Celebrating 55 years of Trials Competition with Bernie Schreiber
Words: Bernie Schreiber, Zurich, Switzerland – September 1st, 2025
Photos: Bernie Schreiber personal collection; Eric Kitchen; Iain C. Clark; Trials Guru; Len Weed; Jean Claude Commeat.
America’s only World Trials Champion and Scottish Six Days Trial winner, Bernie Schreiber is the most successful and iconic trials rider ever from the USA. To this day, he is the only American trials rider to reach the pinnacle of the sport. 2025 marks a special moment for Schreiber who started trials competition fifty-five years ago in California and still competes in vintage events today. 1970 was the beginning of what later became a successful adventure overseas in the late 1970s and 80s. Trials Guru shares Bernie’s journey.
Trials Guru: How did you discover the sport of Observed trials?
Bernie Schreiber: “A friend of my father introduced us to trials in 1970.
One day we all went riding in the Mojave Desert outside Los Angeles. We were climbing hills and riding trails all day on our bikes while the son of our friend spent most of the day in a sandy pit area, riding in circles standing up. We asked, what have you been doing all day on that strange bike called a Bultaco? In fact we thought the motorcycle was made in Mexico until they informed us it was a trials bike made in Spain. We had no idea what trials was and never heard of Bultaco. He said, that we should come out to watch a local trials event in a few weeks.
A few weeks later I found myself riding, not watching the event at a famous off-road venue called Saddleback Park in Southern California. I had a Kawasaki 90cc trail bike and my dad signed me up in the kid’s class. I started section one stood on my passenger foot-pegs to stay balanced going up and down hills. I really enjoyed the challenge and my parents found the sport friendly and safe.”
“I rode a few more events in the kid’s class that year and eventually got a 125cc Bultaco Lobito and moved up a class. We joined the trials club VOTE ‘Valley Observed Trials Enthusiasts’ that year and the trials adventure began.”
TG: Who inspired you to focus on trials and to go as far as you did?
BS: “That would be hard to pinpoint exactly, there are so many names, but of course my parents were always the main pillar of inspiration and support.”
“The 1971 Bruce Brown movie ‘On Any Sunday’ with Malcolm Smith and Steve McQueen truly inspired me to be a motorcycle rider in some way, shape or form. That movie touched on every aspect of motorcycling from lifestyle to coolness and the risks of high-speed racing. Best motorcycle film ever for the industry.”
“As a kid early on, it’s important to have heroes to look up to. Sammy Miller and Mick Andrews were two of mine on the world stage and Lane Leavitt in the USA. I did trials schools with both Sammy and Mick in the early 1970s and practiced with Lane whenever the opportunity presented itself.”
“The local Los Angeles dealer, Steve’s Bultaco supported me at first, until Bultaco International USA stepped up support based on my national results. My local trials club VOTE and all their members were great motivators and supporters as well. Always organizing events and trials training weekends.”
TG: So how did a young kid from California end up riding trials in Europe?
BS: “Riding in Europe is one thing, winning is another. Most Americans fifty years ago said winning couldn’t be done in Europe and here we are forty-six years later still trying to figure out how it had been done.
Every life has a story and every story has a lesson. My personal lesson is things are not as easy as they may seem. At every stage in life, everyone has a story to tell, a lesson to teach, wisdom to share, so learn from them.”
“My first trip to Europe was funded by (ATA) American Trials Association, the governing body of all trials clubs in Southern California and managed the annual El Trial de Espana event and the prizes and donations. This event which started in 1970, had a huge fundraiser each year to send a team of talented local riders to Spain. This was mainly to expose local riders to the European Championship and Spanish manufacturers.”
“I was part of that delegation in 1974 to visit the Bultaco factory, meet the world riders and observe the Spanish round of the European Championship, before it became a World Championship in 1975.”
“In 1976, I joined the ETDE team again to Scotland to watch the Scottish Six Days Trial. I was still under eighteen years of age, so couldn’t ride both these events unfortunately.
