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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/146679
finished the day with 124 points. Peters and Pincock finished the day with 142 and 168, respectively. "I may have crashed my brains out, but I wanted to at least try for the team," said Aaron. "I looked at each section as a chance to learn something and improve my skills." The riders bedazzled the spectators and local residents with displays of balance and strength. "1£ you would've told me yesterday that a motorcycle could ride up those things, I would've told you that you had rocks in your head," said D.V. Wood, a colorful member of the local amateur radio club that volunteered its services as section checkers. Spain set the pace from the get-go, as they finished the first loop with a combined score of 14, well ahead of France with 39 and Italy with 44. England finished the loop with 35, but as a three-man team was still far behind Spain in adjusted points. Bilbao, winner of the World Championship round, rode flawlessly and finished the first loop with no points. "There was pressure on us on the first loop because we were the winners last year," said Bilbao. "I tried very hard on the first lap, but after I saw that we had a good lead I think we all relaxed." Like Bilbao, Avahla cleaned the entire loop, but his Finnish teammates Pasi Jaatinen, Peter Jahn and Jussi Haapanen accounted for the team's score of 72. "We do this only for fun," said Avahla. ''I'm the only professional trials rider on our team, the rest ride only as a hobby." The Spaniards continued to pull away on the second loop, as they returned to the pits with a combined loop score of 16 and a total of 30, well ahead of France's 41180 and Italy's 62/ 106 tallies. England stayed in contention with 36/71. Avahla dropped three points total in the second loop; one point in section nine and two points in section 13. Bilbao gave up four points, one of them coming in section six. Section six challenged riders with a series of rock ledges in a waterfall, but the toughest part was a slippery, mudcovered rock uphill. Avahla and Bilbao both gave up their points, in the mud. "It was a slippery section," said Bilbao. "But like I said, we relaxed a little too much." Though the top teams made the majority of the sections look easy, most riders struggled with. the last few sections of the loop, all of which featured steep hillclimbs. . "The hills are not so fun," said Tarres, who paddled his way up section 14 to card a three. '''The ground is very soft and loose." Spain cl,inched their victory with a low 32-point third loop, bringing their grand total to 62. Excluding highscorer Pons' total of 23, Spain completed the event with a mere 39 points. Colome was the lowest-scoring Spaniard with loops of 2-2-6, as Bilbao suffered a five in section six on the last loop and tarnished his 0-4 record with a final loop score of eight. "All of the sections were too easy," said Colome. "But I'm very glad to win. We will have a big party when we get home. " Tarres' 4-5-8 loops aided in the team's victory, but the former champ was disappointed with his performance. "I rode bad today, ,but I am happy that it was good enough to win again," said Tarres. "The team victory helps make up for my loss of the World Championship. " World Champion Tommi Avahla cleaned 37 sections and dabbed only seven times throughout the event. The runner-up French team carded 88 points in their final loop, bringing their grand total to 129. Minus Berlatier's total of 52, the French wrapped up second overall with a final score of 77. The third placed Italians dropped 96 points on the last lap and ended the trial with a grand total of 192, but their revised score - minus Dellio's 110 - was a close 82. The three-man team from England finished fourth with a total of III points, while Finland rounded out the top five with 129. Avahla dropped four points on his final lap and completed the event with a total of seven points. The individual victory was a sweet ending to Avahla's season, further backing up the World Championship title that he will take home to Finland. "Today, was good fun. I wasn't at all nervous, all the pressure was off me," said Avahla. "I tried to ride easy all day and do well. I know that our team had little chance of winning, but I tried anyway." When asked why he is such a standout talent when compared to his countrymen, Avahla smiled and replied, "I practice in a different way. All I do is trials, and it has been my dream to win the World Championship. Maybe now I will go to Disney World." Avahla's seven-point score is even more impressive when compared with the last place finisher's score. Australia's John Reese ended the day with 331 points. CN Amos Bilbao cleaned the entire first loop and finished the event with only 12 dabs. Four-time World Champion Jordi Tarres' 17-dab score helped secure his team's victory. Results 0/A: I. Spain (39 points): Marc Colome (10); Amos Bilbao (12); Jordi Tarrn (17); Joan Pons (23); 2. France (77): Bruno Camozzi (15); Thierry Girard (26); Thierry Michaud (36); Philippe Berlatier (52); 3. Italy (82): Diego Basis (24); Donato Miglio (25); Piero Sembenini (33); Stefano Dellio (110); 4. England (111): Steve Saunders (30); Steve Colley (35); Robert Crawford (46); 5. Finland (129): Tommi Avahla (7); Jussi Haapanen (57); Peter Jahn (65); Pasl Jaaunen (88); 6. Germany (211): Horst !io[£rnan (50); Marcus Kipp (76); Jens-ter Jung (85); )urgen Huter (123); 7. Netherlands (238): Marco Ren (62); Rene Opslals (85); Alex Van Den Broek (91); Grank Ewalds (109); 8. Swiuerland (348): Dominique Guilaumme (105); Cedric Monin (108) Didier Monin (135); Heinz Schnyder (184); 9. United States (378): Ryan Young (112); Geolf Aaron (124); Raymond Peters ( 142); Cory Pincock (168); 10, Canada (473): Steve Fracy (156); Tom Farr (158); Mike Gunns (159); Todd Nordin (177); II. Ireland (548): Paul McLoughlin (167); Perry Colin (190); Kenneth Perry (191);,]2. Australia (719): Don Murray (178); John Rees (331), 17