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(Left) Everyone was expecting snother duel between Doug Lampkin and Colomer but the British rider was suddenly off form and finished fifth. (Below) Spaniard Jordl Tarres finished third and trails second-in-points lampkin by only eight points. day, especially when an expected thunderstorm - featuring torrential rain struck just as the last man on the course, Amos Bilbao, was attempting this 11th section. Heavy overnight rain made the sections even harder for Sunday's opening loop when it was immediately obvious that Lampkin was not the man he had been on the previous day. Colomer and Kuroyama were both still in the groove, though. The Spaniard matched his opening score of 19, while Kuroyama was only one mark wor e off at 20, as they both dealt brilliantly with the wet conditions. Tarres, too, matched his opening gambit, just off the pace again on 27. But he was a sight better off than Lampkin, who was getting angry with himself, having lost three maximums on his way to a frustrating 29. Lampkin was thus eclipsed by his new mentor, Beta development rider Donato Miglio, who posted a fine 26. Conditions improved drastically for the final loop as the ground dried out under a hot sun. This brought out the best in Colomer as he easily logged the best lap of the trial with just 10 marks on his punch card. Camozzi finished strongly with a 13, much to the delight of his home supporters, while Tarres signed off with 14. Although the seventime champ's score was much better than Kuroyama's 20, Tarres was unable to improve on his third place. Colomer, noticeably more relaxed this year, commented, "Of course I am happy to win again and increase my ead over Dougie (Lampkin), but I had a . bad day like this last year and there are still four more trials to go." Kuroyama had easily his best ride of the year as the sections allowed him to flow naturally. Sometimes this year he and his team have tried to slow things down a bit and it hasn't always worked. Tarres is certainly back to something approaching his old self, while Camozzi, surprisingly, continued his excellent run, although his fourth place in the championship is now under severe threat from Kuroyama. Vets Amos Bilbao and Donato Miglio were happy with sixth and seventh ahead of teenage sensation Takahisa Fujinami, who adapted well to the sections over the weekend. Brits Graham Jarvis and Steve CoUey completed the top 10. Colley continues to be an enigma as he struggles to make top 10, though he shows form on occasion that hints at much better possibilities. Even his oftenuptight Olinder Jake Miller seems now to have accepted the inevitable. As Colley's notorious bad start got under way on Saturday, Miller was asked how things were going toward the end of the loop. "Exactly to plan," said Miller dryly. "We fived the first section and have lost loads more since.'" CN French World Round Senez, France Results: June 15-16, 1996 (Round 6 of 10) O/A: I. Marc Colomer (Man) 49 points; 2. Kenichi Kuroya.ma (Bet) 59; 3. Jacdi Tarres (G-G) 68; 4. Bruno Camozzi (c;.<;) 71; s. Doug Lampkin (Bet) 73; 6. Amos Bilbao (e-G) 85; 7. Takahisa Fujinami (Hon) 88; 8. Donato Miglio (Be,) g9; 9. Graham Jarvis (Sco) 95; 10. Steve Colley (G-G); 11. Tommi Mvala (Fan) 99; 12. Diego 80sis (GoG); 101; 13. David Cobos (c;.<;) 104; 14. Marcel Justribo (Be') 105; 15. Takumi Nazita (Bet) 106. WORLD C'SHIP SERIES POINT STANDINGS (Aft.. 6 of 10 rounds): 1. Marc Colomer (109/3 wins); 2. Doug Lampkin (98/2); 3. Jordi Tarres (90/1); 4. Bruno Camozzi (68); 5. Kenichi Kuroyama (64); 6. Amos Bilbao {62~ 7. Takahisa Fujinami (44); 8. Marcel Justribo (36); 9. Graham Jarvis (36); 10. Steve Colley (32); 11. Tommi AhvaJa (31); 12. Dona'o Miglio (26); 13. David Cobos (17); 14. Takumi Nari", (17); 15. Tomoyuki Ogawa (15); 16. (TIE) Joa Hindren/Diego Bosis (13); 18. Joa.n Pons (12); 19. Gabriel Reyes (2); 20. Jose Benitez {I~ Brieflv. •• - Joan Pons, as predicted. has indeed split with the Fantic factory, and the Spanish world number five turned up in France armed with a Gas Gas. Unfortunately. there was little improvement in his result. as a' disastrous sec· ond loop. where he lost 49 marks. saw Pons finish out of the points in 16th place. Honda has proved how serious it is about the two-stroke trials project's success by sending top Japanese rider Hideaki Mitani to France with a second development RTL to join Takahisa Fujinami. Milani did not disgrace himself in the world-class company. but finished 20th. a.long way behind eighth·place Fujinami. Doug Lampkin anived in France with a virtu· al steel ring of family team members tQ mind for him in France. All ride trials to a high stan· dard, starting wjth Doug' s famous father. Mar· lin. who was joined by cousin John (Britain's. Beta importer). plu~ James ~mpkin and Dan Hemingway. The latter contl'sts the European. .championship serie.s. There 'Yas a lot of pres. sure on Doug in' France and there Is a sense that he is now,beginning to feel this. just as Colomer has over the past two seaso~s. Jordi Tarre. turned up with a secret weapon in France in the form of ace minder Upcoming Rounds: Round 7 - Bardonecchia, Italy, June 22-23 Round 8 - Grossheubach, Germany, July 6-7 Pedro .Olle, another new member of Tarres' already considerable backup force. It was . - . thought that this was s psychological move designed to get at Colomer. although. if this was true, Colomer obviously never read the script. Former Beta development rider aliI' "discovered" Tarres as a young rider and shepherded him to his first world champi· onships. aliI'. one of the most respected guys In the game.. theo did a similar talent·spotting job on Colomer. with whom he worked before disappearing from the scene two years ago. Bruno Camozzi has been involved in sever· al controversies this year and the big Frenchman incurred the wrath of several riders who alleged that hiS minder, brother Christophe. removed several stones from under his Gas Gas wheels on the' 11th seclion on Saturday· a move contrary to RM rules. Graham Jarvis joined Doug Lampkin as a last-minute replacement for an indoor trial in Pamplona. Spain. before the French round. &th riders 'flew back home from Canada, said a brief hello to friends. then hit the road for Spain and France. Jarvis has established himself as a regular top·l 0 finisher this year. giv· ing th~ French:!;>uil'.Scorpa valuable publicity. Canadian .rider Derek Tho.ma.. found the going tough in France. po~ting maximum 70, point scores on his three loops to finish last of the 34 finishers. H.e did at least finish, tho.ugh, as fiv~ riders including .Jean-Lue Nictou and Piero Sembeninr failed to complete. the course. . .