I’d quickly seen that European sections in Spain were not the same as our American sections, so I immediately changed my practice at home to bigger steps, tighter turns, larger and longer sections with more speed. At the 1976 SSDT, I did learn a lot about the trials culture and history of a sport which was established in 1909.
El Trial de Espana trips were fruitful, and after hard work, winning events locally and nationally, the Bultaco factory and Bultaco International agreed in December 1976 to provide me an opportunity in Europe.
The main purpose was to obtain real trials competition exposure and learn from the world’s best Bultaco riders who were based in Europe. Therefore, I could improve my skills and become the best U.S. trials rider. That would inturn sell more Bultaco’s in a very crowed American market with more and more Japanese bikes entering each year. The Japanese brands were buying market share and acquiring the best talent in many American motorcycle disciplines.”
“So, I departed to Belgium for my first three-month European tour in February 1977 to compete in the world championship and SSDT. I’d just turned eighteen in January and acquired my first FIM license. I landed in Brussels with rubber boots and a helmet, but no real riding gear for sub-zero temperatures, mud and snow.
To remind the younger readers, there was no internet, no fax, no iPhone, no GPS, limited English hard to understand and no money in my pocket. Thankfully, the Belgian Bultaco importer at the time, Marcel Wiertz took care of me on arrival. I had a test ride on a stock Bultaco Sherpa in the Belgium mud, and that was the real beginning of the European journey.”
“My practice sections in California paid off and I finished in fifth place in Belgium with one hundred and thirty points, just two points behind Yrjo Vesterinen the current World Champion. The next event was dryer and warmer in Spain and clenched my first podium that impressed the Bultaco factory owners.”
“Then onwards to France for a fifth place finish and another second place podium in West Germany, beating nearly every factory rider once during the two-month tour.”
“In the May, I competed in my first Scottish Six Days Trial and obtained the Best Newcomer Award with eleventh place out of several hundred riders. Overall, I finished the season seventh in the world and impressed some European media, spectators, sponsors and riders.”
“At the time, I wish there would have been other options besides Europe. Life was good at home, but sometimes opportunity only knocks once in life. You’ve got to be where the action is taking place at the highest level or you will most likely be left behind.”
TG: 1977 had been a year of experience for 1978, so how was the following year?
BS: “1978 was by far the toughest year and a turning point in my career. I asked myself many times, do I stay in Europe or stay at home. I learned a lot in 1978 and finally won my first world round in France, becoming the youngest rider ever at age nineteen.
Eventually, I went on to win four world rounds in 1978 – FRANCE, SPAIN, USA and ITALY. I became the first American to win a world round, so the impossible was achieved. The 1978 U.S. Wagner Cup round that year in Roaring Branch, Pennsylvania was a special win, as I hadn’t even won a U.S. American Championship until later that same year.
The biggest take away from 1978 was acknowledging that cleaning sections and winning world rounds from time to time was not enough to win a Championship. The current world champion Yrjo Vesterinen was a great rider, like all the factory Bultaco team riders, Lampkin, Coutard, Soler and others. I learned a lot from each and every one of them.”
“Vesterinen was the man to beat and he was on his way to a third World championship title in a row. Vesterinen was a talented rider, smart and very consistent. His consistent effort, focus, preparation and mindset were unmatched. He had it all together and a well-planned strategy, and the most professional Championship rider without a doubt. Risk management drives Championship victories and Yrjo was a master with a plan to win Championship titles.”
“Consistency became my obvious plan for 1979 after finishing third overall in the 1978 Championship. Numbers matter at the end of the season.”
TG: Then it all comes together in 1979 and you won the FIM World Trials Championship?
BS: “The start of the 1979 season was extremely difficult and not as planned. It was decided with Bultaco after the 1978 season that London would be my European Base. From there, I could practice more mud riding, communicate in English and stabilize a bit. I moved in with the Hudson family and worked out of Comerford’s at Thames Ditton, Surrey the UK Bultaco importer at that time.”
“I received tremendous support from the entire team in the UK, especially Pete Hudson a trials rider who worked at Comerford’s as competitions manager, he looked after me during the entire season.”
