Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128385
Briefly... Raga Again Pikes Peak rookie Mickey Dymond set a new record for motorcycles in the famous as Gas' Adam Raga took convincing back-to-back victories in the French round of the World Trials Championship in Ales, France, june 2S-26, the Spaniard taking control of the championship in the process. Gas Gas' Jeroni Fajardo returned to form following his injuries to finish second w~h a 2-3 tally over the two days to edge Sherco's Albert Cabestany, though Cabestany's effort kept his championship hopes alive. Meanwhile, Repsol Montesa HRC G hillclimb with a time of 12 minutes, 12.614 seconds on the 12.42-mile course to the summit of the 14,11 O-foot Pikes Peak. The KTM 61 O-mounted Dymond eclipsed the mark of 12:21.13 held since 1994 by Clint Vahsholtz in the 7SOcc Pro class. Gary Trachy won the new Supennoto class on a Honda CRF4S0R in 12: 18.73S. Davey Durelle won the SOOcc Pro class on a CRF4S0-based bike with a time of 12:22.491, giVing Durelle his ninth victory at Pikes. Retuming 2S0cc Pro champ Nathan Conley won that class on a Suzuki RM2S0 in 13:00.651, with Califomian Mickey A1zola taking the Vintage Twins class win in 14:28.140 on a Triumph 7S0. teammates Takahisa Fujinami and Dougie Lampkin endured a very difficult weekend in France. Fujinami, the reigning World Champion, recorded a S-8 tally after he suffered in the extreme heat on both days. The japanese rider now lies third in the championship. Lampkin had his own problems and was lucky to finish at all on Saturday following a massive crash early on the second lap. But not even a trip in an ambu- lance could stop the Brit from finishing 12th on day one and bouncing back to take sixth on day two. Marc Freixa. the third member of the Repsol Montesa HRC team, was the best Honda man with a sixth and fifth place. With the exception of Antonio Bou and Cabestany, who both dropped a single mark, and Fajardo, who fived, the top group of riders all remained feet up in the making a real attempt so that he could at relatively easy opening section, which was least record a finish, hoping to recover no more than a steep climb on a loose some valuable championship points. He managed to achieve the feat before finally being taken to hospital by the waiting ambulance at the finish. Lampkin netted 12th place and four points for his effort. Away from Lampkin's inCident, Fajardo rock face immediately adjacent to the paddock. This was much the case in section two, where the fearsome initial rock slab was actually easier than it first appeared, although Cabestany and Freixa both added one to their scores here. Raga signaled that he was a man on was the other rider creating the news as he put together the best-lap score of the form with a great clean in sections three trial to hoist himself into the runner-up and four, which FUjinami duly matched pOSition. Having witnessed Lampkin's crash, Raga was visibly shaken by the whole ordeal. He also took a five in the with equal style a few moments later. Cabestany fived section six on the first lap, as he began a run ofthree consecutive same section before putting together a maximums, which would ultimately spoil his day. Shifting into the wood the riders shaky lap that was nearly double his were faced with the three most natural sections of the trial. Fajardo actually cleaned this hazard on his second attempt, the well-deserved victory. "It has been a good day for both me and also the Gas Gas team, with Fajardo with Bou coming close to matching him and me achieving a one-two for the first with just one dab. The remainder of the time ever," Raga said. "I made a really good first lap and was the only rider to get to this point without taking a five. The second lap was a different story, as I had my concentration and rhythm broken by scores here were simply threes or fives. Raga rounded out his lap with a typically flamboyant clean to take the lead at the halfway point on a score of 13 marks, six ahead of Fujinami and 12 in front of Fajardo. With scores of 30 and 36, respectively, Freixa and Lampkin found themselves well down the leaderboard and with much to do on their closing lap. Lampkin's fight back was short lived as he crashed from the highest point in section three. the resulting impact leaving him with a damaged hip and looking like he would be unable to continue. Lampkin was treated immediately by medics who put him on a stretcher before taking him in an ambulance to the onsite medical center. The Brit would later get back on his bike to ride the remainder of the lap, collecting fives in every section without morning score, though still enough to take wanted to do was to finish; maybe the points I have scored today might be of some use at