Bernie Schreiber


Bernard Schreiber , is an American former international motorcycle trials rider. He became the only American to win the FIM Trial World Championship in 1979. Schreiber is also four-time winner of the NATC Trials Championship, winning the title in 1978, 1982, 1983 and 1987. In 2000 he was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame and, in 2020 he was named an FIM Legend.

Biography

Born in Los Angeles, California, Schreiber started competing in trials at the age of 10 in 1969. Within a few years he had established himself as a top contender in Southern California and began competing in the FIM Trial World Championship in FIM World [Motorcycle Trials">Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme">FIM World [Motorcycle Trials Season|1977] at 17 years of age. In 1978 he won the US national title and finished third in the World Trials Championship behind defending champion Yrjo Vesterinen and Martin Lampkin, racking up victories in France, Spain, the United States and Italy in the process.
Schreiber made history in 1979 when he became the first American to win the World Trials Championship. After a slow start to the season Schreiber put together four wins and three additional podiums out of the last eight rounds to take the title. A midseason switch from Bultaco to Italjet during 1980 helped Schreiber end the season on a high, winning the last four rounds, but not quite enough to retain the title finishing second behind Swede Ulf Karlsson.
A mixed season followed in 1981 and prompted a switch to SWM for 1982. Only missing the podium twice all 1982 saw him again runner up, this time to emerging Belgian talent Eddy Lejeune. 1982 also marked Schreiber's only victory at the prestigious Scottish [Six Days Trial], coming from behind to overtake Lejeune on the last day of the competition. His good riding paid dividends in the US Nationals with Schreiber taking back-to-back national championship titles in 1982 and 1983. Schreiber and Lejeune battled for the world title over the next couple of years with Lejeune edging out the American both years. After returning to the US national championship, Schreiber took his fourth and final US title in 1987 riding a Fantic.

National Trials Championship Career

YearClassMachineRd
1
Rd
2
Rd
3
Rd
4
Rd
5
Rd
6
Rd
7
Rd
8
Rd
9
Rd
10
PointsPosNotes
1980

International Trials Championship Career

YearClassMachineRd
1
Rd
2
Rd
3
Rd
4
Rd
5
Rd
6
Rd
7
Rd
8
Rd
9
Rd
10
Rd
11
Rd
12
PointsPosNotes
1977FIM World ChampionshipBultacoIRL
-
GBR
-
BEL
5
SPA
3
FRA
5
GER
2
USA
-
CAN
7
SWE
8
FIN
6
CZE
8
SUI
7
53 7th
1978FIM World ChampionshipBultacoIRL
9
GBR
8
BEL
-
FRA
1
SPA
1
GER
2
USA
1
ITA
1
AUT
2
SWE
3
FIN
6
CZE
2
1163rd
1979FIM World ChampionshipBultacoIRL
-
GBR
7
BEL
6
NED
4
SPA
1
FRA
2
CAN
3
USA
1
ITA
2
SWE
1
FIN
7
CZE
1
1151stFIM World Champion
1980FIM World ChampionshipBultaco / ItaljetIRL
4
GBR
8
BEL
5
SPA
1
AUT
7
FRA
1
SUI
-
GER
-
ITA
1
FIN
1
SWE
1
CZE
1
1112nd
1981FIM World ChampionshipItaljetSPA
3
BEL
8
IRL
-
GBR
-
FRA
4
ITA
3
AUT
6
USA
8
FIN
5
SWE
3
CZE
2
GER
-
666th
1982FIM World ChampionshipSWMSPA
2
BEL
2
GBR
1
ITA
2
FRA
3
GER
2
AUT
3
CAN
1
USA
3
FIN
10
SWE
4
POL
3
1272nd
1983FIM World ChampionshipSWMSPA
1
BEL
4
GBR
3
IRL
2
USA
6
FRA
2
AUT
2
ITA
4
SUI
3
FIN
5
SWE
1
GER
3
1232nd
1984FIM World ChampionshipSWMSPA
3
BEL
8
GBR
1
IRL
4
FRA
4
GER
1
USA
10
CAN
6
AUT
6
ITA
5
FIN
4
SWE
4
1523rd
1986FIM World ChampionshipYamahaBEL
-
GBR
8
IRL
11
SPA
8
FRA
9
USA
8
CAN
12
GER
9
AUT
11
ITA
12
SWE
5
FIN
8
757th
1987FIM World ChampionshipFanticSPA
8
BEL
-
GBR
-
IRL
-
GER
-
FRA
-
USA
13
AUT
-
ITA
-
CZE
-
SUI
-
SWE
-
1120th

Honors

  • US NATC Trials Champion 1978, 1982, 1983, 1987
  • FIM Trials World Champion 1979
  • Scottish Six Day Trial Winner 1982