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.. O"l .- Eddy Lejeune threads his way through a rocky section in Finland. Lejeune's win gave him the Championship for the second cosecutive year. World Championship Observed Trials Series: Round 10 Lejeune clinches title in Finland By Mike Rapley ESPOO, FINLAND, SEPT. 18 Eddy Lejeune, the 22-year-old Belgian Honda rider, retained the trials World Championship he first won last year with a 10 convincing demonstration of his superiority in the Finnish round of the series. Lejeune was the only rider to stay in double figures over a tough two lap course, beating French youngster Philippe Berlatic;r by 17 marks. Lejeune was the favorite to win, but he still had American Bernie Schreiber to contend with. Schreiber could conceivably have won the series with three wins, and Lejeune way out of touch. ·It was not to be, for it was Schreiber who was way out of touch, finishing a disappoiming fifth to hand the title to Lejeune for the second consecutive year. The trial was held on an 18-mile, 21-section course which proved difficult. Yet almost without exception, every rider reckoned it was one of the best organized series rounds. Not only was the course well marked for the riders, it was also well marked'for the spectators who had first class signposting to tell them where to ~o. With Lejeune in a class of hiS own, Berlatier just scraped into second by cleaning two sections more than fel- low Frenchman Theirry Michaud, who lost the 'same number of marks. Spaniards Luis Gallach and Toni Gorgot were founh, and sixth, making sandwich of fifth placed Schrei ber. The best of the Famic riders was American round winner john Lampkin who lost the same number of marks as 1981 Champion Gilles Burgat, but had three cleans more than the Frenchman and took sevemh. The sections were predominately rocky with some over huge, grippy boulders, while others were up smooth rock faces that became more difficult as the trial progressed. Even though there was a generous seven hour, 20 minute time allowance, some riders found time tigh t. Taking far too long on the first circuit didn't pay dividends for the sections became covered in a thin film of muddy slime and were considera bl y more difficult the second time around. Only one rider improved on his first lap score and that was 10th placed YrjoVesterinen, who wem around on his second circuit for one mark less than he had on his first. Lejeune proved to be the master of Finland right from the stan, opening up a three mark advamage over Berlatier after five sections, a lead he was not to lose. He knew a good ride in Finland would secure him his second title, and considered the pressure to be on the others rather than him. Lejeune knew they had 'to beat him, He knew he is currently the best and went out and proved it. • Results BEST PERFORMANCE: I. Eddy Lejeune(HonI89; 2. Phillipe Sarl.lier (Ita) 106 (6 cleansl; 3. Thierry Michlud (SWMI 106 (4 clelnsl; 4. Luis Glilech (Mon) 112; 5. Be,nieSch,iebe,(SWMI I 19; 6. Toni Go,got (Monl 122; 7. John LImpkin (FIn) 123 (7 clelnsl; 8. Gilles Bu,glt (FIn) 123 (4 clelns); 9. Bernard Cordonnier (SWMI 124: 10.. Yrjo Vester- inen (Bull 125. WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POINT STANDINGS: 1. Lejeune (129); 2. Sch,"ibe, (98); 3. Miclhud (801; 4. 8u,gl' (781; 5. Go,got (67); 6. Be,tl.ie, (451; 7, Co,donnie, (341; 8. Lampkin (331; 9. Glillch (23). (Top) Terry Horn pulled an upset in Competition Eliminator on his 350 Honda. shuttling down John Minonno's Triumph. (Above) Top Fuet winner Steve Stuter warms up his supercharged Kawasaki. e "l AMA/Dragblke! Drag Race Series: Round 13 Morehead lassoes Sfeerhom National Photos by D.O. Cleveland FORT WORTH, TX, SEPT. 24 Reggie Moorehead blasted out a victory today on his Suzuki Pro Stocker in his first National event. In the final, Morehead mustered a 9.13 to stop Harry Lartigue, holder of low ET in Pro Stock at 8.91. Morehead recorded a 148mph clocking to Lanigue's 146. Lartigue hit an off-pace 9.30 E;T on the run. In Top Fuel, the final found National number one Steve Suter facing hometowner Willie Morris. Morris had lUning difficulties and shut off while Suter clocked out a 7.83 at 166.77 mph for the win. Pro Dragster was filled with drama as the semi round featured Mick Bengen taking the bye against a broken Pete Rogers, and breaking a chain just after launching. Bengen had earlier run an 8.69 and was trying to back it up with at least an 8.78 for a record. The current record was 8,70 set by jim McClure in 1979. In the final, Bengert .returned to face the Harley-mounted Ray Lafayette. The scene was a repeat of the prior round as Bengert's chain slid off the sprocket when he let out the clutch, terminating his chances for a win or the record. Lafayette sailed to a 9.0 clock- , ing at 148 mph for the win. • Competition Eliminator WG\S. ~he evem's second-highest turnout behinq ET 2 in emries, and fast-paced action abounded as a new face topped t~~ ladder, with Terry Horn on his HI Altered machine doing the winning. ET 2 was won by jim Snyder on a '78 Kawasaki which ran an 11.96 onan 11.64 dial-in to top Tom Klemme. In ET 3, Ken Mayfield on a 750 Kawasaki topped the class with a 12.52 clocking, with Ed Mazzolini on a 1000 Kawasaki the runner-up, posting a 12.92 clocking on a 12.80 dialin. In ET 4, Richard Hess, Texas took the victory on his 650 Kawasaki over runner-up Shannon Taylor. His 34&c Honda reset the class records and racked up 650 poims. Runner-up in Competition Eliminator was the Triumph twin ridden by jon Minoni no. Modified eliminator was won by Mike Hickey after some confusion by runner-up Tom Poole. Poole was in his first competition at Green Valley and ws confused by the win-lose indication on his time card. Official's agreed that the method of indication was confusing since it was so differem from the regular marking. Beca~ of the "miscue," Poole and his pi crew will be "guests" of AMA/Drag! bike at a future event. 0 In Stock Eliminator, Bubba Cauthen kept his Harley Sponster's win streak going with a final-round victory over the red-lighting Kawasaki 900 B/SS ridden by Dalton Green. Cauthen hit I 1.80s all day. Pro ET was won by the Dallasbased Kawasaki 1200 ridden by Lucky Turner, running a booming.9.65 on a 9.55 dial-in to top the AA/Modified' crossover machine ridden by Dawn Alee, who blasted out a 9.18 on a 9.10 dial-in.' •