“The 1979 plan didn’t come together as forecasted. I crashed, bent the fork in the first world round in Northern Ireland and scored zero points. Then seventh in the UK, sixth in Belgium and fourth in the Netherlands. Actually, the 1979 season started worse than 1978 and I was way behind the leader in overall points, not just wins.”
“1979 started as one of those mental moments. It was a Rocky Balboa moment. “It’s not about how hard you get hit, but how hard you can get hit, get up and keep moving forward”. I moved forward to the fifth round in Spain and won. After that, things turned sunny, positive, and more consistent from that point. I won more events and stayed on the podium to the end.”
“I had a lot of support from Comerford’s in the UK, but the 1979 season was only decided at the last world round in Czechoslovakia. That’s when history was made and it still stands forty-six years later.”
TG: What do you feel were the main drivers of your success?
BS: “The heart to win is a must, and it often comes with more pain than pleasure. Most of us were riding from the heart, not for the money. The winning experience provides confidence which adds to your performance, but the most important skill is learning how to transfer your skills to competition and then to winning. The hardest skill is mental and how to transfer winning into Championship titles under pressure all season. Innovations can make the difference between winning and losing. Perfecting bunny hops and floater turns in the 1970s was an innovative advantage. Some called it trick riding, but it was used within the traditional non-stop rules of the sport. A positive attitude, strong motivation and commitment, combined with believing in yourself is the main driver of success.”
TG: You finished second in the 1980, 82 and 83 World Championship. Were those frustrating years?
BS: “YES and NO!
It’s always frustrating not to win, especially when you are expected to win. The best rider always wins regardless of all the excuses we wish to present. People aren’t interested in hearing all the excuses, challenges or reasons for not winning, but they do exist for most of us at the top.
Here are some facts that don’t change my results. In 1980 when the Bultaco factory closed, I changed from Bultaco to Italjet in mid-season. For the readers, Italjet was a mini-bike manufacture and the Bultaco importer in Italy in 1980 and well aware of the current situation.
Most Bultaco riders had moved on and changed bikes by the end of the 1979 season. Vesty to Montesa and Lampkin SWM. Only Manel Soler and myself had not changed bikes by year end.”
“I continued with Comerford’s Bultaco until the June of 1980, while Soler was going to develop the Italjet bike. In the end, Manel moved to Montesa and I was pretty much solo on a Green Taco with Spanish engineer Manuel Marques.”
“My first event in 1980 on the new bike was round seven in Switzerland and due to technical issues, no points were scored. Round eight in Germany, I finished late on time and no points again, so only scored points in ten of the twelve rounds that year and finished second.
I set two new world records that year by winning six of twelve world rounds in one season and the last four victories in a row. Won a lot of battles in 1980, but lost the Championship to Ulf Karlson.
1982 was probably the best year of my career with SWM. I had a proven bike, strong factory support and a great team manager with Pietro Kuciukian. For me personally, Kuciukian was the greatest of all time team managers and still a dear friend after forty-five years.”
“The year resulted in two wins and ten podiums out of twelve events. Managed a UK hat trick in 1982, winning the SSDT, British World round and the famous Kick Start TV trial, but still finished second to Eddy Lejeune. We both dominated the season, but he was the best rider and won his first World Championship title.
In 1983, I changed bikes again, not brands. The SWM Jumbo was introduced which was a totally new bike frame and engine.”
“After just a month of training, I won the opening world round in Spain and managed eight podium finishes during the season, so quite happy with my results after six full championship seasons, but Eddy won again on his factory Honda.”
“Results and frustrations become less painful if you achieve most of your career goals. In sports, we are only the best during a certain moment in time.”
TG: How important was your 1982 historic Scottish Six Days Trial win?
BS: “It remains one of my greatest accomplishments in the sport of trials. I was not a huge fan of the SSDT in the beginning, because my knowledge of the events history and culture was blurred by the World Championships. It’s the only real trial remaining today in the sport.”
