Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126780
~ ~ > w ~ l1. « a: w >< ~ > CD S? 0 :I: l1. ~ 00 C"l ...... ...... ..... rJ) ~ b/) ~ ~ Eddie Lejeune responded to pressure by pulling off another win on his four-stroke Honda. this time in Italy. World Championship Observed Trials Series: Round 10 Lejeune brilliant in Italy By Mike Rapley COURMAYEUR, ITALY, JULY 8 When the chips are down. World Champion Eddy Lejeune responds to the situation and this he did brilliantly in Italy as he hopped and floated his factory 360 over huge granite boulders to win at Courmayeur. With ·his great rival Thierry Michaud victorious the previous week in Austria which had narrowed the points gap to five. Lejeune knew that he had to extend himself if he was to have the best chance of winning the '84 title. And right from the stan of the three-lap, 16 section course situated on high ground at the foot of Mt. Blanc, Lejeune set the pace and was never headed throughout the day. The trial was at an altitude of more than 7,000 feet which caused many problems. For not only did the height affect carburetion and riders' stamina in the heat "lave conditions, the course was also very difficult between sections and the combination of both resulted in many retirements, and of those who finished, in a high loss of marks. The physically fit excelled, and with the Honda auuned to the conditions Lejeune proved the absolute master of the big waterfalls, huge rocks and scorching heat ot achievean excellent nine mark win over Michaud. It was Phillipe Berlatier who provided the early challenge. finishing the first lap j ustthree marks in arrears of Lejeune with Michaud down in fourth place, but Michaud was the best on the second lap and moved up while Berlatier had a comparative disaster. Britain's John Lampkin finished a fine fourth though way out of touch with the three leaders, but comfortably ahead of fifth place Bernie chreiber. chreiber. the 1979 World Champion, i still third overall in the title table, and indeed has won two rounds thi year. But the Californian doesn't eem to have the measure of the top men any more, though his financial and mechanical situation can't be helping. chreiberand Italian DaniJo Galeazzi are the two man. privately run KK #1 trials team, backed by Pietro Kuciukian, the Milan dentist who masterminded SWM's trials success until the financial demise of the concern. Kuciukian has agreed that his two riders will ride the still being developed Garelli trials bike. and the debut of this machine was originally expected at this trial. But delays with cylinder barrels for the Hiro engine, shocks and plastics meant the Garelli was a non-starter, though it should make an appearance sometime this year. But it means Schreiber is in limbo and unsettled which is doing his riding no good at all. There are some shocks in the final results: British champ Steve Saundershadhisworsnidethisyearin 14th place. while Gilles Burgal, the 1981 World Champion, could only manage 11th. Pascal Couturier on his factory Beta which sported a new Corte Cosso shock without reservoir was sixth, another fine French performance in an event whid1 saw five Frenchmen in the top 15 - which augers well for that nation for the Trials des ations in eptember. Traditionally one of the tougher trials with horrendous sections and typicallLalian exuberance,theyoung Belgian Lejeune once again proved to be the master and opened his points advantage to eight. With only two rounds to go, who can doubt that the Belgian will make it three World Championships in a row? • Results 1. Eddy Lejeune (Han) 46; 2. Thierry Michaud (Fan) 55: 3. Philippe Berlatier (Ita) 66; 4. John Lampkin (Fan) 88; S. Bernie Schreiber (SWM) 102; 6. Pascal Couturier (Bet) 107/13 cleans; 7. luis Gallach (Mer) 107/6 cleans; 8. Renata Chiaberto IFanl 107/5 cleans; 9. Tony Scarlett IYam) 110; 10. Fred Michaud IFan) 112. POINT STANDINGS, 1.lejeune 1180); 2. Michaud 1172); 3. Schreiber 1125); 4. Berlatier 11221; 5. lampltln (951; 6. Saunders (831; 7. Ganoch (71); 8. 8urgat 161 I; 9. Cordonn;er 153r, 10. Couturier (48). OUR MICHELIN nRE WOULD BE HERE. .BUTWSOUT CELEBRATING. > Here's why: At the AMA National roce at Laguna Seco Racewoy in Monterey Fred Merkel on 0 Michelin-equipped Honda won the Superbilre event. Then John Wi IIlams on a Michelin-equipped Ducati won the Battle of the Twins event. We love it when our tire wins. Because every time we win, we learn some new way to moke aur street tires even better. So the more we win, the more y'ou win. MlCHBJN. BECAUSE SO MUCH IS RIDINGON YOUR nRES. 27