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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127794
(Left) Marc Colomer
continues to zero in
on his first World
Trials Championship..
Colomer placed third
in Germany to keep
the pressure on
lampkin and Tarres.
(Right) Joan Pons
was sixth.
(Below) Kenichl
Kuroyama was
fourth.
.
.
sunshine. By the time the seeded riders
started the day's two-lap task at midday
the rocks were as dry as a bone.
Scores at the sharp end of the field fell
dramatically with the improvement in
grip, and Lampkin co~centrated beautifully to clean the first eight sections
before the observing team at the ninth
sub caught him for five again. He was to
lose just a further three marks in the
tricky 12th section to finish his lap on just
eight marks, and this gave him a further
buffer over championship leader Colomer, who could not better 12. But Tarres,
who had dropped behind the rest of the
field to do his own thing, came in to post
an incredible five-mark card, comprising
single dabs in five separate sections.
The trial had virtually turned into a
ure war of nerves as the dry conditions
made all the sections passable for th.e
top 10 riders, but the final lap was not
quite that simple. Early finishers reported that some of the sections had in fact
deteriorated as tree roots and hidden
rocks were exposed through the base
soil. It certainly introduced an element
of hit and miss.
As the top three came in at the rear of
the Held, Colomer was first to sign off
with another loop completed for a
dozen marks. Lampkin was next and
was disappointed with his score of 18.
"I had a couple of bad bounces and
that was it," Lampkin reflected.
The large crowd waited to see what
Tarres could come up with - another
.flawless lap was the answer, just seven
marks down and a total winning margin
of 13 over Lampkin. The Gas Gas gang
were soon in a celebratory mood - even
though it looks like their three-year
reign as world champions will soon be
at an end.
"Sure, I like the ·trial," Tarres said.
"Any trial you win is a good one and
yes, my back injury is much better pow it's not a problem. This weekend has
been good for me."
Lampkin remained in a bright mood
despite having chocked up .his fourth
runner-up slot of the season.
Grossheubach
Grossheubach, Genmany
Results: July 13-14 (Round 8 of 10)
Olk 1. Jordi Tarres (G-G); 2. Doug Lampkin (Bet);
3. Marc CoJomer (Mon); 4. Kenichi Kuroyama (Bet); 5.
Tommi Ahvala (Fan); 6. Joan Pons (Fan); 7. Bruno
Camozzi (G-G); 8. Takahisa Fujinami (Hon); 9. Steve
Colley (G-G); 10. Takumi Narita (Bet); 11. Joachim
Hindren (G-G); 12. Donato Mi-.Slio (Bet); 13. Diego Basis
(G-G) 14. Tomoyuki Ogawa (Bet); 15. Amos BHbao (GG).
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP OBSERVED TRIALS
SERIES POINT STANDINGS (After 8 of Ill-round.):
1. Marc Calomer (144/4 wins); 2. Doug Lampkin
(132/2); 3. jordi Tarres (121/2); 4. Kenichi Kuroyama
(92); 5. Bruno Camozzi (84); 6. Amos Bilbao (64); 7.
Takahisa Fujinami (57); 8. Tommi Ahvala (48); 9.
Graham Jarvis (4lj); 10. Marcel Justribo (45); 11. Steve
Colley (42); 12. Tomoyuki Ogawa (30); 13. Juan Pon.
(30); 14. Donato Miglio (30); 15. Takumi Nari'a (23); 16.
Joachim Hindren (20); 17. David Cabos (17); 18. Diego
80sis (16); 19. Gabreli Reyes (6); 20. Jose Benitez (1).
Upcoming Rounds:
Round 9 - Czech Republic. July 27-28
Round 10 - Belgium, August 17-18
"The win just won't come," Lampkin
said. "I was there today, even though
that observer at nine didn't like me, he
got me again this lap. But I was riding
well, it is not over yet. All I can do is go
aU-out to win the last two rounds and
see what happens to Mare."
Colomer had not enjoyed the best of
days but damage limitation was such
that Lampkin gained just two marks in
the championship chase and a 12-mark
lead with just two rounds to go keeps
the Spaniard in a strong position.
"I'm still having trouble with my
injured knee," said Colomer. "My leg
won't flex properly for the big steps so
today was a good result for me. Also,
the observing was not good here, but
this affects many riders and I may have
to protest." He didn't.
Kuroyama finished an aggressive
fourth, wruch consolidated that position
for him in the championship while
Tornmi Ahvala had his best ride for a
long time on the Fantic. Sixth was his
former teammate Joan Pons, who is now
regaining his old confidence on the Gas
Gas after his midseason switch. This
week he got the better of burly Frenchman Bruno Camozzi and Honda rider
Fujinarni.
CN
.r....efl' ....
B I· '1 \Y
I .'
His tea';' made the mistake earlie( of encour-
.aging hini to go steady, 'to save marks, but the.
. I ~' ill
tactic simply' can't work at World level. Since
~
..
reverting' to. attacking every hazard. Kenichi's
.
.
The .big topic in Germany was the presenoe .of res~lls have ",cket~.
'.
top HRC personnel. Fnincol. Delay. l1)an·
ager. of HRC Europe; who was in onarge of the Tommi Ahwiohi had a good result.ln GerLejeune/Saunders Rothmans-backed squad .maoy. 'lIll1id rumorS that the. Fantie; team is in .
back in the mid-'80s, was joined by Japanese trouble again. There was nCl factory support
HRC trials coordinator Taneyama-San. The' vehicle·.or personnel present. One Of the more
two made copious notes. made cautiou's optimistic. tumors was that all Fantic staff were
approaches to several riders and.said·iha! yes.' working on a new bike at the factory.
a Y"orld Championship c.orneback was ~ssible' but nothing had been decided. Ttley were Amos BlIba~ is leading 'the Spanish Champion a·fact·finding l)1ission. This alone' sent shlid- . "nship.after winning'-th",'ast two rounds. butin
ders'through the European trials <;!stablish- Germany his form simply evaporated and he
ment. HRC. is .alreadY supporting ·Wotld .. st~ggl.ed to. 15th.
.
Ch'amp-elect' Marc Colomer. although. Marc's
.bike sports. a Montesa logo. l'ut a. full-scale. ScarPa factory· rider Graha... -Ia";'I. failed tn
presen