Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

-IN E V W Steve Colley T R iE 'Ride't,' By John Dickinson 16 teve Colley has vowed to attack the new year with a vengeance . "Whatever happens in 1995," says the 22-yearold Isle of Man resident, "It had just better be better than what happened in 1994!" Such is a familiar tune for professional sportsmen everywhere who set themselves difficult annual targets, but this is the first time that Colley has found himself reaching for the violin with which to console himself. You see, everything Colley had gained during an excellent '93 season has just been lost. In '93, Colley finally wrestled the British Championship away from perennial champ Steve Saunders, who had reigned supreme in England for 10 long years. During the previous two seasons, Saunders had proved to be just too wily for the often overeager young pretender, but youth prevailed in the end. En route to the British title, Colley scored a Grand Slam of British trials win s, taking victory in the presti gious Scottish Six Days, as well as the Scot Time and Observation Classic, to reign sup reme in Britain . In '94, however, Colley failed to keep a single title. On the Worl d Championship front, the picture was even worse. For three years, Colley had painstakingly worked himself up the ladder from 13th place to 10th to ninth in ' 93. Not spectacu lar, sure, but at least he was always headed in the right direction - up . And then there's Colley's first-ever World Round win that came in '93 - an omen of future success for sure. ' Unfortunately, it wasn't an omen of greater things to come in '94. This most recent season saw the likable Brit slip to 10th in the World Championship point standings, and even he admits that he was lucky to stay inside the ali-important top 10. For Colley, it was the first time in his professional career that he has ever taken a backward step. Until '94, he had been on a roll that was always taking him onward and upward toward his goal of lifting the World Championship. At the end of '93, the dream was very much a reality , but midway through '94, that same dream was in tatters. Why? For one, the year had promised .m uch, and many expected even weater things from Colley. He was mounted aboard a factory Beta Techno, on a roll and full of confidence. So what force sent the wheels spinning from his wagon, took the wind from his sails and jammed the skids ever so firmly under his progress? Just two words can answer that question - Dougie Lampkin. "By the " dle of the year I had my mid head so full of Doug that I simpl y couldn't concentrate," said Colley. "I knew what was happening all right, and I ought to have handled it better. But I didn't, I let the situation get to me and paid the price - in full!" What happened was that Doug got far too good, far too soon - at least from Colley's point ofview. Both riders were on the John Lampkin Beta team, and were treated as equals. When Doug started banging the results out, though, Steve reckoned that someone on the team was suddenly more "equa l" than he was. "The Scottish Six Days Trial (May) was the turning point for me," said Steve. "When I arrived at the start, the Beta team ha d staked ou t its place in the pare ferme - and there was no room for me. I was parked on my own all week , and after that I felt like an outsider in my own team. It was the worst week of my life. "The Belgian World Round was the following weekend, and the nightmare continued. After the opening day I was down to 22nd. Unbelievable. I got back to finish nu, but there was no doubt that my head was gone. It was full of Doug. "By the Italian round I wanted out of the team and told the Beta factory that I wanted out of my two-year contract. John Lampkin knew that, as far as I was concerned, the situation was impossible in England. We discussed the possibilities of me continuing with Beta and riding in eithe r the Italian or French championships, but this yea r was neve r really on." Having decided to leave Bet a, the question was w here could Colley go? Even allowing for his disastrous year he won only one British National - there were plenty of offers . "Everyone expected me to go back to Pantie, as they were making a big comeback with the all-new bike, and this was a possibility. I also looked at Scorpa, and also at a Yamaha deal through British importers Mitsui. "Gas Gas were always favorites, though, as they made the initial approach to me through Andreu Codina . They were just so enthusiastic, as was British importer John Shirt. Soon, the deal was done." "I have bought a new, bigger transporter (from GP road racer Neil Hodgson) and will base myself at the Gas Gas factory in Spain, living in the truck. I'll probably fly back home for British Championship events, using John Shirtprepared bikes. Living in Gerona should be okay, as 125cc World Enduro Champion Paul Edmondson also rides for Gas Gas and we get on really we ll. r reckon we'll have some good times together." "Basing myself in Spain makes much more sense. As well as being handy for most European World Rounds, .th e indoor circuit is built around Spain; and I love indoors. To be honest, my biggest scare this year was when it looked as if I .wasn't going to finish in the top 10 in the World Champ ionship Series. It would have been a lot harder to get the indoor rides if I had missed the cut. I

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