Steve Fracy’s name has been recognized in motorcycle trials riding circles for more than 30 years. He’s a four-time national champion trials rider, he’s a second-generation rider in his family—his father was a competitive scrambles/motocross racer—and he’s the father of competitive trials rider Matt Fracy.
Besides continuing to ride competitively, Steve recently took on another role within the world of trials riding. In November 2013, he was appointed chair of a new committee within the Canadian Motorcycle Association (CMA): the CMA Trials Advisory Committee (TAC).
"The CMA is proud to have Steve at the helm of this important new initiative," said CMA CEO Marilynn Bastedo. "He brings an intense interest and very high level of energy to a project which will require some hard work. We know he will achieve the results we are looking for." (from the CMA website; click on Trials)
Challenges for Canadian trials riders
Canadian trials riders have some difficult off-the-track obstacles to contend with. Just given the size of this country and its sparse population, travel to competitions is certainly more expensive than it is in Europe and even in the U.S. The terrain in central Canada does not naturally lend itself to the sport, which means that almost all of its enthusiasts are based at the West Coast and in Ontario and Quebec. The expense and effort of hosting national competitions thus falls repeatedly on the shoulders of the clubs in those areas.
“Our biggest challenge in revitalizing things is the expense of the national competitions, and of attending the competitions in the U.S.” Steve said. “The gap in the competitive ranking between our riders and the American ones has grown in the past few years, mainly because of the expense. Rider training is also a challenge. We have lots of young riders coming up, and it’s hard to provide them with the challenge to improve if they can’t get to the competitions.”
To empower TAC to achieve its goal of stimulating interest and participation in trials riding, Steve was careful to select committee members who are knowledgeable and passionate about the sport.
“Generally,” he said, “you can gauge your success by the number of riders you have coming to the events. It’s like a business—you look at the numbers, and put your feelings and personal agenda aside. The group is focused on what’s best for the sport.”
Industry support
The supporters of trials riding are a generous and welcoming group, Steve said.
“All the years I (competed) on my own, and even with Matt, people opened their homes to us so we could all spend time together and I could keep my travel expenses down,” he said.
Steve said that the sport owes a lot to the trials bike and gear importers in Canada and the U.S.
“The importers are fantastic,” he said. “They help out as much as they possibly can, because they’re passionate about the sport. Mountain Motorcycle Ltd. is the Beta (Italian-made trials bike) importer for Canada, and they have been supporting me since 1985, and Matt, too.
“We’re working on an arrangement with shipping companies to make the transport of bikes and equipment more efficient and affordable. Our immediate goal is to get more people involved in supporting the sport on a national level, and seeing how much fun that is.”
The CMA website will carry information about the next Canadian national trials riding competition, tentatively planned for September 2014.
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