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")" '" .. III . '" ,... '" CL '" .: ROO Edwards Shows Bogwheelers How gi « ~ w Z W .J 0 > 0 California's Trials Champ Lane Leavitt uses balance and throttle control, but still gets a one dab sign from the section judge. Rob E~. Mon_ Team rider, winning the VOTEISDTA combined trials at Saddlebec:k. All this fafter teaching school ..•wMw. : . By John Adcox IRVINE, CAL., July 15·16, 1972 Rob Edwards, a top flight competitor in world Trials competition, held school at SaddJeback Saturday. Curren t1y ranked fifth this year, he was third in 1971 and a member of the winning Montesa team at the Scottish Six Days Trials with a personal third overall. One lesson that every student should have learned was the importance of throttle con trol. On Sunday the Valley Observed Trials Enthusiasts and the San Diego Trials Roders co-hosted a sanctioned ATA Trials. The pressure· was really on the English champion as all the top riders were out to see how they compared to a top rider. Lane Leavitt was down from Northern California and the Southland's number one rider, Rick Bledsoe, was thelle. The loop ran 4 'or 5 miles with 13 sections ridden for a scheduled three loops. The three loops never came off, though, as some nebulous SOllleone usually called "THEY" stopped the Trials after two loops. Needless to say none Of the riders cared for this action as many were riding faster than normal so they would be able to finish three loops within the time limit and, as a result, lost more poin ts. As for the Trials itself, I asked Rob Edwards how this Trials compared to the European events and events held in England. His reply: "It's difficult to compare Southern California to England. The terrain is so much different, here there is hard packed ground or soft, loose dry dirt hills. Back home its all mud and usually its always wet. But as to the degree of difficulty, these sectiqns are very much on a par with European standards. Many of the sections may be compared to those of the Spanish round of the European Trials Championship, which in my opinion is the best Trial." Pedro Pi made the comment that when he was here three years ago he won the Trials by half of the next competitor's sco~, but now after seeing the improvemen t of the American riders, the difference, if any, would be but a few points. Watching Rob ride the sections was like watching Johnny Unitas let the long bomb go for a touchdown. Rob is that good. Walking each section on the first loop gave all the riders a chance to observe how he picks the path he wants to ride. Sometimes while riding the section he changes his mind and takes a different path. That ability to maintain control and balance is what allows him to clean the section. Section I was very close to the parking area and there were many watching. Rider after rider passed through; none doing better than a 3 with many taking 5's. Then Rob cleaned it and made it look easy. But the next/ rider through, Rick Bledsoe, also cleaned it and Rob then knew he was going to have a rough time of it. Roh was no t wi th ou t problems though. Number one on the ljst was the heat, not really too hot by our standards (High 80's to low 90's) but Rob stated he can't remember riding a trials in over 75 degree weath cr. Section 3 and Rob ran in to another problem: ATA scoring rules. By ATA rules, if a competitor or his machine breaks or knocks down a boundary marker that is a big fat 5. According to FIM rules, however, if the machine's front axle crosses the line between any pair of markers showing the path of the section, it is still a clean ride even if the rear wheel or rider's boot knocks the marker down. That rule cost Rob a 5 on section 3. The second loop found Rob showing signs of tiring from the heat and on double sections 10 and 11, he picked up 10 points whereas on the first round he had only 1. He stopped to discuss that disaster with me and said, "I killed the engine going down the slope and figured I could at least clean the next section, bu t five feet from the end my engine died again. That's really silly but that's Trials, isn't it?" Even though dropping 15 points extra Rob Edwards was on top with loops of 14 and 17 for a total os 31. In second and very close was Lane Leavitt, the California State Champion, with loops of 23 and 12 for 35 poin ts. Rick Bledsoe, number one Southern California rider, was a close third at 40 with loops of 21 and 19. Rick Delancy, fourth at 46 with 28 for loop 1 and 18 for loop 2. The Experts found the going a bit rough says the winnd, George Smith with 5 1 poin ts lost. Down some was second place Bemic Schrieber with 65. John Wirth, third at 70 and at 80 was Jim Ludeman for fourth place.