Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

~ INTERVIEW Tommi Ahvala ~ Long·time coming ~ ~ ~ By Michael Snyder Photos by Donn Maeda ive years may not seem like a long time to some, but for Tommi Abvala it was an eternity. The quiet, but friendly Finnish rider pursued his dream of becoming the Observed Trials World Champion for five seasons before making it a reality in the hills surrounding Watkins Glen, New York, at the 1992 series finale. On September 5, Ahvala dethroned reigning champion Jordi Tarres of Spain and became the first Finnish World Champion since Yrjo Vesterinen last wore the crown in 1978. Two days after Ahvala secured the title, the factory Aprilia rider led his country's team to fifth overall at the Trials des Nations, and along the way notched the overall individual win at the prestigious event. Cycle News caught up with Ahvala shortly after he clinched his championship, and - though there was a slight language barrier - managed to find out what makes the 19-year-old· tick. F 26 You have been steadily improving each year, and found yourseH in contention for the title this season. Were you surprised by your recent success, or did you expect to win the title this year? Actually, in the beginning of the year I was thinking that it would be very difficult to win this year because both Diego Bosis and Jordi Tarres were going very strong, as well as new riders like Marc Colome and Amos Bilbao. I was figuring that a repeat of my second position would be very good this year. At the halfway point of the season, I realized that I might be able to claim the championship because I was always in either first or second position to that point, and I was leading the World Championship. I was thinking that maybe this year was my year. Then I made a very bad mistake in the next round and I lost everything that I gained in the previous six rounds. After the next three rounds, I was very far away from Jordi in the points standings, who was leading by 12 points. Then came two very difficult competitions and I did very well at those events. When we came to Canada, we were in a zero points situation like at the beginning of the season. I decided to clear everything else out of my head and concentrate 100% for the championship during the two-month layoff of competition. In Canada, I managed to do a very good competition and take a sevenpoint lead in the standings. It was a little bit easier to come to America, but at the same time difficult, because seven points is really nothing. I was very nervoils yesterday (at the final round), but I managed to do it. What do you feel happened to Jordi Tarres this year? I think he is riding at the same skill level as last year, but myself and some of the other riders have rillen. Our way of working has become a little more professional, and the bike has become better as well. The way I practice, and my method of doing this work has improved. I feel that is the biggest reason why we have caught up to Jordi, and I have passed him. Instead of supporting a team of riders, Aprilia decided to spOnsor only you as a full works rider this year. How has that affected you, in terms of being alone with the development of the bike, and having no teammate to share information with? On one hand, it was better, but on the other, it was worse. It was easier for me becau~e everything I decided to change or do to the bike, the factory did right away. We didn't have to make any compromises. Before, if I wanted to change something on my bike, they . would have to ask the other riders for their opinion as well. Now, when the factory tests things all the attention is on me and my concerns, which is good. The bad thing is that I have to be responsible for the results, so if good results are not coming I carry the pressure alone. As long as I do well, it's a much better situation for me. What have been your best and worst rides of this season? The-worst would have to be Andorra in the middle of the season. I think the best one was in France, I think it was the fifth race. There I was much better than all the other riders and I managed to make that course only zeros or ones; nothing else was a very good ride on that day. The American round, yesterday, was also a very good ride for me as I was under a lot of pressure and I managed to make very good results anyway. There seems to be a problem with some of the events claiming a lot of the riders on time penalties this year. Why is that? Because the sections have become longer and longer, where two years ago, the sections only had one or two difficult points. Now, they make the sections much harder with five· or six hard parts, so the riders have to concentrate in each section longer and it takes a much longer time to trial a section. Normally the North American rounds are held earlier in the season, but this year they were the last two rounds. Do you like them better earlier or later in the season? I prefer earlier because when we compete in Europe we always know how the organization of a particular event is, but now when we came over here for the last competition, the previous round in Canada had some very bad and dangerous sections, as well as very bad organization. To decide a World Championship at events like these isn't fair to all concerned. I was really worried that the American round would be the same as that, but I was happy because I found that the organization and sections were very good. I think for a place where they don't know the level of the top riders and we don't know their organization, that event SllOUld be at the beginning of the season, where it wouldn't be a factor if a points situation happens like it did this year. What happened in Canada that caused so much controversy at the last round?

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