Alisdair Pollock
Trials biking champion… at 8
David Milloy
At the tender age of eight, Alisdair Pollock from Mauchline is already the proud holder of a British motorsport championship title, he having won the 2024 ACU Oset Bikes Solo Youth class D Small Wheel Trials Championship at the first attempt.
Known in trials circles as ‘Wee Al’ (his father being ‘Big Al’), Alisdair’s journey into the realms of motorsport started when he received a battery-powered, ride-on motorbike as a present when he was two. Since then, there’s been no stopping him: he won his first competition at the age of five and went on to win the Scottish championship in 2023.
Moving up to British championship level for 2024 meant a lot of travel for both Wee Al and his father, as none of the championship’s ten rounds were held in Scotland. That’s a fair slog for an eight year old, but Wee Al takes it all in his stride. “He’s made lots of friends through competing,” says his mother, Louise Pollock. “Most of his chums live quite far away from us, so he loves going to events and getting to see them.”
When not competing, Wee Al practices hard – spending up to two hours a day on his bike when the weather permits – but he wouldn’t have it any other way. “He’s obsessed with motorbikes. He just loves getting on his bike and riding,” says Big Al.
Much of Wee Al’s training takes place at home but he also spends time every week at Drumclog Moto Parc near Strathaven. “Drumclog have been great, providing both training facilities and sponsorship,” says Louise.
Wee Al’s exploits have already attracted much attention. He was one of two young riders selected by electric motorbike manufacturer Oset to feature in the publicity for their latest trials bike. And closer to home, he was invited to switch on Mauchline’s Christmas lights in 2024.
Next season will see Wee Al move up to a category in which he will ride a bigger, heavier bike powered by a petrol engine (his 2024 machine was electrically-propelled) against competitors up to three years older than him. Taking on bigger and stronger rivals on the same bike will undoubtedly pose a considerable challenge for Wee Al, so it’s being approached as a season in which learning and development will be the foremost objectives – as well as having fun.
Wee Al is also keen to explore other motorcycling disciplines, including motocross, and he plans to try his hand at enduro events when he’s a bit older. In the meantime, he’s started competing in trials for pedal-powered bikes as well. Given his success on motorised bikes, it’ll perhaps come as no great surprise to learn that he won his first-ever trials event on a pedal bike.
Alisdair Pollock/Wee Al. Remember the names – chances are you’ll be hearing them again.
