Positives to take despite mechanical issues for Carrie in Cheshire – Northern Experts Trial

After a gruelling trial last time out in North Yorkshire at the Scott trial, with her and her bike taking a beating, Carrie was unsure whether she would be ready for the next trial, with it coming so soon. Thankfully for Carrie, she was loaned a bike for the event and made her way across to Cheshire for the 77th Northern Experts Trial.

For the 1-day trial, Carrie was out at number 1 at 8:26 and had little time prior to prepare the bike and get herself familiarised with the set-up. After a few basic changes and adjustments, Carrie headed to the start line to get her trial underway.

Switching from her normal Sherco bike to a TRS bike was a noticeable change. The bikes felt different in several ways, and Carrie spent the opening part of the trial adapting to its characteristics. As the day went on, she began to gel with it and post some good scores on several sections.

Unfortunately, her progress came to a stop early in her second lap. The chain’s split link came out, scattering pieces that she couldn’t all recover. With only the main body, pins and outer plate found, Carrie reassembled what she could. However, without securing the mechanism, she was unable to continue the trial and rode carefully back to the van as she didn’t want to risk the chain coming off again.

Despite having to retire early on, Carrie was happy with how she rode on a new bike with little preparation and will take those positives forward into the back end of the 2025 season.

This is what Carrie had to say on her trial:

“Wasn’t sure I was going to make this event as the Sherco was poorly after the Scott Trial, but thankfully Trials Day saved the day, and I was kindly loaned a TRS One R 300 for the day!

I sorted a few basic set-up changes on the bike and then made my way to start. I was steady away as the TRS felt much different to the Sherco in a variety of ways, so I was doing my best to adapt to it as quickly as possible. The more I rode and got used to it, the better I gelled with it.

Sadly, after a few sections in on my second lap, the split link came out of the chain, and I couldn’t find all 3 pieces, so I put the main body with the pins and outer plate back on and rode carefully back to the van.

Despite having to retire from the trial, I’m still pleased with the riding I did and the feel I got for the bike”.