Trial Spectator Guide“Can you really ride a bike in a place like this?”
Riders climb cliffs and rocks on their bikes, making you exclaim in surprise. The Trial World Championship lets you enjoy such “unbelievable riding” right before your eyes. One of the biggest attractions of this event is that you can watch the battles of world-class Riders from a very close distance.
At Mobility Resort Motegi, in addition to watching trial competitions, you can also enjoy park attractions, nature experiences, dining, and more, making it the perfect outing destination to fully enjoy a day with family and friends. Since the spectator ticket includes a park passport, it’s easy to enjoy both watching and playing together, which is a unique feature of Motegi.

This article clearly explains for those watching trial for the first time,
"What kind of competition is trial?"
"What makes it interesting to watch?"
"What kind of day can you spend at Motegi?"
◈ From these perspectives, we introduce how to enjoy watching!

Trial is a sport where riders overcome obstacles such as rocks, cliffs, and logs using a specialized bike. Unlike races that compete for speed, the competition is about how accurately and without putting their feet down they can clear the obstacles.
The sight of riders climbing slopes that appear almost vertical and overcoming large rocks is like a bike acrobatics show. This appeal makes it easy for even those unfamiliar with bikes or small children to intuitively feel the excitement and intensity.

Riders overcome various obstacles in competition sections called "sections," moving as if their bike and body are one.
The world-class techniques displayed right before your eyes will surely make first-time viewers feel like they are watching a "performance" rather than a "competition."

In Trial, the outcome is basically decided by a penalty point system.
While riding through sections with obstacles, points are deducted if the rider’s foot touches the ground, if they fail to follow the gate markers’ instructions, or if they exceed the time limit. Riders with fewer penalty points rank higher.
One foot touch results in 1 point, two touches result in 2 points, and three or more touches result in 3 points. Major mistakes or exceeding the time limit result in a 5-point penalty. Completing a section without any penalties is called a "clean."
In trials, in addition to the precision of riding without putting your feet down, overall skill in conquering the sections within the limited time is required.

You can tell the number of penalty points for that section by the shape of the observer’s hand.
If the observer holds up one index finger, it means 1 penalty point; a peace sign means 2 points; and holding up three fingers means 3 points. There is no 4-point penalty, and the maximum penalty per section is 5 points.
Also, a fist shape indicates zero penalty points (a clean). When a clean is achieved in a section, let's give the Rider a big round of applause.
However, there is no need to memorize all the rules from the start.
At first, it’s enough to think, "It’s amazing if they can clear without putting their foot down," or "It’s interesting to see how they tackle difficult obstacles." If you become more interested, it’s perfectly fine to gradually learn the rules and enjoy it that way.

The locations where trials are held usually require traveling on steep mountain roads. However, since the event at Mobility Resort Motegi is held within the facility, the paths to the sections are well maintained. This ease of access is a unique feature of Mobility Resort Motegi.
Watching trials at Mobility Resort Motegi offers the charm of experiencing an extraordinary atmosphere in nature while being comfortable for families and friends. All spectator tickets include a park passport, so you can enjoy not only the competition but also the attractions within the park.

Here, we introduce an example of how to spend a day that is easy to imagine even for families visiting for the first time.

After enjoying the race and the park, we also recommend relaxing at the Mobility Resort Motegi Hotel or the Forest and Starry Sky Camping Village. Special plans including spectator tickets are also available, so you can enjoy your stay without worrying about transportation.

・[Dinner entry at 5:30 p.m.] Plan with ticket / 1 night, 2 meals
・[Dinner entry between 7:00 and 7:30 p.m.] Plan with ticket / 1 night, 2 meals
This plan includes a ticket to the FIM Trial World Championship.
All tickets include a park passport.
・[Camp Stay/BBQ] 1 Night 2 Meals Plan with Spectator Ticket
This is a plan with a ticket to the FIM Trial World Championship. All spectator tickets include a park passport.
This is a highly satisfying accommodation plan where you can enjoy park attractions and BBQ after watching the race. Another great point is that you can leave the preparation, fire-starting, and cleanup to the staff!
After watching the world’s top Riders in action, experience the joy of controlling a bike yourself at "RINDO BIKE," opening in March 2026! This flow is a unique appeal of trial that you rarely find in other Motorsports viewing experiences.
Especially for children, it might become a day that goes beyond just "watching" and leads to wanting to "try it themselves."