“The SSDT has long distances between sections, river style sections with many uphill rock beds, cold weather, time controls, non-stop rules, no score cards and six tough days over one hundred miles each day. It has always been an important event for manufactures, media and sponsors.
My second attempt was in 1980, I was the current world champion, but after two years of absence from the first attempt in 1977, I was not familiar with the event anymore. After three days, I realised that this event was really unique and one of a kind. I began to understand the true meaning of reliability trials, the history and traditions of the SSDT itself and where the sport all began.
If you try to clean every section each day, or try to win each day for six days, you were not going to win. The event is tough and had little margin for errors, not like a world championship, where you could drop more points in a day than the entire six days trial.
The SSDT is comparable to winning the Open Championship of golf at St Andrews in Scotland. It’s the most prestigious, most historic and most traditional event in the sport of Trials.”
TG: 1987 was your final appearance at the World Championships. When did you realize your time was up? Was that an easy decision?
BS: “Honestly, my time was up at the end of 1984, although I won two world rounds that year, including the British and German which were my last wins. Overall, finished third in the World Championship. I rode a few more years for fun and enjoyed it, especially with Gilles Burgat on the 1986 Yamaha team.”
“My last year in 1987, had been focused on winning the U.S. National Championship for the fourth time and competed in the Spanish and American World rounds on a Fantic 303. It was nice to win the 1987 American Championship one more time after not competing since 1983.”
“Good decisions are not easy to make, but mine was good for me. After ten years competing in over one hundred world rounds at high-level competitions, most major accomplishments in the sport had been reached except the Scott Trial of which I never competed.
Otherwise, six overall world podium finishes in 1978, 79, 80, 82, 83 and 84. Twenty individual world wins and forty-eight podiums over those six years. It was time to explore and seek new challenges.”
TG: What happened after you retired in 1988 and stopped competing as a professional Trials rider?
BS: “In 1998, I’d been doing trials schools worldwide for a few years and continued doing them for another year. Many riders had bought my book ‘Observed Trials’ by Len Weed when it was published in 1983 and never seen the techniques in action, so it was an opportunity to share my time and skills with club riders and trials fans.”
“In 1989, I started my first real job with the Malcolm Smith Products (MS Racing). The company was expanding to Europe in 1989 and needed boots on the ground to assist them with sales, marketing, and newly appointed European distributors. Great experience and Malcolm had always been one of my heros and a legend in the motorcycle industry.
After two years with MS Racing, I set up a consulting company in Europe and began advising additional clients Alpinestars and Answer Products overseas in the motorcycle and bicycle industry. I had a prior relationship with both, due to my trials boot and handlebar agreements in the early 80s. By the mid 1990s, I was mostly in the cycling industry with a strong focus on mountain bikes and accessories. I managed the consulting company for about six years.”
“In 1996, the Company was approached by Tissot Watches of Switzerland who signed a long-term agreement as the official timekeeper for all UCI Cycling World Championship disciplines.
Tissot was searching for someone to manage on-site activations and promote their new precision and robust watches in the Mountain Bike space. That was my first big BRAND client. Tissot is one of twenty brands owned by the Swatch Group in Switzerland. After a year or so of providing services, the Tissot President asked if I’d be interested to work internally at the headquarters in Switzerland and take responsibility of the Sports marketing department globally. The answer was YES just like with Bultaco in 1977. A multinational group with one hundred and fifty-year-old brands and 10,000s employees is when I took a deep dive into the corporate world.
Over the next ten years, Tissot had double digit growth year after year. We signed partnership agreements for timekeeping services and product licensing with several global properties in motorsports like MotoGP and NASCAR, but also the Asian Games, AFL, CBA in China to name a few. We had selective ambassadors like footballer Michael Owen, Danica Patrick in Indy Car and the late Nicky Hayden in MotoGP as well.
“In 2010, I decided to take a career break and stop travelling to events around the world for a while. Wonderful experience, but too much time on the road. It had been over twenty years on the road by now with trials travelling included.
