The 2026 Hertz FIM Trial World Championship gets under way over the weekend of 15-17 May with the TrialGP of Japan, but while global sporting focus will naturally be on the points-scoring heroics of the discipline’s leading riders, behind the scenes a dedicated team will be concentrating on implementing the bespoke Environment Management Plan for the event at the Mobility Resort Motegi.
- Bespoke Environment Management Plan in place for TrialGP of Japan
- Hertz FIM Trial World Championship returns to the scene of KiSS Asia launch
- Sustainability to play key role as 2026 series gets under way at Mobility Resort Motegi
Chosen to spearhead the Asian launch of the FIM’s Keep it Shiny and Sustainable (KiSS) programme in 2023, the TrialGP of Japan is at the forefront of this ground-breaking initiative that encourages organisers to develop sustainable events by framing and amplifying existing environmental actions and incorporating other innovative activities.
Held at the immaculate Honda-owned facility and a major fixture on the calendar almost every year since 2000, the event has forged an enviable reputation for its ongoing support for biodiversity while highlighting the important message of sustainability and for 2026 this commitment will be further elevated.
With in excess of seven-and-a-half-thousand fans anticipated across the two points-scoring days of competition, the six-hundred-and-forty-hectare site will grow to the size of a small town over the weekend, requiring an appropriate infrastructure to deal with the influx of spectators.
Naturally, at the centre of environmental activities is the commitment to reduce CO2 emissions with the TrialGP of Japan hosted as a carbon-neutral event and thanks to extensive investment in wind, solar and hydropower, virtually one-hundred per cent of electricity used for events at the Mobility Resort Motegi is ‘green’ and renewable.
The TrialGP of Japan traditionally attracts large numbers of spectators and this popularity means waste is also an important issue. However, organisers are fully prepared with numerous waste separation bins located throughout the venue and on-site disposal and recycling facilities complimenting the policy of reducing the use of disposable plastics, while the pit and paddock areas will benefit from dedicated oil disposal zones.
In addition, the venue features its own water treatment facility that reprocesses tap water drainage for reuse in toilets and for firefighting.
With sixty-five per cent of the venue comprising forested areas and much of the competition taking place in the picturesque Hello Woods, preserving the beautiful natural environment is at the forefront of activities and Japan’s Ministry of the Environment has recognised the Mobility Resort Motegi’s efforts to promote the coexistence between people, nature and mobility by certifying it as a ‘30by30 Nature Coexistence Site’.
High-level recognition has also come from the Tochigi Prefecture that has certified the venue for experiential learning opportunities, while the Mobility Resort Motegi also benefits from Comprehensive Partnership Agreements with both Motegi Town and Haga Town and officials responsible for the circuit’s environmental management have undertaken FIM Sustainability Commission training.
Many of this year’s Advanced Sustainability Initiatives are community collaborations and include ‘Motegi Festa 2026’ and ‘Motegi Town Residents’ Appreciation Day’ through the partnership agreement with Motegi Town, while there will also be a collaboration with students from the nearby Moka Technical High School and local youth groups will be given a role in event ceremonies.
Overseen by national champion Tomoyuki Ogawa, police officers from Tochigi, Gunma, and Ibaraki Prefectures will receive tuition to improve their motorcycle skills for emergency situations and the ongoing work to open up the sport to the next generation will be complimented by the new ‘Rindo Bike’ attraction that gives younger visitors the opportunity to learn riding skills on electric machines.
Running alongside the established tree-planting initiative for riders, a new Hello Woods guided tour programme has also been introduced to promote education on biodiversity and environmental conservation in Trial competitions.
So when you are marvelling at the sublime skills of the world’s best riders, keep in mind the dedicated team at Mobility Resort Motegi that behind the scenes is striving to ensure the sustainability of the TrialGP of Japan – as well as the sport on a global basis – for future generations.
Kattia Juárez, Director of the FIM International Sustainability Commission (CID), stated: “I always eagerly anticipate the TrialGP of Japan and relish the opportunity to revisit the site of the first-ever KiSS Asia initiative. The Environment Management Plan in place at the Mobility Resort Motegi lays out a fantastic framework to ensure that sustainability is considered in the planning of every element of the event and provides a realistic, workable blueprint for the future of the sport.”
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Taking the 2026 Hertz FIM Trial World Championship to a global audience, FIM-MOTO.TV will stream all rounds LIVE including behind-the-scenes footage, interviews and expert analysis with a season pass covering all seven rounds and the FIM Trial des Nations priced at €49.90. For more details and to sign up click here.