Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

FIM World Championship Trials Series Rounds 3-4: Portugese Trial As Graham Jarvis shows here, MXers aren't the only ones who have to clear big doubles. of course, Dougie Lampkin, the Brit who has redefined trials domination of late. But despite the champ's perfect record through four competitions, Lampkin has got to be at least a little concerned after his Sunday ride in Portugal, where he failed to climb two sections and was tied on penalties by teammate Takahisa Fujinami, who lost out only because Lampkin had more cleans. DAY 1 Though he had trouble with this ledge, Dougie Lampkin still won both days. He was, however, challenged by teammate Takahisa Fujinami, who tied him on day two but lost out on cleans. at least make the box on one of the second round's two days. That goal was attained, but just barely, with Beta rider Kenichi Kuroyama finishing third on day two. Montesa/HRC filled the top three on Saturday and the top two on Sunday. In the top position both days was, STORY AND PHOTOS BY MARIO CANDELLONE PACOS DE FERREIRA, MAR. 25-26 /COllowing Montesa/HRC's comf . plete domination of the podium on both days of the circuit's opener in Spain, the competition was hoping to BRIEFLY. •• This was only the second time that the promoting club had organized a World round, but they gave the impression they've been doing it for years. The pits were featured in the little town. as was the indoor·style section 15 and the warm-up area. consisting of some rocks brought in specially for that purpose. Apart from that final section. the rest of the course was laid out four and a half miles from town in an area a little larger than a half-mile square. Some sections were in the forest. with stones and roots. and others were in a great quarry. Sections 11 and 12 were Saturday's slipperiest. and the biggest challenge for the top riders, There was free bus service taking spectators from the pits to the sections. Although there aren't many trialists in Portugal. there were about 5000 spectators on Saturday. and twice that on Sunday. The ground was wet on Saturday because of the rain dropped in the preceding days. but it was drier on Sunday. Clouds threatened rain in Saturday's sky. while Sunday was sunny. Portugal bettered Spain in press-office organization (and in little else): Journalists were availed five phone/fax lines. plus two computers connected to the Internet. The arena hosted the crowded prize ceremony. as well as daily press conferences with the top three riders. In the Junior class. sections six. 10, 11 and 14 were excluded. Adam Raga won on Saturday. easily scoring 17 points against the 38 of Sam Connor. and the 39 of Taichi Tanaka. Raga also topped Sunday with 18 points. ahead of Tanaka's 26 and Connor's 34. While warming up on Saturday. Spaniard Marcel Justribo fell down badly and required a doctor to put three stitches in his lip. 40 APRIL12.2000· cue I e n e _ s Most of the first day's sections were easy by international standards, in consideration of the lower-level riders, and only the sections from lIon were quite difficult. This made watching the stars a bit boring. Lampkin cleaned everything up until seven, where he dabbed, and Marc Colo mer kept a one until section nine, where he fived with mechanical problems (a bad ignition, which cost him some time when he went to change it back in the pits). Fujinami and Marc Freixas were also riding well, scoring just two points up to section nine. That section marked a turning point in the event. Colomer had to recover his time, and by concentrating hard and riding quickly (alone) through the latter sections, he minimized his disadvantage. Despite a five in section II, Lampkin was still the best, losing a total of only six marks. Fujinami was next with 12 points, while the angry Colomer scored one point more and was third. in the second loop, Lampkin was more determined, using some calculated dabs to keep his position with no problems. Colo mer wrested the runner-up position from his Japanese teammate by just one point, but both had double Lampkin's total. DAY2 On Sunday, sections six, 10, 13 and 14 were made harder. At the end of six, organizers featured a big wall that made the fight between the top riders more interesting. It was quite a while before anyone tried it. First was Taichi Tanaka, who fell down, while Amos Bilbao and Bruno Camozzi fived without trying. Other skilled riders tried without success, attracting more and more spectators, who boomed their appreciation when Fujinami finished the section with just a single dab at the top of the wall. Despite that feat, after one loop, Lampkin led as usual, scoring 14 points and leading teammates Fujinami and Colomer, each with 17. Surprisingly, in fourth was David Cobos with 18, for the first time this year at that level. In the second loop, even more spectators than before crowded around section six. Different loop, same story. The Japanese riders closed their eyes and opened the throttle to make it over, while Lampkin once again came up short. That wasn't enough to drop him from the top, though his 12 on the loop was three more than Fujinami. The two tied on the day, and Lampkin's additional cleans gave him the win despite two fives. Colomer lost his concentration and his calm when he fived section II, so he also picked up fives in 12 and 13, dropping him to fourth place. Kuroyama finally broke the Montesa stranglehold on the podium, taking third. eN Partugese Trial Pocos de Fe""ira, Portugal Results: March 25-26, 2000 (Rounds 3-4 of 20) DAY I 1. Dougie Lampkin (Mon); 2. Marc Colomer (Mon); 3. Takahisa Fujinami (Mon); 4. Albert Cabestany (Bet); 5. Kenichi Kuroyema (Bet); 6. Graham Jarvis (She); 7. Marc Freixtl (G-G): 8. Adam Raga (G-G); 9. Marcel Justribo (Mon); 10. Steve Colley (G·G): 11. David Cobos (She): 12. Bruno Camozzi (G-G); 13. Jose-Manuel Alcaraz (Man); 14. Amos Bilbao (Mon): 15. Joachim Hindren (G-G); 16. Taichi Tanaka (Bet); 17. Sam Connor (Man): 18. Jordi Pascuet (G·G); 19. Anders Nilsson (G-G); 20. Josep Manzano (She). DAY 2 1. Dougie Lampkin (Man); 2. Takahisa Fujinami (Mon); 3. Kenichi Kuroyama (Bet); 4. Marc Colomer (Man); 5. Marc Freixa (G-G); 6. Marcel Juistribo (Mon); 7. David Cobos (She); 8. Albert Cabestany (Bet): 9. Steve Colley (G-G): 10. Adam Raga (G·G): 11. Graham Jarvis (She); 12. Jose-Manuel Alcaraz (Mon); 13. Amos Bilbao (Mon); 14. Bruno Camozzi (G-G); 15. Taichi Tanaka (Bet); 16. Gregory Eyries (She); 17. Joschim Hindren (O-G); 18. Jordi Pascuet (0-0); 19. Sam Connor (Mon); 20. Jordi Garcill (Bet). Upcoming Rounds Rounds 5-6 - Mons, Belgium, April 8-9 Rounds 7-8 - Hawkstone Park, Great Britain, April 15-16

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