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/127670
~~~\I ·:iN E VE . T R I· W · \~~. , l\lz.~ ~. " . '. . a By Geoff Meyer nglan d h as produced man y great motorcycle champions. Mike Ha ilwood, Barry Sheene and Phil Read brought road racing to all-tim e highs from the '50s through th e 70s, while motocross hero es Graham No yce and Dave Thorpe achieved world championships. But on e Brita in -born World Champion who Am er icans might not recognize so quickly, is Paul Edmondson - the 125cc World Enduro title holder. Edmondson is the epitome of enduro riders. His never-sa y-die attitude ha s provided more enjoyment for World Enduro enthusiasts than an y rider in recent memory, but despite his wild approach, he rarely fails to fi n is h because of crashing. The Englishman started his quest for glory when he was only eight years old, having received a bike from his parents. Soon, the skinny kid was chasing the older riders, and it _ didn't take long before he was beating them . It was observed trials that first took' Edmondson to a competitive level. "1 did trials for six years," he says. "It had a lot to do with improving my skills, for E sure." From the trials sections, Edmondson headed to motocross tracks. "M y alltime hero was Dave Thorpe (England's three-time World MX Champ ion), so motocross was nice for me to do ." Again, those aggressive skills so evident 125cc World Enduro Champion Paul Edmondson . . I e today were in the process of getting polished. After motocross, Edmondson finally tried his hand at enduro riding for the first time, throwing in his other two disciplines when his schedule allowed. With an off-road apprenticeshi p like Edmondson's, it shouldn't come as a surprise that man y of his rivals consider him to be th eir tou gh est com pe tition. Because of this season's change in classes , 250cc Wor ld Champi on Giorgio Grasso is now competing against Paul in the Lightweight division {O-I 25cc), bu t th e Italian still consid ers himself an Edmondson fan. "H e can do it all, on any surface," he says. "He may be the best in this era." Edmondson also has a deep respect for Grasso, but ~ven he agrees with his rival. "I think, in the 125 class, I am the best." Coming into this year's International Six Days Enduro, to be held in Tulsa, Oklahoma, September 20-25, Edmondson has a tally of seven gold meda ls in the event. An impressive feat, especially considering he has onl y contes ted the Six Days nine times. Still, his luck in the ISDE has not all been good. While contesting the '88 event in France, Paul had a huge crash that ended his run. "1 was 18 years old , and that was a bit disappointing," he admits. Since that disappointment, however, Edmondson has collected a ton of gold, and also some major contracts . A former Farioli KTM rider, last year he left the prestigious El Campero/Lucky Strike/ Husqvarna squad for a ride with the fledgling Gas-Gas company. The Husky team consists of several former and current World Champions, including Sw ede Sven Erik Jonsson, Finn Kari Tiainen, Slovak [araslov Katrinak, and Italian Tullio Pellegrinelli - not to mention Gilles Lallay Classic winner Cyril Esquirol: Still, Edmondson was considered their main man, and his departure was a major blow. His move could be considered a gamble, but no t fo r Edmondson. "1 wen t to the Spanish GasGa s marque, and I have no regrets," sa ys Paul. "It has be en better than I could have imagined." Like many other great riders , Edmondson is not satisfied with "only" two World Championships, but surprisingly, he is loo king be yond endu ro titles. "1 will move to the 250cc (Heavyweigh t: 126ccand above) class, and then I want a year in World Trials and Motocross." If ever you get the chance to witness "Eddy" charge arounda motocross special test, or climb a rocky