Watching trial events is a bit different from other races where you watch from stands; you can enjoy walking around and viewing several sections. That’s why being mindful of what you bring can make your experience more comfortable.
The first recommendation is to wear well-broken-in sneakers. If you plan to enjoy not only watching but also the park, the walking time during transfers tends to be longer than expected. When moving around to see the sections you want, the comfort of your shoes greatly affects your overall comfort.
Next, it’s convenient to have a raincoat or light rain gear.
Since this is an outdoor event, it’s reassuring to be prepared for changes in the weather. Also, in terms of not obstructing the view around you, raincoats are often easier to use than umbrellas.

■All race tickets come with
a Park Passport (valid for 2 days)!

Tickets for the Trial World Championship TrialGP of Japan are valid for two days, and a park passport is included with the ticket, which is a major feature. In other words, you can enjoy not only watching the race but also the park attractions.
■16-23 ZERO Yen Pass

The 16-23 ZERO Yen Pass is especially noteworthy.
For those aged 16 to 23, both race viewing and attractions are free under certain conditions. This system not only encourages family visits but also makes it easier for students and young friends to go out and have fun together.
Even when going with family, the appeal of this event is that it’s not just "adults watch" and "children focus on playing," but everyone can watch and play together. That is why we recommend it as a full-day experience at Motegi, not just a simple competition introduction.
Trial actively engages in sustainability efforts. The venue for the 2025 event will be operated carbon neutrally, achieving net zero including fan transportation. Additionally, the following initiatives are also being implemented.

[Implementation of Environmentally Conscious Competition Management]
Routes are selected to minimize impact on the habitats of plants and animals. After the event, efforts are made to restore the greenery to its original state.
【Sections Using Thinned Wood】
In some sections of the trial, thinned wood is used for wooden stakes that indicate obstacles and routes. Some of this thinned wood is sourced from trees cut down in the Hello Woods forest.
【Utilization of Green Power and Electrification Initiatives】
The electricity used in sections and paddocks utilizes green power. Additionally, some of the competition management vehicles are electric or hybrid cars, contributing to environmental protection. Furthermore, the participation of electric trial bikes is increasing year by year, and together with the use of carbon-neutral fuels, CO2 reduction in the competition is progressing.

The "KISS Program" is an initiative promoted by FIM (Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme) aimed at environmental protection and sustainability. As part of this, tree-planting activities are carried out by Trial Riders.
This initiative, with the cooperation of FIM Environmental Ambassador Takahisa Fujinami, expresses the commitment to "cherish greenery and create a sustainable future" through the competition.
Specifically, starting in 2024, Riders participating in the event will engage in planting saplings within sections at Hello Woods, a forest themed around biodiversity.
On race days, many visitors come, so traffic volume on surrounding roads may increase depending on the time of day.
On the day of the event, it is reassuring to check the access methods in advance to ensure a smooth arrival at the venue. Access options are available not only for those coming by car or motorcycle but also via public transportation and a direct shuttle bus from Utsunomiya Station.
We have summarized key points such as the address, navigation settings, and travel time from the nearest interchange, so please check in advance to avoid any confusion on the day.
When entering the address into your navigation system or Google Maps, please set it as follows.
Address: 120-1 Hiyama, Motegi Town, Haga District, Tochigi Prefecture 321-3597
On the day of the event, please enter through the gate specified on your parking ticket.
On the day of the event, a paid direct shuttle bus from JR Utsunomiya Station to the venue is scheduled to operate. Even those without a car or who are uneasy about driving can easily visit using public transportation. If you are considering coming by public transportation, please check the latest information on the official websites of each operating company.
On race days, traffic volume increases compared to usual, so it may take longer than expected.
It’s best to plan to arrive early for peace of mind.
If you arrive early, you will have plenty of time to leisurely explore the park and scout out viewing spots.
・If traveling by train (Shinkansen), it takes about 3 hours and 30 minutes from Tokyo Station.
・If using a bus from Mito Station, it takes about 90 minutes.
Immediately after the race ends, many visitors leave the venue at the same time, causing congestion on the surrounding roads.
There is no problem using the usual route when accessing the venue, but it is advisable to check the detour map in advance for the return trip to feel more at ease.
Depending on the congestion situation, by not relying solely on navigation and knowing multiple routes, it becomes easier to return home smoothly.
* The content is subject to change without notice.
※The photos and illustrations used are for illustration purposes only.