Results of the 2024 VMC Canadian National Trials Championship Event November 9th and 10th, 2024

Click to see Graham Turners video of the event.

Photo’s in this article are captures from the video.

Technical content was taken from the Christy Williams Richards post at the CMA Website.

The 2024 Canadian National Trials Championship kicked off and wrapped up in a spectacular fashion this past weekend at the Victoria Motorcycle Club (VMC) property. Despite the heavy rain on Saturday, nearly 50 riders gathered to take on a challenging and meticulously crafted course, designed by multi-time Canadian Trials Champion Ryon Bell, Matt Fracy, and Brandon Volk. Their efforts, alongside a dedicated team of volunteers, ensured that the event ran seamlessly. From the course layout to the volunteer support, timing, and overall atmosphere, it was clear this was a top-tier competition. The sections were tough but fair, and the event as a whole was a resounding success.

Championship Class: Murphy Aaron Dominates

In the top-tier Championship class (Trial 1), Murphy Aaron (Gas Gas; Temecula, California) stood head and shoulders above the competition, halving the scores of his closest rivals over both days. After his impressive 2-1 finish in the AMA National Series, Aaron came into the weekend on fire, navigating the notoriously slippery VMC terrain with ease. “This was the toughest event I’ve ridden all year,” Aaron remarked after the event. “Some of those sections were as hard as anything in the US National Pro lines, and even the Pro riders would have been taking points.” He went on to say that the VMC was not only the slipperiest place he’s ever ridden but likely the most slippery place in the world.

Rounding out the top 3 in the Championship class were Brandon Volk (Vertigo; Victoria, BC) and Sean Bird (Scorpa; Port Coquitlam, BC). Brandon enjoyed a more comfortable lead on Saturday (105.5-124), but Sunday’s battle saw a much closer contest, with Sean finishing just 3 points behind. Sean, who’s recovering from a hand injury suffered at the Trial des Nations earlier this year, showed he’s still more than a match for his younger competitors. This duo promises to provide some exciting rivalry moving forward, possibly even some camaraderie as they both eye the Trials des Nations in 2025.

Women’s Sportsman Class: Melissa Andrist Reigns Supreme

The Women 1 – Sportsman class was dominated by Victoria’s own Melissa Andrist (Gas Gas), who was the sole competitor but still managed to beat several male riders. Her back-to-back victories earned her another title in the long list of CMA Women’s Championship wins.

Trial 2 – Expert Class: Alex Le Tops the CMA Podium

The Trial 2 – Expert class proved to be the most competitive class of the weekend, with riders putting up impressive scores. On Saturday, Alex Le (Vertigo; Squamish, BC) finished first with 100 points, followed by Andrew Watson (Montesa; Victoria, BC) and Rhys Hathoway (Vertigo; Victoria, BC). On Sunday, two non-CMA riders, Nik Ferguson (Gas Gas; Victoria, BC) and Trevor Wince (Gas Gas; Duncan, BC), took the top spots in this class, with Alex Le securing third.

Trial 3 – Sportsman: Aaron Wilkins Claims Championship

Ontario’s Aaron Wilkins (Beta) had a standout performance in the Trial 3 – Sportsman class, earning the CMA Championship after securing two wins. On Saturday, Wilkins was closely contested by John Faa (Vertigo; Victoria, BC), but on Sunday he pulled away with a 19-to-53-point victory. Faa finished second both days to earn the CMA silver medal, with Brian McNeal (Gas Gas; Coquitlam, BC) securing third.

Vet 3 – Senior Sportsman: Dave Nunn’s Consistency Pays Off

The Vet 3 – Senior Sportsman class saw Dave Nunn (Gas Gas; Victoria, BC) winning both days with consistent scoring, 70 points on Saturday and 59 on Sunday. Nanaimo’s Simon Kitchen (Beta) pushed Nunn hard, despite battling a back injury on Sunday, finishing in second. Ernie Ferguson (Vertigo; Victoria, BC) claimed third place but could only compete on Saturday due to injury.

Trial 4 – Intermediate Class: Steinbacher Takes Sunday Victory

The Trial 4 – Intermediate class saw a bit of a shake-up between Saturday and Sunday. Ethan Maier (Beta; Portland, Oregon) took the win on Saturday, with Shawn Steinbacher (Vertigo; Pennsylvania) in second. On Sunday, Steinbacher flipped the script, claiming victory while Maier took second, and local rider Mike Bullen (Gas Gas) rounded out the podium.

Vet 4 – Senior Intermediate: Eastman and Patterson Battle It Out

The Vet 4 – Senior Intermediate class was the largest of the weekend, with 11 riders on Saturday and 10 on Sunday. Stu Eastman (Vertigo; Victoria, BC) claimed the top spot on Saturday, but Nova Scotia’s Kevin Patterson (Vertigo) took the win on Sunday, finishing just two points ahead of Eastman. In the overall standings, Eastman secured the CMA Vet 4 championship, with Patterson taking silver. The oldest rider in the event, Bill de Garis (Vertigo; Port Moody, BC), at 84 years old, finished in third both days, securing the CMA bronze medal. Bill, who wasn’t thrilled about competing in a “young man’s class” of riders under 50, is a true testament to the enduring spirit of trials.

Women 2 – Intermediate: Delacroix Claims Victory

The Women 2 – Intermediate class featured a strong turnout with five competitors. Day one saw Alicia Lim (Vertigo; Victoria, BC) take the lead, followed by Katie McGeachy (Beta; Vernon, BC) and Jaclyn Delacroix (Vertigo; Squamish, BC). However, Day two saw a shift in the standings, with Delacroix taking the top spot, McGeachy remaining steady in second, and Emily Roberts (Beta; Golden, BC) claiming third. In the overall series standings, Delacroix took first, McGeachy second, and Lim finished third.

Event Highlights and Gratitude

This year’s event received rave reviews, with a few surprises including the first-ever use of a first-loop time limit and separate courses for each day’s competition. The VMC made sure the event was spectator-friendly, incorporating some well-designed man-made sections that added an extra level of excitement. 

The event would not have been possible without the support of the VMC’s dedicated volunteer crew, with more than 25 scorers and the tireless Clerks of the Course—Ryon Bell, Matt Fracy, and Brandon Volk—who worked countless hours behind the scenes.

A special thanks goes to the event’s many sponsors, whose support made the event possible:

 Victoria Motorcycle Club, 

True Line Contracting,

H. Volk Transport,

Cutter Industries, 

Stan Fry Cement Finishing, 

Moser Earth Works, 

Farhill Engineering, 

AAA Rebar, 

Willowleaf Holdings, 

Perrier Roofing, 

Landmark Sign, 

Langley Precast, 

Nichol Electric, 

Pacific Truss, 

Trio Redi Mix, 

Thetis Cove Joinery, 

Mototrials West, 

Capital City Paving, 

United Rentals, 

Northridge Excavating, 

Fisher Backhoe Services, 

Global Pro Systems,

Old Dart Management.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to these sponsors, and the volunteers, and riders who helped make this event an unforgettable experience.

Results: