Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

~ ; TRIALS World Championship Observed Trials Series: 'Round 12 Avahla'crowned at Watkins Glen By Donn Maeda WATKINS GLEN/MONTOUR FALLS, NY,.5EPT. 4 hough Tommi Avahla had no intentions of permanently leaving his home in .Finland, the friendly 20-year-old Aprilia rider came to America in search of a dream - the dream of becoming World Champion. And though he was bested on the day by Spanish factory Gas-Gas rider Amos Bilbao, Avahla realized his dream with a brilliant ride in the hills surrounding Watkins Glen and Montour Falls, site of the World Championship Observed Trials Series finale. "There was a lot of pressure on me at the start of the day," said Avahla, who entered the final with a scant seven-point lead over four-time World Champion Jordi Tarres of Spain. "Everyone expected me to win (the championship), but I knew that Tarres could easily make up the points that he needed." Tarres did indeed look as if he would close the gap, as after the first two loops the defending champ held a comfor~ table eight-dab lead over Aval).la, 2836. But Tarres faltered on his final circuit, nearly doubling his score with a 26-point loop while Avahla turned in a masterful run of only 14. "I did not ride well in the last loop," said a disappointed, but gracious Tarres. "Tommi rode very well today and I did nOL" Avahla's second-place finish was all he needed to clinch the championship, as he ended the series with 199 points to Tarres' 190. "If Jordi won, I had to finish at least fourth to win the championship," explained Avahla. "But if I finished anywhere ahead of him, that would be good enough also." In winning the championship, Avahla ended a three-year reign by Tarres and he became the first Finnish trials World Champion in 13 years. Not since Yrjo Vesterinen captured three consecutive championships from 1976-78, had a Finnish rider wc.un the crown. And like Vesterinen 'Once did, 26-year-old Tarres had won the championsh~p going away for the past three years. Tarres' first crown came in 1987, but he dropped to second in '88 behind Frenchman Thierry Michaud, who finished 11 th at Watkins Glen aboard an Aprilia. He then won the title three consecutive years, 1989 through 1991. Avahla also brought the Aprilia factory its first-ever World Championship title, as the Italian marque is relatively new to the trials market. Top American at the meet was Connecticut's Geoff Aaron, who presently attends Ithica College not far from the trial site. Aaron finished the day in 30th place, with 154 points. "The whole day was a big learning experience for me," said the likable 19year-old. "Competing against such great riders only makes me better." New York's Raymond Peters finished close behind Aaron in 34th place with 177 points, while John Clark and Cory Pincock finished 40th and 41 st, respectively. Defending National T Aprilia's Tommi Avahla balanced his way to the series championship title. Jordi Tarres suffered a flat tire and several crashes in his disastrous third loop. 18 Champion Ryan Young opted not to compete, even though the event offered good practice for the upcoming Trial des Nations. ot since '84 had a World Championship round been held at Watkins Glen, and riders were anxious to return to the course that included many technical sections. While the trial started and ended in the small town, host for years to the Formula One World Championship car race, the loop carried riders into the neighboring town of Montour Falls. True to its name, Montour Falls greeted riders with sections that ran up, down and across rock waterfall formations. Mud, hills and logs also challenged riders on the 14-section loop. Competitors were allowed seven hours to complete three laps around the loop, and riders who were too slow were penalized. "The riders seemed to really like the sections in '84," said event organizer Carl Peters. "My goal this year was to make sections that provided a good show for the spectators, but at the same time weren't too easy or too difficult. My goal is to take about 50 points from the top riders. " Peters' goal was met, as both winner Bilbao and Avahla ended the day tied with 50 points. Bilbao was awarded the win by virtue of having more deans. Bilboa rode perfectly through 26 sections, while Avahla turned in 22 spotless rides. Tarres ended the day with 24 cleans and 54 points. Marc Colome of Spain finished fourth with a score of 57, while Italian Diego Bosis rounded out the top five with 60. Eventual winner Bilbao ended the first loop with a score of 14, just ahead of Avahla's 16 and Tarres' 17. The top contenders took their time on the first loop, opting to repeatedly walk through the sections to plan their lines. This strategy paid off, as most of the top riders either cleaned or received scores of one in the majority of the sections. The exception was section 12, which featured a steep 200-yard hillclimb with two ledges upon which to rest. Riders were given virtually no run at the bottom, and though most made it to the first ledge, the second part of the hill proved to be the hardest. Every rider, with the exception of Bosis, carded a five after losing traction on the hill. Many riders tumbled back down the hill, but Bosis found traction that the others didn't and finished the section with a perfect score. "I used the same line as the others, butI found good grip," said Bosis, who piloted a factory Fantic. Bosis failed to duplicate his performance in section 12 on the second and third loops, and carded fives like the rest. Bilbao and Colome were the only other riders to conquer the section, but did so by paddling up and receiving scores of three later in the day. Loop two saw Torres increase his lead as he dabbed only II times. Avahla

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