Competition rules & club guidance
Rules &
Regulations.
Manchester 17 events are run under the rules of the Auto-Cycle Union together with the Supplementary Regulations issued for each event. This page is a quick guide to the rules material most relevant to our trials.
Use the current rules
Rules can change. The current ACU Handbook and Trials Standing Regulations, together with the regulations for the event you have entered, take precedence over summaries on this website.
Rule framework
Which rules apply?
The event regulations and the ACU rule book work together. Riders should read the information supplied for the individual event rather than relying on one general web page.
ACU Handbook
The Auto-Cycle Union publishes the governing regulations for motorcycle sport, including the National Sporting Code and discipline-specific rules.
ACU website →Trials Standing Regulations
Trials-specific rules cover subjects such as eligibility, machine requirements, youth classes and section marking. Manchester 17's Trials page currently refers riders to these regulations for the full detail.
Check current Trials rules →Supplementary Regulations
Each event has its own details — venue, classes, route, method of marking, start arrangements and other event-specific requirements. Read these before entering and again before travelling.
See current Manchester 17 events →Manchester 17 trials
TSR22A — stop permitted
Manchester 17's current trials information states that its trials use the TSR22A stop-permitted method of marking unless the event regulations say otherwise.
Basic observation marks
Young competitors
Youth eligibility
The current Manchester 17 Trials page publishes 2026 youth age groups and machine limits and directs riders to TSR1 for the full details.
2026 age groups shown by Manchester 17
- A Class: born 01.01.09–31.12.10
- B Class: born 01.01.11–31.12.14*
- C Class: born 01.01.14*–31.12.16
- D Class: born 01.01.17–31.12.20
- E Class: minimum age 4 at date of competition; minimum age 6 for a combustion-engined machine.
Machine limits shown by Manchester 17
- A & B: up to 125cc mono or 250cc twinshock; electric up to 7kW.
- C: standard/medium wheel up to 80cc; electric up to 5kW.
- D: medium/small wheel up to 80cc; electric up to 5kW.
- E: small-wheel electric up to 1.5kW.
- Check TSR1 for wheel-size definitions, the age-12 option and all current eligibility detail.
Safety & behaviour
More than section scores
Competition rules are only part of a safe and successful trial. Manchester 17 also publishes practical guidance on equipment, observers, venues and behaviour.
Helmet & riding kit
Manchester 17's beginner guidance says a suitable road-legal helmet must be worn when riding and gives further advice on boots, gloves, body coverage and youth equipment.
Getting Started guidance →Observer decisions
Wait until the observer is ready before entering, follow the route markers and do not record your own score. The club's observer page explains how the scoring is applied.
Observing guidance →Ride only with permission
Manchester 17 is explicit that all land belongs to someone and riding requires the landowner's permission. Competition venues are not automatically practice venues.
Approved practice venues →Protect our venues
No land = no trials.
Manchester 17 states that unauthorised riding at trials land can result in loss of the venue and may lead to riders being refused entry to club events and reported to the ACU.
Do not ride on private land without permission, even if it is unfenced or appears unused.
See recognised practice venues →Before taking part
Why you can't just turn up and ride
Manchester 17 has a separate explanation covering this subject. Use the original club page below for the full wording.
Why you or anyone can't just turn up and ride
Read Manchester 17's existing explanation of why taking part in an organised motorcycle trial involves more than simply arriving at a venue and riding.
Read the Manchester 17 explanation →Reference pages
Useful links
Use these alongside the current ACU rule book and the Supplementary Regulations for the event you are entering.