the end of the year. I am not sure at this moment if I will be able to ride tomorrow, but I will be doing everything possible to try and start at least." Raga started on Sunday with the loss of only a single mark after six sections, but despite this performance, he was not the early leader. That honor went to Cabestany, who was still unpenalized through the same number of hazards - the Sherco rider not losing his first mark until the eighth hazard. These two riders were not alone, as Bou was also equal with Raga after the first third of the lap. The first lap scores read Raga 7, Cabestany 12, Fujinami is, Bou 23 and, most incredibly, Lampkin 23, after it seemed unlikely that the Brit would even start the second day of action. The second and final lap was conducted at pace and in increasing heat, making conditions even more difficult than in the morning. Raga faded in the closing stages but still did enough to take his second vic- Lampkin's crash. It was not nice to see, tory in a row, further extending his cham- and it is clear that it could have happened to any of us. I know he is a rival, but I don't pionship advantage. Fajardo produced a miracle lap, losing just eight marks to pull himself into third place at the finish. Cabestany also could not match his earli- want to lose him from the championship race in this way. After that, I just did enough to win, and now I am leading the championship again, so I can be happy with that, too." Lampkin later talked about his big crash. "It was a big crash. The worst problem was that I could not get off the bike," he said. ':tis soon as I landed, I had instant pain in my hip. I really thought it might have been broken or dislocated, as the pain was incredible. While I knew it was bad, all I er performance, but another consistent lap allowed him to claim the runner-up position. Bou and Freixa compieted the top five, respectively. Lampkin took sixth despite his injury. Fujinami's day fell apart, his second lap a complete disaster, leaving him down in a lowly eighth. Raga leads Cabestany by eight points, 149-141. Fujinami is third with 128 points, three clear of Lampkin. To commemorate its SOth anniversary, Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix co-sponsor Yamaha Motor Corp. USA will bring its "Weekend of Champions" program to Laguna Seca for the July 8-1 0 MotoGP round. The event will give fans an opportunity to meet 19 legendary motorcycle racing champions and collect autographs during the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix race weekend at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. On hand to sign free commemorative posters will be past Yamaha road racing heroes, including: Wayne Rainey, Eddie Lawson, Giacomo Agostini, Kel Carruthers, Randy Mamola, Rich Oliver, Steve Baker, Thomas Stevens, Jamie James and Don Emde. Off-road racing legends include: Gary Jones, Pierre Karsmakers, Rick Burgett, Broc Glover, Damon Bradshaw, Mike Bell, Marty Moates, Doug Henry and jeff Emig. Autograph times are scheduled for Friday, June 8 and Saturday, June 9, from 910:30 a.m. and from 12:30-2:00 p.m., and on Sunday, June 10 from 9-10:30 a.m. and from 12-1 :30 p.m. All autograph sessions will take place in the Yamaha Marketplace, located in the Lakebed area at the track. Some of the international motorcycle world's rare~and most valuable motorcycles will assemble under one roof on July 79, as Robb Report and Robb Report Motor Cycling magazines presents "The Robb Report Salon at Moto GPo" Taking place at the Portola Plaza Hotel's DeAnza Ballroom. the Robb Report Salon will provide guests with a first-hand look at the craftsmanship and excellence of the world's most exceptional motorcycles, as well as automobiles and auto-related products, aviation, cigars, wine and spirits, jewelry, watches, exotic travel and more, according to the event promoters. A collection of more than 20 unique motorcycles that have appeared in Robb Report MotorCycling will be on display at the Robb Report Salon, including the MotoCzysz C I, Britten number eight from the magazine's winter cover story; the Cagi- va SOOcc U.S. GP winner; John Edgar's landspeed record-setting Vincent Lightning; the Von Dutch Condor; Steve McQueen's Indian Scout; and a Brough Superior. Outside the salon, the Portola Plaza's lobby will showcase 50 unique bikes that will hit the block at the Monterey Classic Motorcycle Auction, which will be held on July 9 at 7 p.m. Sponsored by Robb Report Motor Cycling, the auction will feature a 2004 Proton MotoGP machine, a V-five 240hp bike raced last season by Team Kenny Roberts; an advanced version of the KTM Supermoto number one; and a replica of Honda's 2S0cc GP racer from the I960s. Continued on page " CYCLE NEWS • JULY 6,2005 9