Perennial New England Trials Champion Gary Bourque was born in Coventry, Rhode Island and graduated from Coventry High School. Gary was a competitive water skier from a young age. He was a five-time Northeast Regional Champion and placed as high as third in the Nationals.
Gary got his start in motorcycling at the age of seven, like many of us it was trail riding with friends. Later at the urging of his friends, Gary started riding trials in 1980, however, his riding competitively was limited, because he was still competing in waterskiing.
Following his retirement from competitive waterskiing, Gary has been a dedicated and competitive trials rider. In 1989 and 1990, Gary finished second in the New England Trials Championship. He was Senior Expert National Champion in 2015. From 2009 through 2021, Gary was the New England Trials Champion, a testament of his dedication to the sport.
Gary’s contribution to the sport of trials is not limited to competition. Gary has served as the New England Trials Association’s Vice President/Score Keeper from 1985 – 1988 and the Rhode Island Trials Club Treasurer from 2016 – 2020. In 2015, Gary was Clerk of the Course for the Rhode Island Round of the 2015 FIM Moto Trials World Championship. This was a hugely successful event and Gary’s efforts as Clerk of the Course contributed to the Rhode Island Trials Club being awarded the American Motorcyclist Association’s 2015 Off-road Event of the Year.
Gary also hosts the New England trials community at the Rhode Island Trials Club Annual Skill Building Trials at the start of every season. Yearly, Gary enlists the help of some of the best riders in New England to pass along their trials knowledge to the New England trials community. It is an event not to be missed.
Gary also mentored many up and coming riders over the years. He was always one to assist others during events with advice and encouragement.
Gary’s competitive skill and spirit along with his humility is on display at every New England event, but he is never alone. Gary’s wife and best friend Lee is always there too. She is typically manning the Scorer’s table with other volunteers and the New England Trails Association signup table and cheering on all the competitors.
Gary was inducted into the NETA Hall of Fame in 2014.
