Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

(Left) Reigning outdoor World Champion Marc Colomer's performance was a bit shy of his victorious form at the series-opening Italian round, bu1 the Spaniard claimed third to remain two points adrift of Lampkin in the series standings. (Right) Where's the new bike?: Tommi Ahvala showed up to Sheffield aboard a radically modified '96 Fantic Section that featured a fuel tank mounted under the seat and the air cleaner in between the upper frame spars. Ahvala struggled aboard the machine and failed to make the final. wryly, "You'd think I would have learned something after last year - obviously not, though." . Not even this mega-crash was going to put him off his stride, though, as he just destroyed the following two hazards before indulging in a dab over the trees to finish his lap on a lowly score of six. Colley then flew over the high jump - taking time to turn and grin at the crowd before simply destroying Ahvala in the races. Six was the score to beat. No one else carne close in the qualifiers. Last year's winner and local hero, Oougie Lampkin, was the penultimate competitor, and he too started with a confident opening clean over the Cat. He cleaned the second one, too, but as he leaped off the massive cable drums down, his Beta's experimental rear wheel just exploded - the spokes ripped right out of the experimental lightweight hub which spun and thrashed wildly inside the rim and Lampkin was pitched to the floor. Like Colley, he too was down but not out, and as Lampkin took five rhinutes out - as per the rules - helpers quickly threw a new wheel on his Techno. Lampkin quickly regained his confidence to blast to a clean over the metal arches before the sleepers surprisingly brought him to a halt. But again he recovered to dab the sub and finish the six sections with a score of 11. The last man to show was World Champ Colomer and his factory Montesa. To be honest, with seven riders now having tested the course, Colomer was expected to take the sections apart. But there were surprises in store as neither Colomer nor his bike seemed in top form. A lackluster five on the pipes was followed by a disaster on the metal arches where his Montesa just didn't seem to have the urge to crest the summit. Colomer brilliantly jumped the bike backwards off the section several times feet-up - for another attack, but he eventually had to admit defeat and take another five. Both Lampkin and Colomer cleared the high jump with execel\ent technique, .and the races really got the crowd going wi th the result being one win for each rider. But it was Lampkin's ovetjump on the final spectacular double that left everyone gasping as - by his own admission - a too-fast attack saw him ride straight into the safety barrier where he immediately stepped off, stunned, and limped away to check for damage. So the stage was set for the final, with Spaniards Bilbao and Colomer qualified alon~ was worth the price of admission. 60th flew down the start ramp, turned on a sixpence and had the crowd going bananas as they soared through the air over the double - absolutely side by side and mere inches apart - to the landing. Lampkin was first, but by fractions of a second. And, in a spur-of-the-moment thing, the boys gave an action replay that saw them even closer together as they zoomed in to land. It was a spectacular end to a spectacular show with the icing on the cake being the win that put Lampkin on top of archrlval Colomer in the championship. And Super Showman Colley can't even get a guaranteed ride in the series. L~ (Right) Young Spaniard Gabriel Reyes debuted a production 1997 Montesa 315 at the event. Reyes looked good aboard the machine in the early going, tallying 23 points to qualify fifth before dropping out of the hunt in the heats. Sheffield Arena Sheffield, England Results: January 4, 1997 (Round 2 of 10) QUALIFYING, 1. Steve Colley (G-G) 6; 2. Doug Lampkin (Bet); 12; 3. Amos Bilbao (G-G) 13; 4. Marc Colomer (Mon) 19; 5. Gabriel Reyes (Mon) 23; 6. Tommi AhvaJa (Fan) 24; 7. Martin Crosswaite (G-G) 26; 8. Graham Jarvis (Sco)30. FINAL: 1. Doug Lampkin (Bet) 4; 2. Steve Colley (G-G) 9; 3. Mart: Colomer (Mon) 18; 4. Amos Bilbao (GG)31, WORLD INDOOR TRIALS CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (after 2 of 10 round.), 1. Doug Lampkin (37/1 win); 2. Marc Colomer (35/1); 3. Amos Bilbao (28); 4. Tommi Ahvala (20); S. Graham Jarvis (19); 6. Steve CoUey (17); 7. Bruno Camozzi (13); 8. Gabriel Reyes (11); 9. (ITE) Martin Crosswaite/Marcel justribo (9). third and fourth on scores of 13 and 19, respectively, 60th had been upstaged by the Brits with Lampkin on 11 and Colley with that unbelievable lap of six. Quite frankly, the Spaniards appeared beaten before the start of the final action as both performed well below par. The format saw contestants complete one section before moving on to the next. That either Lampkin or Colley was going to win was never in doubt. The only question was which one would as the Spanish challengers just rolled over and died. In the end, Lampkin just stepped it up a notch beyond his form in the qualifier. Five quite superb cleans, a two on the pipes and a time fault while mastering the sleepers saw him reach the end of his six subs on three marks. Unlike in the heats, Colley contracted "dabitis" and seven in the sections, plus a time fault saw him approach the races on nine. Colomer and Bilbao were consigned to a distant third and fourth before the Brits faced up to each other in the final runoffs, .and it almost turned sour as Colley stormed away over the wooden stakes, flipped around for the home run and saw Lampkin just riding slowly and deliberately, concentrating on not losing a mark. Lampkin knew that as long as he did nothing silly, the event was in the bag but this wasn't what the crowd had shelled out its cash for, and the fans were dearly not happy. Lampkin quickly got the gist - with just a little prompting from his father Martin, and the final Lampkin vs. Colley race Brieflv~ .. ' - Wilson 'built a Bultaco with a similar'feature, .which waS knOWn as Wilson's TanKer. No doubt. Ahvala's will be refel"(8(! to as l:ommi's Tanker! . SheHield '97, marked the second year that Gabfiej Reyes. the 20-year-old, European TriAvonda.le Management Ltd - aka Mar.tin als Champion, gave the first production version Lampkin and Neil' Cros.waite - have pro- of the new Montesa 315 its debut at moted an indoor trial at the Sheffield Arena. Sheffield. Virtually identical to the prototypes And. true to their promises, it really was a big- ridden by Rey.es and Colomer, tne main giveger, brighter and better show than the one away on the 'production bike is the much-larger before. ""m well satisfied Ihat we did a more fuel tank. which sits between the alloy frame professional job this year." Crosswaite said. "I . rails - the rival Beta Techno utilizes the frame thought that last year was good. but there were rails for storing the fuel mix, areas where a bit of profeSSional help was ·rieeded. We have addressed that, and , think Amos Bilbao waSn't happy with the perforthat the' only problem we have now is how to . mance -of the Gas Gas he borrowed for the Sheffield Indoor and blamed it for his poor perfortop next year, " . mance. It loOks like Bilbao will again be Gas·Gas· mounted this ye8r after contemplating a change, 'Tommi Ahvab., was.not mounted on the new 1997 aluminum-fra"1ed Fantic as expected at Sheffield, Instead, t1ie Fantic worl

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