What sort of Championship would you like to ride?
The Centre is again actively exploring ways to boost participation in both the Centre Championship and West Yorkshire Championship series. They are reaching out to ask for your input on what would motivate you to take part in these events. What are the barriers—cost, travel, course difficulty, or simply preferring a convenient, legal place to ride without the hassle of organising? We invite you to join the sub-committee, where your ideas can help shape significant changes. While comments are being shared on our social media platforms, many focus on what’s wrong with the sport without offering constructive solutions. Below, you’ll find links to these discussions as well as the Yorkshire Centre Facebook page.
We encourage you to share your thoughts on how Centre Clubs can increase participation and improve the sport for everyone.
Some thoughts coming from Clubs
I think we should ballot all clubs between 2 choices –
1) a Centre Clubman Championship for Novices & Beginners (modern bikes) plus Twinshock, Pre75 & A/C Mono, Experts & Inters on a no-points basis (except over 45’s), with protected status unless events on the same day are 50 miles apart.
2) a Centre Classic Clubman Championship for Twinshock, Pre75 & A/C Monos only, with unprotected status.
Preferably the Centre to seek sponsors for at least the main Yorkshire Centre Championship.
I understand Richmond, as well as Falcons, are in favour of Option 2.
Any thoughts?”
In the Yorkshire Centre, there are 9 clubs running trials, with 5 of also host national events. If these 9 clubs focus on organizing the Yorkshire Centre Championship, along with the 5 nationals, that still leaves 38 Sundays open for other trials. For example, Ilkley only runs one trial, so the remaining 8 clubs would have 37 Sundays available, averaging around 5 trials per club. Additionally, there are 51 Saturdays to consider Scott Trial is on a Saturday). To make this work, the rules could be updated to prevent other trials being run on Centre dates. The Clubman B course should remain straightforward for riders not ready for Clubman A. On national event days, no other trial should be held within 30 miles of the start. The midweek evening trials should also continue as usual as the majority of these bring in beginners.
In my opinion I tend to agree with Mike, I think we should consider dropping the West Yorkshire championship and actively promote the centre championship re branding to encourage those riders that may not even consider this type of event, we have to encourage these events are open to all including ac mono/twinshocks etc as well as ensuring riders who want to improve can gain status from novice to intermediate to expert. Just my thoughts for a starter.
How about returning to the structure from 20 years ago? We could have two separate courses with classes like Expert, Intermediate, Novice, and Youth A, B, and C—drop the “Clubman” tag. The Championship course would cater to Experts, Intermediates, Novices, and Youth A riders. The second course, designed up to a Closed-to-Club standard, would be open to all riders but serve as the Championship course for Youth B and C classes. Awards given Exp Int Nov who are over 45.
Want to be part of the Sub Committee: Contact Martin Fairburn – secretary@yorkshirecentreacu.com
Links to social media pages
Bradford & District Motor Club Ltd