Two years later in 2012, I was presented an opportunity by the Swatch Group CEO to lead the U.S. golf initiatives for the Swiss watch brand OMEGA in the USA. This position was based in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
Omega had just signed a long-term partnership agreement with PGA of America, the governing body of 28,000 golf professionals across America. I spent three years traveling throughout the US, activating the brand in the golf space. My main focus was on golf tournaments, included the US Ryder Cup and other PGA of America Championship events. Omega has been the official timekeeper of the Olympic Games since 1932. They are very active in other sports like sailing, track & field and swimming. Prior to my arrival in the USA, Omega signed Greg Norman – the real Australian Great White Shark to be a brand ambassador, so I was based and worked out of his offices for the next three years before returning to Omega Switzerland.”
TG: You remained in sports for a long time with professional athletes, can you tell us more about that?
BS: “Professional sports athletes are easy to work with, but often their agents are NOT. Sports ambassadors that have a Personal brand that fits a corporate brand can be a great association and added value for both parties. The activation plan of the association is key to the success of any co-branding partnerships.
Ambassadors are a product of the brand communication. Example: Michael Phelps the greatest Olympian of all time would talk about the importance of timing/touch pads during his swimming competitions at the Olympics, or golfer Rory McIIroy who would talk about precision and timing of a putt at the Masters. Time is what you make of those moments which can be in the past or present.
Timekeeping is an important tool for sports athletes or race teams. Nearly all sports Federations need a service provider for timekeeping. That’s how they measure performance, set official world records and handle results data for media and TV networks. You can host a major event without sponsors or spectators, but you must have a timekeeper. Try removing timekeeping from a downhill skiing event or many other sports. It would be like removing sound from a movie. All emotions are gone and nothing to measure performances.”
TG: Did you return to Switzerland after your U.S. Golf tour?
BS: “YES, returned to Omega Switzerland in 2015 to lead “Golf returning to Olympics” for the first time in 100 years and assist with other golf projects in Asia.
In 2017, we decided as a family to move permanently to Zurich for my son’s schooling and my partners work opportunities. A wonderful twenty years with Swatch Group. I’m thankful for the opportunity.”
TG: Have you still been doing any local club trials or did you walk away completely?
BS: “By 1989, I had lost interest in trials and found a passion in new adventures which was exciting times. I completely walked away from trials for about twenty years, or 1988 to 2008. In 2008, I received an invitation to ride the Robregordo classic two-day trials in Madrid, Spain.”
“A special event to celebrate my thirty years anniversary of my world championship victory. I had so much fun riding with old friends, Manel Soler, Mick Andrews, Andrea Codina, Jamie Subira and many others. At that time, I had no bike, boots, clothes or helmet. Everything was provided. Unfortunately, I was still working and had little time to ride trials.”
“In 2011, Gilles Burgat invited me to celebrate his thirtieth anniversary at the Ventoux Classic Two-Day Trial in France. Another fabulous weekend with so many champions and friends. I was hooked to ride again, but soon after in 2012, I departed to the US for three years. During that time in the US, I attended the 2013 U.S. World round in Tennassee. Many old friends and fans attended the event. Great weekend and a lot of autographs.”
TG: When did you become involved in Trials again?
BS: “In 2018, I became more interested and available to ride trials and started receiving invitations to ride Classic events. The 2018 Bultaco Revival in the UK was my first real competition in many years. Riding with Vesty and Soler and staying at his home was the best weekend of trials for quite some time. Maybe because I competed on one of Vesty’s machines, but it was magical and memorable few days.”
“A few months later there was the big gathering of trials riders in Barcelona, Spain called the ‘Trials Legends’ (1964-1985) that celebrated the golden years of the sport. Most of the past and present Trial Legends were present that day. Memorable moments with many champions.”
“Later that year, I was invited to Italy for the Trial of Champions and Danilo Galeazzi’s 60th anniversary. The whole SWM team from the 1980’s was there and it was a celebration to remember with Moto Club Domo 70 in Domodossola.”
