace to make the move to TrialGP in 2025 and he will head to the Mobility Resort Motegi for round three of the series – the TrialGP of Japan – on 16-18 May holding down sixth in the points table.
“I’ve started the season reasonably well and I’ve had some good results, but I feel like I’ve missed a couple of chances to have really, really good results,” he said. “The sections are very challenging and the reduced time limit makes it even tougher, but I did expect it to be hard. Everything tends to be much bigger and there are so many more parts to each section so they’re a lot longer.
“In Portugal at one point I was third with two sections to go so I know if I keep working to correct those mistakes I could be even further up. Overall I feel positive and sixth in the standings isn’t a bad start.”
Having enjoyed a ringside seat to watch the world’s elite riders in action for almost a decade, Peace knew exactly what to expect and to ready himself for his biggest challenge so far he based himself for much of the winter months in the Catalan region of Spain where he practised extensively with fellow Sherco rider Adam Raga who retired from top-flight competition at the end of last season.
“I feel as though I’ve prepared well so I am confident I can achieve some of the goals I’ve set myself, but I know that it’s a big step up and it will be difficult. I’m not going in expecting amazing results straight away and I know there will be a lot of learning involved, but I’m confident I can get there if I keep chipping away.
“Top five or top six would be something good to aim for, especially in my first year in the class, but I know just how tough it will be to achieve this. I don’t want to set my goals unrealistically high and then be disappointed, but at the same time I need to have something ambitious to aim for. To end the season top six overall would be a really good year for me.”
While having Raga, a six-time FIM Trial World Champion, in his corner is an undeniable advantage, Peace knows that the weight of expectation ultimately rests on his broad shoulders and he is ready to rise to the occasion.
“It’s great to train with someone of Adam’s level because it pushes me on to ride what he’s riding which I need to if I’m going to be learning to do the same sections he can. He’s not hands-on as a teacher in a ‘do this, do that’ way, but he gives me lots of pointers and I learn by just watching him and then asking questions. Without Adam’s guidance I feel moving up to TrialGP would be a lot more difficult.
“He has so much experience and that definitely helps, but I’ve moved up now because I want to be competitive, I don’t want to be in TrialGP just to make the numbers up. When I made the decision I knew that I had to put a lot of work in because I wasn’t moving up just for the sake of it. I have long-term ambitions in the sport.”
Round three of the 2025 Hertz FIM Trial World Championship – the TrialGP of Japan – takes place at Mobility Resort Motegi on 16-18 May. The action will be streamed LIVE on FIM-MOTO-TV with a season pass covering all seven rounds and the FIM Trial des Nations priced at €34.90. For more information click here