Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

OBSERVED TRIALS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP OBSERVED TRIALS SERIES By John Dickinson File photos by John Dickinson SILLEDA, SPAIN, MAR. 28-29 t may be a- new season, but it's already shaping up to look- a lot like the last one as Doug Lampkin proved exactly why he is the undisputed world number one. The British trials wizard, hot off his total domination of the winter indoor championship, rode his factory Beta Techno to a stunning double win in the opening round of the 1998 World Championship Observed Trials. Not only was the Spanish trial the first real test of the controversial FIM observing rules, which effectively heralds a return to the no-stop style of riding, but each round is now comprised of two full loops of sections each day. In previous years, the first day of each two-day event ):las consisted of only a single loop. Despite the unknowns, what happened was pretty much what everyone predicted: Regardless of the rules, the results stay exactly the same. There were few surprises and, in the main, virtually everyone's results were vir-tually identical to the world ranking from last season. The good news - especially for the top rid ers - was tha t the section checkers did their jobs to the letter and penalized the riders the manda tory one mark if the motorcycle stopped moving in the section. There had been worries that perhaps the checkers would ignore the new rule. On Saturday the 15 sections were bathed in glorious sunshine and the course was praised by all the riders. The sections were taugh but tllere was a good variety of terrain, ranging from deep rivers to slippery banks and big rocks. O Round 1: Silleda, Spain Doug Lampkin continues to top the world trials scene. After a winter-long domination of the Indoor Trials World Championship, Lampkin won both days at the opening round of the outdoor series. Consistency was the word for Lampkin on the opening day. He was actually headed - by just two marks - by Amos Bilbao on the first circuit and Marc Colomer on the second, but Lampkin's two loops of 27 and 22 helped him to an eight-mark advantage overall ahead of Colomer. Bilbao was obviously enjoying the new format and was riding well above his number-II ranking, But Lampkin was well allead in the cleans department. From the 30 sections he clocked up 14 zereos, with Colomer next on 11, followed by fifth-placed David Cobos on 10. "I was always going for cleans," Lampkin said. ''I'm not interested in ,safety. If you get off-line, stopping isn't an option for me. I open it up and either get it back or crash!" . Showing good form on the opening day was Spaniard Marcel Justribo, who is part of the Jordi Tarres team with Steve Colley. J,:,-stribo had an excellent result in fourth. Colley had a very average day in ninth. "My timing was all wrong today," Colley said. As a result, Colley was beaten by Graham Jarvis. Kenichi Kuroyama and Takahisa Fujinami, neitheJ happy with the new observing rules, actually did a steady job in their first competitive outings in Europe this year to finish sixth and eighth, respectively. . But while Saturday proved a steady enough opener, the second day was to prove a real test as bad weather rolled in, with incessant rain making the sections much more slippery and tricky. Lampkin launched in with the lap of the w~ekend, laughing at the conditions. His opening-loop score of 16 compared to the second-best - Colomer's 32 - pretty much rendered it over, bar the shouting. Said a delighted Lampkin at the finish: "Yes, that was the sort of lap I was looking for. I don't think any of us rode well on the first day and I wan ted to move up a gear. There were some very tricky sections a nd I can look back on some good rides." He started with a two on the opening slippery climb that took most for fives on at least one lap, including Fujinami and Kuroyama. Colley even dropped a pair of maximums. But Colley struck back on the second section with a pair of cleans, and Colomer and Fujigas - the latter making a real charge on the day both remained feet-up all day on the third. Both these sections were reminiscent of the Scottish Six Days Trial, with steep, dimbing rocky streams. Section five was one of the harder subs and even Lampkin, able only to manage laps of two and three, never really mastered it. It certainly brought the Fujinami charge to a halt, as he floundered on each'lap on one of several awkwaJd rocks set in the slippery banking. Three sections all set in a wide, fastflowing river were next, and it was here that Lampkin made his break with three straight cleans on the opening loop. And he continued his lean streak with two more cleans, a dab and then another clean to bring him to the 13th section on just eight marks lost. It was certainly unlucky 13 for Lampkin (and virtually everyone else) as the massive climb saw him clock up disappointing fives on both his visits. The star here was slightly built Kenichi Kuroyama from Japan. Using his lightweight ad vantage, Kuroyama wound up his factory Beta back to the stop