“2019 was the fortieth anniversary of my world championship title, and really the first year of full involvement again in the sport. It started with a lengthy phone call with John Moffat about participating at the Highland Classic Two-Day Trial as their guest of honor at Alvie Estate in Scotland. Its was the first time on the pegs in Scotland since my 1982 SSDT win. The Friendliest Trial in Scotland.”
“After watching riders on Facebook videos, it was clear that many of the classic riders lacked some fundamental skills, so it was decided with John Moffat to launch a Trials school in Scotland the day after the Highland Classic. Riding trials without learning the fundamentals is like building a house with no foundation. It will look good for a while and then it will fall apart.
I’d seen the need for a training plan with basics learning tools. A lot of basic instruction can be found in my book ‘Observed Trials’ with Len Weed, but I wanted to go deeper into the mental approach as well. You can be good at something, but not successful implementing it when needed. The approach and experience of learning has changed, but the basics are still the same.
That was my first school in decades and I repeated the experience in four other locations that year which included England, Canada, USA and Spain.”
TG: Did you compete in more competitions throughout 2019?
BS: “It was a fun year for sure with many invitations as Guest of Honor. Following the Highland Classic, I attended the Bultaco Revival in Yorkshire, then Andorra two-day trial followed by the Leven Valley in Scotland.”
“The year ended with the traditional Robregordo Trial just outside of Madrid with a school organized by Javier Cruz. 2019 was busy with a lot of travel and experiences.”
TG: You stayed active in the sport between 2020 and 2024 considering Covid cancelled many competitions. Tell us about those years?
BS: “The 2020 Covid pandemic changed plans for many people in many sports. I still managed to attend a few events before Covid started and one being the Classic Dirt Bike show in Telford for the first time.”
“I also participated at the Jersey Island Classic the day before the UK was closed and flew out on the last flight from London to Zurich.”
“Later in August 2020 I competed at the A-Cup Trial in Austria, where they hosted their riders meeting in masks. It was good fun and nice venue. Overall, the year was good and was able to work on my first website with Heath Brindley who will soon be developing the new updated version soon. www.bernieschreiber.com
2021 was a quiet year with fewer trials activities which included the Arbecey Invitational in France and the Due Giorni Trial Folgaria in Italy.”
“The one big event in 2021 was the FIM Awards Gala in Monaco and being a recipient of the FIM Trial Legend Award. A beautiful evening and very honored to receive this award by the FIM President, Jorge Viegas in front of the world’s motorcycle champions.
2022 was a big year for the good and not so good. First was the loss of my father and best friend who had been the driving force of my trials career from the first day, so not so good.”
“It was a year of reflection and the fortieth Anniversary of my victory at the 1982 SSDT. I had planned activities, but reduced them due to other family activities.”
“GLOVES OFF was launched in February 2022 with TRIALS GURU as a regular and exclusive column in the news feed, and is archived there for trials enthusiasts. https://trialsguru.net/gloves-off-bernie-schreiber/
“In the April, I made a trip to the UK to visit Heath Brindley for a few days to ride in Wales with a modern TRS and friends. That followed by a bucket list visit to the Sammy Miller Museum which is highly recommended. Seen some beautiful machines, motorsports history and luckily seen the man himself for a tour. Sammy was my first trials instructor in California back in 1973, so it was very nice to catch up with the champion and legend.”
“As the year advanced, Rich Hilbun organized a fortieth SSDT celebration in Montana with a trials school and annual event called ‘Whiskey Gulch’ with one hundred and twenty riders attending from the USA and Canada. A fabulous week of trials with American friends and my Spanish friend Yoyi San Martin from www.TodoTrial.com in Spain.”
“In 2022, I decided that as I bought my first Bultaco in 1971, a 125 Lobito with money I received for my paper round, I would buy my second Bultaco. I only had bought one Bultaco, all the ones I rode were given to me under sponsorships or contracts. I struck out and bought a 325cc model 199A, the type I used to win the 1979 World championship. That was a gap of fifty-one years.”
“Another highlight of the year was the 2022 FIM Trial Vintage Trophy in Monza, Italy. This event was one day before the Trial des Nations. This was the first ever FIM Vintage Trophy event and my role was Ambassador, not competing. The winner was Philippe Berlatier from France.”
