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OBSERVED TRIALS WORLD CUP INDOOR TRIALS SERIES By John Dickinson 22 ,FRANCE, JAN. 18 hile everyone anticipated that the world-class battle taking place between series rivals Marc Colomer and Doug Lampkin would continue at the fourth round of the World Cup Indoor Trails series, it was instead French star Bruno Camozzi who came through with a superb ride under pressure to record both his and Gas Gas' first indoor win of the season. Camozzi came off with a truly inspired ride in the final, taking just 11 marks to sneak past series leader Lampkin, who finished with 17. Spanish rider Colomer, appearing somewhat off form on the evening, finished third with 25. Camozzi's win moves him into fourth in the overall standings with 44 points, behind Amos Bilbao's 56. Lampkin still heads the pack, however, and his second-place finish ahead of Colomer has stretched his series lead an additional two points to a total of seven over the Spaniard, 74-67. Toulouse, with its compact 5000-seat arena, was packed to capacity once again and provided a great atmosphere for indoor trials - thanks especially to the organizers and their brilliant landscaping job on the sectIons. This year the theme was very modern with steel sections modeled in a brash cityscape, jUld the mood further set by loud techno music. Also as usual in France, the sections were very technically and physically demanding. While the Spanish typically opt for quick, adrenaline-piimping, gofor-it, hit-or-miss sections, the French stick closer to true trials riding. The first shock of the night was British indoor ace Steve. Colley failing to qualify for the final. Colley, a.s a wild- card entry, was first into the arena and although this does not normally worry him, a total of 24 marks lost in the eight sections, including four fives, never really looked good enough for the final. The second wild card, Christophe Camozzi (Bruno's brother), fared much worse, though, and fived six sections in a row to total 31. Bruno was next, and he showed what could be achieved in the sections and really got the crowd behind rum with three opening cleans. The technical sections really were borderline impossible, though, and even an inspired Bruno took three maximums. His four-clean ride was to be the best on the opening lap, however. Graham Jarvis, on the French-built Scarpa, looked forward to some support from the fans, but after promising start with two cleans, Jarvis then toppled to five maximums before signing off with a fault-free ride in the final section. The damage was done, however, and he failed to qualify for the final for the third round in a row, highlighting one of the difficulties with indoor trial events - the sections are so severe that the end result is almost always a clean or a five. Tommi Ahvala's form has totally disintegrated this winter and the Finn's indoor misery continued unabated with another desperate performance on the Fantic - his 29 marks excluded him right away. Crowd favorite Amos Bilbao gave his usual full-val.ue performance, including an excellent clean on the fifth section, a feat only ~atched by Bruno Camozzi. It was then down to the battle of the giants and Colomer and Lampkin didn't disappoint. Colomer had the early advantage with three zeroes, while Lampkin countered with 0-0-2. They then traded mark for mark, five for five, in the middle sections before Lampkin broke the deadlock with a superb clean on the final obstacle. The Briton's total of 15 gave him the lead and the best place to be in the field for the final - starting last. Bilbao was the first of ·the four qualifiers to tackle the seven sections which constituted the playoff, but as in Sheffield and Koblenz, the little man just appeared to show no interest in the sections, fiYing the lot for a maximum 35. Colomer tried very hard, even to the extent of losing time marks in the second and third sections as he fought to avoid five-mark penalties.. But the reigning outdoor World Champion was lacking his usual sharpness (which he later admitted) and his 25-mark target was definitely beatable. With the crowd willing him on, Camozzi was in excellent shape, and after six sections was only nine marks down. But at this stage Lampkin, looking hungry and eager for success as always, was a slim two marks ahead. But suddenly Lampkin lost concentration and fives in the last three sections gave Camozzi just the window he needed. A pair of superb, welldeserved one-dab rides put Camozzi at the front and he duly took the honors to the tremendous applause of his home fans. fN Toulouse Arena Toulouse, France Results: January 18, 1997 (Round 4 of 10) HEAT: 1. Doug Lampkin (Bet); 2. Bruno Camozz.i (G-G); 3. Marc Colomer (Mon); 4~Amos Bilbao (G-G); S. Steve Colley (G-G); 6. Graham Jarvis (500); 7. Tommi Ahval. (Fan~ 8. Christophe Camozzi (G-G). FINAL: 1. Bruno Camozzi (e·G) 11; 2. Doug Lampkin (Bel) 17; 3. Marc Colomer (Man) 25; 4. Amos Bilbao (G-G) 3S. Gas Gasmounted Bruno Camozzl kept his coolin France to card his first win of the World Cup Indoor Trials series. WORLD CUP INDOOR TRIALS SERIES POINT STANDINGS IAfler 4 of 10 rounds): I. Doug Lampkin (74/2 wins); 2. Marc Coloroer (67/1); 3. Amos Bilbao (56); 4. Bruno Camo""i (44/1); S. Steve Colley (41); 6. Tommi Ahva,la (39); 7. Graham Jarvis (38); 8. Gabriel Reyes (ll); 9. (11E) Marcel ]ustribo/Martin Crosswaite (9); 11. (TIE) Donato MigJiol Andreas LettenbichlerJ Christophe Camozzi (8). Upcoming Rounds: Round 5 - Barcelona, Spain, February 8 Round 6 - Andorra, Andorra, March 1 Briefly.::-::....::....~~_ Marc Colomer recently inked a deal that will see the reigning World Champion stay with the Spanish Montese factory for two more y\'!ars - 1997 and '98. Montesa has ·also re-Signed ifs current European Champ. Gabriel Reyes. The 20·year-old Reyes is signed to a one-year deal so Montesa can monitor his progress up the World Championship ladder as Colomers teammate next season. Alter S\Jlfering frOm one mechanical grem·'in alter another, Tommi Ahvala filially got tq -ride the .aluminom-framed Fantic in To.ulouse - alas, it did him n.o gpod, as the drastically detuned ~hvala failed to .make it to the final. . Foflo~ing his third plac.e at Toulou~e, ' Marc Colom.': hinted that he is cegin. ning to feel the stress of being World· .Gh·ampion. "Maybe I should .90 home .and just practice and. prepare for ·the "Yo,ld .Championship; Colomer said. "I feel I . hav.e taken on just too many indOOr events." ..