British rider Harry Hemingway is hoping his previous form at Boughton in Northamptonshire will steer him to his first Trial2 World Championship title when Great Britain hosts the final round of the 2025 FIM series this weekend (5-7 September).
The UK hasn’t hosted a round of the world series since 2018 but is set to welcome the best trial riders in the world once again, thanks to the hard work of event organisers Danny Cockshott and Jack Lee, and the will of the Auto-Cycle Union to re-establish and strengthen its long-term relationship with the FIM.
Nineteen-year-old Harry (pictured above), the reigning Trial GB champion, arrives at his home event knowing a good performance will secure his first FIM Trial2 World Championship title. He currently holds a 28-point advantage over his Spanish rival, Miquel Gelabert Roura.
“This is going to be my first home event in the world championship, so it will be pretty special,” the Beta Factory Trial Team rider said. “The last time the FIM series came to the UK, I was a 12-year-old watching from the sidelines as the other riders did their jobs. This time it will be me riding and trying to win another world title.
“I’m looking forward to it because it’s nice to ride in front of your own fans and my family, friends and sponsors will all be there to see me as well. It’s going to be a big weekend!”
The grounds of the Boughton Estate will be familiar territory for the young Briton, having competed at the venue twice before as part of the TrialGB series. Harry is hoping he can replicate his previous good form in Northamptonshire and add the Trial2 title to his Trial3 World Championship.
He said: “Boughton’s hosted the final round of the British Championship for the last two years, and I won both events – including the TrialGB title – there last season. So, it’s a venue I enjoy riding at and I know the sections will be challenging and typical of the British woods.
“The organising team down at Boughton have put some great work in to create the natural sections and make it easily accessible for spectators. With the competition being so tough – Miguel is just behind me, Billy (Green) is in third and my brother (George) is also up there, I know I’ll need to be on my ‘A’ game.”
The running of this weekend’s three-day FIM TrialGP event will mark the completion of 18 months of hard work for organisers Danny and Jack at CL Events. They’ve been based at Boughton for the last two months alone, meticulously preparing the venue for what they believe will be the best TrialGP event ever hosted in the UK.
Jack said: “We’re so excited to be organising this event and we’ve put everything into it. When people see the venue we’ve created, I think they’re going to be very shocked. The infrastructure we’ve brought in is massive and the accessibility for spectators is unrivalled. We’re pretty confident this will be the best TrialGP event held in the UK.”
Danny added: “The riding venue is essentially a massive amphitheatre made of natural bankings and featuring rocky outcrops, sheer faces and some loose riding – all things the riders will expect to come across. But the steepness of the banks is something else. You’re looking at 85% steepness which is a huge challenge. We’re delivering an event that will turn heads for lots of different reasons.”
Other British contenders at Boughton include Jack Peace who is P5 in the TrialGP standings, and Kaytlyn Adshead who holds P3 in TrialGP Women ahead of Alice Minta, Alicia Robinson.
Billy Green is currently P3 in Trial2, while George Hemingway, Jack Dance, Harry Turner, Alfie Lampkin, Jamie Galloway, Ben Dignan, Duncan MacColl and Thomas Hawthorne will also be pushing for success in the category.
In Trial2 Women, Sophie Bailey is the highest-placed Briton in P4, ahead of Matilda Arbon, Holly Dixon, Brianna King and Sophie Ferguson. Harison Skelton fills P3 in the Trial3 standings, ahead of Max Dance, Euan Sim, Thomas Le Breton, Zain Hutchinson-Pughe and Harrison Lightfoot.
Matthew Edwards-Wear, Auto-Cycle Union CEO, said: “Bringing TrialGP back to the UK after a significant absence is a big moment for the trial discipline and the ACU as the national governing body of motorcycle sport.
"Danny and Jack have the passion and work ethic to deliver a first-class event and we’re looking forward to seeing the best riders in the world tested on home soil, and the spectators treated to an exemplary show. We hope this event will mark the return of TrialGP action to the UK on an annual basis.”
Tickets are available here