Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

..... .... 0.. < Curt Comer picks his way through one of the rocky sections. Comer didn't fare well. placing 47th. Eddy Lejeune's brilliant second loop ride moved him from seventh to fourth at the finish. Former World Champion Bernie Schreiber put in a strong ride in Wales to take the victory by a four mark margin. Schreiber's strong showing puts him right into the title chase. Wor.d Champ.ionship. Observed Tria's Series: Round 3 Schreiber wins in Wales By Mike Rapley MERTHYR TYDFIL, WALES, MAR. 18 Bernie Schreiber bounced back into terrific form to pOs t a strong victory in Wales after a disastrous ride the previous week in Belgium where he finished a lowly eighth. Schreiber said he owed his change of forwne to his friend and former . 1 h . W ld Ch n~a ,t ~ee-ume. or ampIOn YrJo Vestennen. 16 The 25-year-old Californian arrived in Britain downcast and dejected. He stayed with a friend in Surrey and went to visit Vesty who lived nearby. The Finn, now a resident of England, knew that Bernie was despondent and in a five hourchatraised Bernie's spirits to a point where he knew he could win again. Ful.1 of confidence. on Sunday mornmg, and wuh yestennen at some of the secuons WIth ready adVIce, Schreiber put it all together and beat the rest by' four marks to establish his credibility as a potential '84 championship contender. Yrjo Vesterinen has a reputation of believing that winning is as much due to mental attitude as it is practical ability and drummed this into Bernie. It was obviously all he needed as right from the start of the 22-section, two-lap course, SWM-mounted Schreiber was on form. He finished the first lap with a three-mark lead over Thierry Michaud, who had already scored a win and a second place finish in Spain and Belgium. It was hardly a comfortable lead, but with the added confidence from his first lap advantage, Bernie held on to the end. Second went to Frenchman Philippe Berlatier, the Italjet rider who has now come within one place of winning his first World Championship round. All day he threatened Schreiber and third placed Thierry Michaud to prove that even though he's still a teenager, he's here to stay. In taking third place, Michaud moved back to the top of the championship point standings, while defending World Champion Eddy Lejeune, who finished a disappointing fourth, dropped to second. Lejeune had no excuses. It was just that he had a poor first lap. His. second was a sparkler, the best of the 'trial in fact, but all it could do was to move him up from seventh to fourth. It was the first time that South Wales had hosted a world round and the variety of sections was a pleasant surprise to riders. There were all types - dry rocks in a quarry with very tight turns, straight muddy dim bs, banks, tree roots and rocky streams. America had one other representative in the.event, Curt Comer. He is in Europe until the Scottish Six Days. ... '-- -_.... .. ~. ...- Curt flnished 47th.after having problems in Spain and Belgium with his Armstrong/Can-Am. A difficult to diagnose mechanical problem was finally solved when Curt returned to England and had his bike worked on at the Armstrong factory. Now Comer has to build his confidence after a demoralizing start to his European tour. The likeable American is familiar in England and has made a lot of friends in the U.K. In the past he has shown a lot of ability, but his result in Wales didn't really renect his style. The day belonged to Schreiber, who said at the finish, "I had a new bike this week and that helped, although it was the talk with Vesty that made the diHerence." Another diHerence is that Bernie is hungry again. Since the demise of the SWM factory, Schreiber and Italian Danilo Galeazzi have been part of the privately financed KK Trials Team. Bernie and Danilo said they are livlng like gypsies, and now that they have to prove themselves the results • are coming. Results 1. Bernie Schreiber (SWM) 74; 2. Philippe Berlatier (Ita) 78; 3. Thierry Michaud (Fanl 79; 4. EddV Lejeune (Hon) 83; 5. Pascal Couturier IBet) 91; 6. Bernard Cordonnier (Fanl96; 7. luis GaUach (Merl 96; 8. Renato Chiaberto (Fanl 107; 9, Gilles Burgat (Fan) 109; 10. SIeve Saunders (Arm) 11 1; 11. Jonny Andersson (Vem) 113; 12. John l.8mpkin (Fan) 114; 13. Tonv sarlen (Yam) 116; 14. Andreu Codina (Mon) 118. 15. Eddv Moerman (Mon) 119. WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POINT STANDINGS; 1. Michaud (52); 2. Lejeune (50); 3. BMI8lier (45); 4. SChreiber 143); 5. Burgat (28); 6. Lempltin (24); 7. Saunder. (22); 8. Cordonni.r (20); 9. Codina (191.

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