“2023 highlight was a Trials school in Tulsa, Oklahoma, organized by Kirk Mayfield an old trials friend since the early 1970’s. The event was hosted by one of the oldest clubs in the USA, the North Eastern Oklahoma Trials Team, founded in 1969 by one of the legendary names in U.S. trials history Mike McCabe, who became the first American competitor of the Scottish Six Days Trial in 1972.”
“A few weeks after Oklahoma, I returned to the Highland Classic in Scotland for the second time and had a lot of fun riding a special Moffat Bultaco prepared by Vazquez Racing in Madrid.
The final event of 2023 was the fiftieth Anniversary of Domaine Bilstein in Belgium. Probably the best festival trial ever with many historic riders and in the venue where I rode my first World Championship event in 1977. Fantastic event organized by the Crosset family and team.
2024 started with the Classic Dirt Bike show in Telford, England. The idea to celebrate the 45th anniversary of my World Championship title was mentioned and off we went with a new Sorra limited edition jersey.”
“The next adventure was in Ohio for my third American Trials school in three years.”
“This time was to visit the AMA Hall of Fame Museum and raise funds for NextGen Mototrial youth in America, which was very successful thanks to Duane Tope and Adam Blumhorst.”
“Then returned back to the Highland Classic for the ‘BSA-Triumph Edition’. This year, I rode a 250 BSA supplied by John Moffat and truly had blast riding around on the thumper.”
TG: That has been a busy schedule of events. How has 2025 been so far?
BS: “2025 has been a fabulous year to date. As always, the planning of events takes time and commitment, but well worth it all. Celebrating 55 years of riding and still on the pegs is a very fortunate person.”
“This year has been celebrating 55 years of riding and it started in Telford again with some good people and laughs.”
“The American `Ride Vintage’ weekend training in Indiana organized by Duane Tope and the local club has been a high point of the year for me.”
I was thrilled to ride my late fathers 1972 Bultaco which had been fully restored by Duane Tope for the occasion.”
“Duane Tope has a long history in Vintage Trials bikes restorations and competition, winning the AMA Twin-shock Trials Championship title in 2023.”
“From Indiana, I returned to the friendliest trial in Scotland. The Highland Classic for my fourth experience at the event.”
“This has become my favorite trial of the year and I’m already looking forward to June 2026.”
“My last competition of 2025 was the annual Arbecey two-day Invitational in France. I finished second overall at this traditional event organized by Joel Corroy and Trial 70 Club. This year ten times French Champion, Charles Coutard competed and we rode side by side for two days. The magic of trials is you can ride with friends who also started riding in the sport 55 years ago.”
TG: What is Classic 55 Club?
BS: “At Classic 55 Club, everything revolves around the love of off-road classic bikes and passionate motorcycle enthusiasts. Our mission is to continue creating the strong connection between the beautiful historic bikes and those stories riders have to share. Welcome to the club.
For me personally, it’s always the people that make the biggest difference in everything. With that said, I would like to thank all those who continue to support me at events, on social media and the media platforms. Thank you, Trials Guru, for your continued dedication to trials and our partnership.”
“Thank you to Racing Services Spain for all your graphic support, including special logos, number plates, catalogs and stickers. Thanks to all the trials school organizers who made it happen and hopefully learned something along the way. Thanks to everyone who loaned me a bike or worked on one and washed it after the event. Big thanks to Walter Frei in Zurich for taking care of my only Bultaco in Europe and his transportation services for practice and other events. Thanks to all the photographers who capture all the special moments, and observers who keep my score card clean. Thank you to all my sponsors and suppliers over these past years.”
“I am grateful for everyone who supported me over the last 55 years in Trials. In the meantime, Keep your feet up!” – Bernie Schreiber
Article copyright: Bernard Schreiber/Trials Guru 2025
(The Classic 55 Club logo is the registered trade mark of Bernard Schreiber, Zurich, Switzerland.)
For more articles by Bernie Schreiber on Trials Guru: GLOVES OFF
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