If you compare Trials riding to other motorcycle sports, it perhaps does not get the recognition it deserves. Yet the discipline in New Zealand survives because of a dedicated number of people. Kevin Pinfold is one of those people.
In 1973, Kevin rode his TS185 Suzuki trail bike to his first trial, he was instantly bitten by the bug. He soon traded up to a proper Montesa trials bike.
A life member and former President of the Manawatu Orion Motorcycle Club , Kevin has organised many club events , assisted with the Woodville Moto Cross and even the Castrol 6 Hour production road race .
But it is trials, which he is best known for. As a successful competitor, Kevin has competed overseas in Australia and the UK. In the UK, he competed in the British Championship and Scottish 6 day trial. He also competed in the Isle of Man in an Arena trial, and then he set the fastest lap around the Isle of Man TT course on a trials bike during mad Sunday.
Returning to New Zealand in the 1980s he finished 4th in the national Championship. Won the New Zealand experts trial in 1982 , competed in the official New Zealand team in the trans-tasman trial in Australia where New Zealand won in 1984. Kevin finished in the top eight in the New Zealand National Championship for 16 years between 1980 and 1996. He returned to the UK a couple of times to compete in the Scottish 6 Day trial.
From around the mid-1990s to early 2000s Kevin decided to become more involved in running the sport, he became the North Island Co-Ordinator for Trials.
Splitting his passion , he still found time to compete and win the A Grade division in the New Zealand Championship in 1998, 1999 and 2000 , and as part of the winning New Zealand Team in the 2007 Oceania Championship.
Not forgetting just to top it off he has also won the Manawatu club trials championship over the 30 times!
A quiet and modest man, Kevin has been a coach, mentor and training partner and introduced many new trials riders over many years. He has helped keep Trials alive in New Zealand. He is a MNZ Steward and Clerk of the Course. A true Ambassador for Trials, and deserving member in the MNZ Hall of Fame.
Written for MNZ Hall of Fame
Ian Dawson 2021