Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

EVENTS EDfTEDBY KEfTHBUSH ahead (Lett) Spenlard Marc Colomer won the Finnish round of the World Indoor Trials Series over rival Doug Lampkin. Colomer now leads Lampkin In the point standings, 127-121. (Right) Two-time World Trials Champ Mick Andrews rode the second round of the AHRMA/Speed & Sport National .Trials 58les In Ocala, Florida, and carded a nine for the day on his 1960 BSA 500. By John Dickinson HELSINKI, FINLAND, MAR. 7 he battle between Montesa's Marc Colomer and Beta's Doug Lampkin . to be recognized as the first-ever World Indoor Trials Champ continued unabated in Helsinki, Finland, last week with the Spaniard Colomer again getting the verdict over Britain's numberone rider Lampkin - but only just. The Helsinki event can probably best be judged by none other than Lampkin's dad and assistant at the trial Martin Lampkin. "I said at the end of the event that it was an absolute privilege to witness two riders performing at their peak. They were both absol utely fantastic and I congratulated Marc on his T win." The trial, staged in the Ice Hall at Helsinki, held the 3500 spectators spellbound all evening as Colomer and Lampkin pulled out all the stops in this seventh event of the 10-round series. Finland, just like Britain, promotes just one round of the championship and also like Britain, the Helsinki event was hailed as a superb indoor trial wi th very technical but possible sections. The event consisted of six sections plus the spectators' favorite, the high jump, and one race. Just seven riders contested the event as French ace Bruno Camozzi failed to show up and left the organizers one rider short. The two wild-card entries had been given to local· riders Joa Hindren, a popular regular on the World Championship circuit, and Swedish newcomer, Anders Haglund. Jordi Tarres is of course not competing outside of Spain and there was no ride again for Steve Colley. The Finnish sections (like the Sheffield round) were all constructed from different raw materials and offered a much better variety than the predictable all-steel Spanish-round hazards. The opener was constructed from balks of timber, the second from waste dumpsters and fork-lift trucks. Subs three and five were giant cable drums with section four being the easiest of the night, a series of jumps between four big boxes. The sixth was over concrete drainage pipes, very similar to the difficult section which has been featured twiee at Sheffield. Working down the starting order it was no surprise that newcomer Haglund finished last, losing 36 marks in the opening lap, but it was a big surprise that Amos Bilbao was a disappointing next-to-Iast. Bilbao, third in the series after some excellent podium finishes, opted to fly to Finland from Spain . and borrow a bike. As often happens to Bilbao when he takes this option, he had a very bad ride. . There was little to choose between Joa Hindren and Brit Graham Jarvis. Hindren is not an indoor specialist while Jarvis has currently been in dreadful form. Prior to the Helsinki event, the Scorpa rider had fived all the sections and finished dead last in his last two indoors. The more technical sections suited his style better and the four-section playoff to decide who would be the fourth rider in the final Gust three were seeded automatically after the first lap) went Jarvis' way, giving his battered confidence a much-needed boost. Ahvala, not having the best of seasons on the indoor circuit himself, suffering no end of problems with his developrnent-model Fantie, was obviously saving his big effort for the horne fans, and his third place, although a long way behind Lampkin and Colomer, was his best effort of the championship campaign. Colomer and Lampkin had the crowd enthralled, and although Colom- ~r just had the edge after an all-action opening lap, losing eight to Lampkin's nine, it could have gone either way. The one mark difference was for Colomer just winning the race, and the fin.al was' still to· come. The opening section stoppe.d all four qualifiers as one big step proved just too much. Lampkin was unbelievably close to conquering it, getting the Beta sumpplate on top of the step, but it was a metal-to-metal contact. Although he had his toes scrabbling for grip, the Techno agonizingly slid backward for another .five. It was agonizingly close, and both riders lost just one more mark on each of the remaining five observed sections aftfi!! their opening fives. Lampkin took his dab on the cable reels of the fifth section but thought he had the event cracked by taking a superb clean on the concrete pipes after needing a hardworked three in the heat. Amazingly, with the pressure piled high and the crowd on the edge of their seats, Colomer brilliantly raised his game to match Lampkin's clean ride and they were level on six marks apiece. Then, just like in Andorra, Lampkin made a mess of the high jump, knocking three poles down. Colomer grabbed his opportunity with both hands to soar over the four poles with immaculate technique. Although Lampkin ran away with the race the damage was done, and Colomer knew that the 20 points were in the bag. Colomer took the win over Lampkin, while JarVis edged out Ahvala for third place. So after seven rounds, Colomer has squeaked out a six-point lead over archrival Lampkin, but with an FIM decision still to be made over whether or not the points from Andorra are to be axed after Lampkin protested over the legality of

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