Alicia Robinson aims to follow in Emma Bristow’s footsteps

Thanks to Emma Bristow (Sherco) us Brits can boast of having the best woman trials rider on the planet but in Alicia Robinson (Beta) we’ve also got one of the world’s most promising up-and-coming female talents too.

The 18-year-old from Oxfordshire comes from solid trials stock and has been riding since she was just four years old. After taking the British girls’ B Class title in 2015 and the A Class crown in 2016, Alicia graduated to the British ladies’ series where she quickly established herself as a top-three contender.

She’s also made a name for herself as a big-hitter on the European scene but it’s her progress in the Trial2 Women class of the Hertz FIM Trial World Championship that marks her out as a rider to watch. Advancing from eighth to seventh to fifth in the space of three seasons, she signed off in 2019 with victory at the final round and then leapt up to second in the standings in 2020 and claimed a win on day two in Spain.

However, instead of jumping into the top-tier TrialGP Women division next season she’s going to try again to take the Trial2 Women title.

“I’d love to move up to the TrialGP Women class and get podiums there but for now my aspirations for next year are just to focus on Trial2 and try to ride my best in every event,” she said. “I don’t want to rush into anything and feel I need to build for another season before considering moving up.

“I’ll also do the full women’s British championship and we’re going to try and do as many men’s TrialGB rounds as well in the Expert class because they’re good for training and fitness.”

After completing her A levels earlier this year and emerging with distinctions across the board, Alicia plans to concentrate on trials for now as she bids to emulate Bristow’s incredible achievements.

“Emma’s inspirational. She works so hard and is always trying to improve her skills but she’s always got time to offer advice and is a great role model for anyone hoping to make it in the sport. 

“There are so many possible [career] paths to take so it’s hard but for the foreseeable future riding trials full-time is the dream.”