Trials

2018 Motorcycling SA Elite Rider Squad member, Lillie Yiatrou is taking a huge leap in 2019, with her entry just confirmed into the FIM Trial2 Women’s World Cup, the 2^nd tier of the Women’s Trial World Championship, where she will compete against some of the world’s best female trials riders at rounds in Portugal, Britain and Spain – and all at the age of 15!

Lillie, also a 2018 Rising Star Award nominee who will be at the 2018 MSA Night of Champions in little over a weeks’ time, took a year off in 2015 to re-charge the batteries and since returning to the sport in 2016 has taken all before her, with the results showing the commitment and effort she has been putting into her chosen sport!

2017 saw Lillie finish 2^nd in the Junior Women’s Australian Trial Championship at her first attempt, and finishing runner-up to New Zealander, Hannah Rushworth meant that Lillie finished 2017 as the #1 ranked Australian junior woman in trial, and Lillie also finishing 2^nd to Hannah at the SA Championships.

2018 has seen Lillie take the jump to senior competition, something riders can do in trial as there is no direct competition between the riders on course, and has forgone her final 2 years of junior competition.

Starting the year in senior C Grade Lillie has won the SA Women’s Cup outright, the first junior rider to do so, and also is the 2018 SA Champion in Open Women, and also attended the Australian Women Cup in Canberra where she was 2^nd overall and first in Youth.

The Australian Championships were held this year in Victoria and once again, Lillie decided to bypass the Junior Women Championship and enter Open Women, where, at 14 years of age, she was pitted against 4 Australian Trials des Nations representatives.

Lillie started with an amazing first lap on day 1 where she was in 2^nd outright and in front of former World Top 10 and multi time Australian Champion, the great Michelle Coleman, to the amazement of all, including herself!

Over the next 3 laps (and 2 days) Lillie battled superbly against her older and more experienced competition, had her ups and downs, but finished on the podium and in 3^rd place, and besting 2 Australian reps in the process!

The #3 ranked Open Women trials rider in Australia – at the age of 14!

For the journey to this point, Lillie would like to thank some amazing and supporting people;

Her Mum & Dad, Paula & Andrew, for the support, wise words and minding/catching, and brother Alex for his support as well

Greg Knight from Rockhopping SA & Paul Arnott from The Hell Team for the bike and bike support

Her coaches through the years, but especially Kristie ‘K-Dog’ McKinnon for all of her support and guidance and Team Hogan for their guidence and coaching – always good to ride with Connor (PS: Thanks for bringing Jack & Dan Peace out as well)

Her riding ‘buddies’ and the Trials SA community, especially Josh Rees for being her riding buddy this year, as well as Alex Cowan & Patrick Hewitt for always pushing the limits, trash talking and for being great mates!

Now Lillie will face her next challenge – riding in the FIM World Championship, whilst also targeting the SA Trial Championship, the SA Women’s Cup and, of course, the Australian Trial Championships, and we wish her all the best as she takes on this next challenge!

Certainly a Rising Star of our sport!

2018 sees the AJS MTC celebrating 90 years as an active club in Motorcycling SA. One of the first 5 Clubs to be born out of the MCC of SA in the 1920’s, the Club has a rich and detailed history that reaches out to most disciplines of motorcycling, but now in the present day concentrates on the discipline of trials.

And to form part of their 2018 celebrations, their long running Peter Sparkes Trophy, run predominately for trials sidecars will, this year, become a 2 day event to be held on a property at ‘Iconic Tungkillo’ and will feature options to ride for one or both days

For those travelling from afar, or even from across borders, overnight camping is welcomed, and on the Saturday night will be complete with an evening around the bonfire, and for Sunday lunch, Deenice Catering will be there with their awesome food!

The Peter Sparkes Sidecar Trophy, first held in 1975, is Australia’s oldest sidecar trophy in trials, and was named to honour AJS and Motorcycling SA Life Member, Mr Peter Sparkes. Peter is now in his 90’s, but if health and weather permits, it is likely that Peter will make an appearance at ‘his’ event over the course of the weekend.

For all the details on this event, as well as where to get the supp regs & how to enter online, head to www.trialsport.com.au and follow the links to SA trial entries!

And while the Peter Sparkes Sidecar Trophy event is aimed at sidecars – A Grade, B Grade & the Classics, there will be a full range of classes for the solo riders – from Expert ride down to Mini Trial, and not forgetting the old bikes as well, who will have a blue & white line to choose from!

AND: Non-competitive classes and 1 event licences will also be available, so drag the old trials iron out from the back of the shed, dust it off, and come out, have a ride and help one of Australia’s oldest motorcycle clubs celebrate a very significant milestone in a very appropriate way – by throwing a leg over!