Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

(Left) Takahisa Fujlnaml, only 17, has a raw, aggressive style that more than makes up for his lack of finesse. ride at the crucial moment. And the Lampkin family invented·the phrase, "The will to win." His father, Martin, won the first-ever World Trials Championship back in 1975 for Bultaco and was famous for his never-give-up attitude. Says Doug, a genuinely friendly rider, with time for press and fans alike: "There is only one thing that means anything to me and that is winning. You can't believe how bad I feel if I don't win. To me it's simple, the 1997 World Championship is mine." 2. Marc Colomer, 23 (Spain - Montesa): Reigning World Olampion Colomer certainly knows how hard it is to win the title, having lost out to Jordi Tarres several times before finally and deservingly naiUng it last year. But they say that winning a title is one thing and hanging on to it another. So the big question will be how Colomer handles the pressure. He certainly gives the air of being relaxed, but when things go wrong he often can crack from the pressure. Colomer is certainly a brilliant rider but he won't have to go looking for pressure in '97 - it will be right on his shoulders from the first section. Then there is the "hidden" pressure from the Fortuna cigarettes-sponsored Spanish Federation - second is no good \0 them; having the World Champion is all that counts. Colomer is certainly no~ an easily approachable rider, tending to end interviews before they start; one question. and he is gone. I have a feeling that 1997 interviews could be the shortest yet. (Right) Once the most flamboyant of the World Championship riders, Amos Bilbao's results have suffered somewhat and he has become more subdued. Positive results in '97 could bring him back to his old ways. (Bottom) Known as more of an indoor specialist, Steve Colley didn't make the cut for the Indoor championship this past winter. It should motivate him to do better this outdoor season. 3. Kenichi Kuroyama, 18 (Japan Beta): Kuroyama burst onto the scene two years ago as a 15-year-old former World Bicycle Trials Champion and rode his Beta just like a bicycle, hopping it everywhere. Slightly built with a sunny personality, he's a big crowd favorite. He looks about 12 years old. Kuroyama jumped up to number four last year but obviously still has further potential. Because he re.fused the offer to compete in the indoor championship, no one knows what his early-season form will be like. If nothing else, he is a big asset to the world trials show. 4. Jordi Tarres, 30 (Spain - Gas Gas): Who can argue with seven world titles and a total haul of 61 wins and 2153 world championship points? Tarres is quite simply the greatest trials rider of all time. Yes, we have been writing him off for three years, but I was right on the button predicting third for him last year and unfortunately, the only way is downhill. Tarres has been readying himself for one final effort, cutting back drasticalJy on his indoor appearances in order to concentrate his practice outdoors. He tends to use his experience to take safe deliberate dabs these days. But with Colomer and Lampkin going for cleans every time, it just won't be enough. 5. Takahisa Fujinami, 17 (Japan Honda): Already we are in unknown territory - the competition for fifth to 15th place is going to be intense. The differen'ce between scoring 10 or 11 points and non-scoring in 16th place will only be a few marks in each round. Despite this being only his second year on the circuit, Fujinami is sure to move up from seventh. His style last year was very raw, making up for in aggression what he lacked in technical skill. He has stacks of potential and an attitude in advance of his years that wiJI help him make the grade. 6. Bruno Camozzi, 25 (France - Gas . Gas): If he rides to his ability Big Bruno will finish right around here. If he doesn't, he could be out of the top 15. Camozzi has a massive physical presence, unusual for a modem trials rider, and when pumped can do anything. He started well indoors but appeared to lose interest toward the end of the series. Camozzi can be excellent company but his big drawback is his temperament and tendency to totally lose control, especiaJJy when assisted by his brother Christophe, as he will be this year. 7. Amos Bilbao, 27 (Spain - Gas Gas): Again I'm predictting that experience will outweigh youth. Once the clown prince of the circuit, Bilbao has been much more withdrawn and far less extroverted over the last season or so. He cI aims tha t there is no, off-s~ason now with the indoor series and he has been feeling the pressure. He won the Spanish Championship last year, against the odds, by beating both Colomer and Tarres. Whatever the outcome, it would be nice to see a return to the happy-golucky Bilbao of old. 8. Steve Colley, 25 (Britain - Gas Gas): Colley is the rider who has failed to deliver what he has promised. A supremely gifted rider, he has repeatedly failed to get his head into the World Championship and drifted to a disastrous 11th last year. This kept him out of his beloved indoor trials during the winter and missing that series stung him hard. It is for this reason alone that I predict a Colley resurgence. The chance to perform indoors' - he is a supreme showman - will drive him on. 9. David Cobos, 17 (Spain - Gas Gas): Back to youth here and I expect Cobos to improve on his last season's number-14 berth wherever he finishes. A longtime protege of Gas Gas export manager - and former top trials rider Andreu Codina, Cobos had been expertly steered throughout his career. Last year his priority was the European championship and he finished second behind compatriot Gabriel Reyes despite missing a round through injury he crashed a moped on the road and broke his wristl 10. Graham Jarvis, 21 (Britain - Scorpa): The great battles between British and Spanish riders will continue this year and Jarvis is looking to establish himself in the big-time. He is an extremely quiet, shy person who transforms when he gets on a trials bike. Campaigning the one French-built Scorpa is maybe not the best thing for Jarvis, but his mentor, Malcolm Rathmell, keeps him motivated. And a special works 250 has pumped him up for the start of the series. Take your pick after this. As I said, it will be just that tight from fifth to 15th. Finn Tomrni Ahvala, World Champion back in 1992, is one name missing from this list, but his confidence is low at the moment and his indoor Fanties have certainly left a lot to be desired this winter. European Champion Gabriel Reyes is another obvious wild-eard choice as is fellow Spaniard Marcel Justribo, who has switched from Beta to Gas Gas. And Spaniard Joan Pons, former world number four, is an unknown quantity following a mediocre '96, but he's is back on a special 330 Gas Gas - riding for the Italian Gas Gas importer. He could just get back in there. Missing from the start line this year will be Italian Diego Bosis, former world number two and once the most exciting rider on the scene. Declaring himself now "too old," Bosis will stay in Italy and ride a Montesa in his home championship. Also missing will be Japanese riders Takurni Narita and Tomoyuki Ogawa, Neither has been able to raise sufficient funds for a '97 campaign. Narita has been a popular competitor for years, while 20-year-old Ogawa deserved another crack at the series. So there you are, an inspired view through the feet-up crystal baJJ or simply a blind stab in the dark... Whatever, alJ will be unveiled as the world's best balance artists battle it out through the summer. 0 ..... l-< 0..

• Cover