Bristow's world title bid gets off to a flier

The Alford rider was cheered on by a large home crowd at Tong, near Bradford, for the first round of the 2016 FIM Women’s World Trials Championship.

With Saturday’s trial riding very much easier than anticipated, Emma knew it would be a close competition where she could not make any mistakes.

From the word go, Emma was on a mission and took control almost immediately with an opening lap score of just one point, considerably lower than her rivals.

Returning to the sections for the second and final lap, Emma again posted a one-point lap score to finish with only two points lost.

Sunday’s trial featured a few changes to make the course harder, and Emma didn’t have the best of starts as she began a little tense and tight.

But with some impressive riding later in the lap, proving again the strengths of her Sherco 300 machine, Emma completed the first lap with six points.

Her second lap saw her lose just three more points which was enough to take her total of GP wins to 10.

“It’s a relief to get this second win today,” she said. “I didn’t make a good start and I know I was riding a little tense this morning, but I have to be happy with how I turned it around to get the result I wanted.

“A double victory is the perfect start to the new World Championship season and my title defence. I’ve worked hard to make this dream start a reality and the support of my team, as always, could not have been better.

“I have a good training routine in place, as well as a calendar full of events over the next few weeks, so I’m now working towards each weekend and aiming to keep on top form from now right up to September when the FIM championship resumes again in Italy.”

Emma next rides at one of her favourite events, the national Reeth three-day trial.