Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

z w ~ J: U to >l U a: w I > CD til 0 0 I- ... J: (,D 00 O"l ..... ~ C\f ..... ..... ~ 0.. -< (Above) Philippe Berlatier slipped the Aprilia into fifth place in England's round two. (Below) Eddy Lejeune won the opening round. England's Steve Saunders leads the World Championship after two rounds; the Honda rider finished third in the opener, but won in England. nie Schreiber, thanks to having 13 cleans to Bernie's 12. Results 1. Eddy Lejeune (Hon); 2. Thierry Micheud (Fan); 3. Steve Saunders (Hon); 4. Diego Bosis (Mon); 6. Eric Lejeune (Hon); 6. Renato Chiebeno (Fan); 7. Gabino Reanles (Ga.-Gas); 6. John Lampkin (Fan); 9. Lluis Gallech (Mon); 10. Manin Carlsson IBeta); 11. Gille. Burgat (Yam); 12. Jordi Tarrel (Beta); 13. Donato Miglio (Gor); 14. Pascal Couturiar (JCM); 15. Philip Aldarson IHon). World Trials Cham~lonshl~: Round World Trials (Continued from page 6) 18 than a Lejeune win as a total disaster. Michaud cleaned, Saunders needed a precautionary dab as did Tony Scarlett, who looked particularly aggressive, but Scarlett was feeling the pressure of having the japanese Yamaha LOp brass watch his every move and was later LO feel very disappointed with his 17th place; out of the points. The second hazard, 50 yards of solid rockery, was not as difficult as in previous years but it certainly still needed riding. Among the clean rides were two notable performances from Spaniards LIuis Gallach on the Montesa and jordi Tarres, the Beta number one. Much had been expected of Tarres, but despite some brilliant rides,too many of them finished in fives which kept him down in an eventual 12th place. The very difficult rock section number three saw some dubious observing decisions which saw Britain's Steve Saunders docked an instant five whereas the very next man through, Philippe Berlatier was given three for an obvious SLOp. Berlatier was unfortunate to retire later on the last lap with a broken from wheel on the Aprilia when holding a good fourth place. With Lejeune evemually losing over 100 marks through the IS-section three lap course the hazards were certainly gruellers. john Lampkin, who jumped into the top 10 after a steady ride on the Fantic said, "I could have done better, but there again I could have been worse, too many of the sections were just a battle for survival. I wouldn't say it was a good trial." The infamous step on the very last section remained a fierce as ever and this year was followed by a drop which was even more terrifying. Amazingly there were very few big moments on the descent although plenty of heans were seen to be thumping. The uphill step requires perfect technique to conquer and when mastered it is made to look easy. Michaud was perfect as was Italian youngster Diego Bosis on the Montesa mono, and Spanish genius Gabino Renales who had a fantastic ride on the Villa engined Gas-Gas to finish seventh. To sum up, it appears to be very much an "as you were" situation with the top three riders in the world still having the edge over the rest. But it is not quite that simple. There are many really hungry young men around eager to cause an up et. Apart from Bosis, Renales, and Tarres the studious looking bespectacled Italian Donato Miglio showed class on the very tidy looking Garelli mono. Phil Alderson got into the points taking 15th place after getting the better of former World Champ Ber- 2 Saunders wins in England By John Dickinson PATELEY BRIDGE, ENGLAND, MAR. 16 Steve Saunders, Britain's Rothmans-Honda team rider, was able to look down on his opposition for the 1986 World Trials Championship from the very top of the title-table on Sunday following his brilliant win in the second round held at Pateley Bridge, England. Shrugging aside a gruelling two lap course and pretty miserable English weather condition, Saunders took the event by the scruff of the neck to lead World Champion Thierry Michaud by just three marks at the completion of the opening circuit and stretched the advantage to seven by the close. "I can only say that I am absolutely delighted" said Saunders with the cheer [rom the crowd - as the final positions were chal ked on the scoreboard showing him as the winner still ringing in his ears. Saunders and Michaud between them held off a spirited challenge from twO of the young pretenders to the crown in the shape of Montesa's Diego Bo is and Beta's jordi Tarres. Italy's Bo is in fact was threatening LO win the trial at the end of the first lap holdinj:( joint second place with Michaud and applying the pressure on our Saunders. But a series of fives in Middle Tongue during the second LOur saw the normally placid Bosis show a flash of ItaLian temperament as he LOtally lost his head! Philippe Berlatier slipped the Aprilia into fifth place which went some way LOwards making up for last week's disappointment when his front wheel broke in Belgium, while last week's winner, Eddy Lejeune, was frustrated with sixth place on the second Rothmans Honda. For Tony Scarlett though there was good news as he battled back into the top 10 on his Yamaha and john Lampkin also clocked-up another useful haul of points. Although separated from Scarlett by just four marks Lampkin finished two places adrift, as Bernie Schreiber collected his first World points for 12 months and is definitely getting back into the groove aboard his Yamaha. As thescoreline shows, if last week's Belgian opening round was hard then the British event was a stunner. With only Saunders and Michaud finishing with a total under 150, every section was a battle for survival and every score under five was somethin~ to cheer about. Three main groups of sections were utilized with the largest being staged on the daunting rocks and climbs of Guise Cliffe. The day started well with a sen ible opening hazard followed by a hon, but tricky second section. The opening lap saw only three riders go clean here with little known Finn Petri Hartman being credited with the fir t. Gabino Renales made it look like a main road on the GasCan, which was under close scrutiny from the British pectaLOrs, and'right at the end by Eddy Lejeune. The third section was a real cracke requiring all the trick kills you coul muster with some super tight turn

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