in fourth gear and just blitzed the hill on both laps., This 10-mark saving boosted him right up through the ranks to an eventual fifth-place finish. Lampkin was back on cam on tile £01- .Briefly__~ '_~ lowing twisting climb, though, and his two cleans proved to be the best of the ,day. But the World Champion was scathing about the last section of the course, which was a man-made affair comprised of logs. "This type of section has no place in world trials under the new r'1I1es," Lampkin said. "The rules plainly state that this type of section is not allowed and the FIM said they were going to stick with the rule. Why are they breaking their own rules? It made no difference to me, winning the trial - it just shouldn't have been in." Whatever the conditions, the result was cut and dried. Limpkin won with ease over FlIjinami, but there was a massive difference in clean rides once again. Lampkin weighed in with 15, Fujigas claimed 10, but third-placed Colomer could only muster a mere six. Cobos again had a steady ride for fourth, .ahead of Kuroyama, with Colley, Bilbao and Jarvis scrapping it out 1;lehind. The lower order was packed with young Spanish riders, including Jordi Pacqu.et, Sergio Leon and Albert Cabestany. Surprisingly, the season's sensation, Marc Freixas, who has beaten Colomer in a Spanish Championship round, failed to manage a top-IS finish on either day. fN Spanish World Trial Silleda, Spain . Results: March 28-29, 1998 (Round 1 of 10) DAY 1: 1. Doug Lampkin (Bet); 2. Marc Colo mer (Mon); 3. Amos Bilbao (G-G); 4. Marcel Justribo (G-G); 5. David Cobos (G-G); 6. Kenichi Kuroya0l3 (Bet); 7. Graham Jarvis (Sec); 8. Takahisa Fujinami (Hon); 9. Steve Colley (G-G); 10. Diego Basis .(Mon); 11. Bruno Camozzi (G-G); 12. Albert CabestollY (Bet); 13. Joachim Hindren (G-G); 14. loan Pons (G~C); 15. Jose-Manuel Alcaraz (Mon). , DAY 2: 1. Doug Lampkin (Bet); 2. Takahisa Fujinami (Han); 3. Marc Colomer (Man); 4. David Cobos (G-G); 5. Kenichi Kuroyama (Bet); 6. Steve CoUey (G~C); 7. Amos Bilbao (G-C); 8. Graham Jarvis (SeQ); 9. Diego Bosis (Mon); 10. Bruno Camozzi (C-G); 11. Marcel Justribo (G-G); 12. Jordi Pascuet (Mon); 13. Sergio Leon (Mon); 14. Joachim Hindren (C--G); 15. Albert Cabestany (Bet), ' WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP OBSERVED TRIALS SERIES POlNT STANDINGS (After 1 of 10 rounds); 1. Doug L"lmpkin (40/2 wins); 2. Marc Colomer (32); 3. Takahisa Fujinami (25); 4. (TIE) Amos Bilbao/Davi.d Cobos/Kenichi KUTOyama (24); 7. Marcel Justribo (18); 8. (TtE) Steve Colley/Graham Jarvis (17); 10. Diego Basis (13); 11. Bruno Camozzi (11); 12. Albert Cabestany/Joachim Hindren (5); 14. jordi Pascuet (4); 15. Sergio Leon (3); 16. JOM\ Pons (2); 17. Jose Alcaraz (1). Upcoming Rounds: Round 2 - Hawkstone Park, England, April 18-19 Round 3 - San Marino, April 25-26 Taichi Tanaka, A bicycle .trials World Cham. pion, Tan.a~a has been he'ralded a~ being' potentially better than his cGuntryinan - but his srig~t build. cycling techniques and lack of' experience showed in ,his Spanish aebut. Graded Worla Championship riders from last. s·eason who won:t be 'in actioo' this year The Sp'lnish. may have had to play second fid-· include Jordi Tarres ('retired). Donato die to rampant -Brits Doug Lampkin, Colley Miglio ('retired from World Championship competition) and Tommi Ahvala (now riding' and Jaryis lapt year. but they ar", striking. back with a vengeance in 1998, D;lvid ~obos and in the United States). Tarres is now managin'g a team comprised of Steve Colley. Marcel. Ma.cel Justribo lo.ok increasingly dangerous while'the'e are also a .host of Spanis:h Justribo and Marc Cattla'and naturally' he was present in Spain. 'Miglio is 'Be.ta's development 'teenagers bUZZing around the 10"Yer reach'es of the top 15. Britain,' meanwhile. has no turning af.ter a one-ye.ar hiatus fmm the' make, any real ,headway in' the lrial. . World Championship (except for outings in Italy and San Manno last year) is Italian Diego Youn'g Spanish ace Jordi Pilisquet is one of Bosis. Veteran Basis. a form~r run~er-up'in 40 Spaniards who will. be riding in the Interna- . .the World Championship. has returned with tiona I Scottish' Six Days Trial th'is yea'r. The Montesa and managed 10th" and ninth-place event is ~enjoying a real comeback, with a maxifinishes in Spain' after playing the percentage mum of 270 spots ayairable ana many entries game and going for safe theees ratherthan 'g6alieady 'returned,·A favorite for,the top spot in· for-it c1eans_ ·Bosis waS once one of the most Fort, William is I~st year's winner. Steve Col- . spectacular riders on the circait. " ' ley, with Graham Jarvis looki'ng for his first SSDTwin. ' A!"os Bilbao looks set to move back up the ran kings froni 11th as, ,his style se,;,ms to suit the no-stop rule: .. . ,. Tom;"i Allvaia may be' i~ tJni~ed States. but his twck has b,een purchased for young Finn A new nar:ne from Japan has arrived to back Mika Sassi. and Tomr:ni's brother JQmmi will be aC,ting as Sassi's mechanic. up Kuro'yama and Fujinami - 16-Y~ar-old"

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