Trials Magazine

MOTORCYCLE – CYCLE – SIDE-CAR & CLASSIC Section

22

SUMMER GE A P 6 11 ECIAL SP

: PARISON M O C E L C CY

T S E T N O 24” SON: COMPARI KsE O R T S R FOU rco/Monte a Beta/She RANCE:

M A E T M A R DRE AZU LL A : S L L E T MEETING PE R O H T N DA F TRAVEL –

r e n r a W Rob Smith Chris RISON: A P M O C CLASSIC A YAMA1H 75 Y T 50

S A G SReplica’ 2 GaA ga ON TEST

9 771753 004034

UK £3.99. JULY/AUGUST 2010

22

‘R

S OVER: S O R C E L CYC

lmag.com

www.tria

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Bi-Month st 2010 – ly / Augu Ju 2 2 Issue

DOUBLE PO

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SUMMARY

Section

Cover Photo: Albert Cabestany, Sherco WC Picture Credit: John Hulme

22

Test 20

Gas Gas 250cc (Raga Replica)

Competition 26

World Championship..26 British Championship..34

Comparison 38

Four-Stroke Beta – Sherco – Montesa

Youth 46

British Championship

Meeting 52 Dan Thorpe

Travel 62

Azur Dream Team France

Cycle Comparison 70 We test the 24” bikes

Cycle Cross Over 79

Rob Warner – Chris Smith

Classic Comparison 85 The Yamaha TY 175

Classic Competition 94 The Sammy Miller Products Series

Ladies 99

British Championship

Sidecar 103

British Championship

Dealer Visit 106 Freestyle

Co-Managing Directors John Hulme & Charles Benhamou Executive Director Philippe Benhamou Editor & Commercial Manager John Hulme, england@trialmag.com

TRIALS MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED BY CJ PUBLISHING LIMITED 1c Market Street, Whaley Bridge, High Peak, Derbyshire, SK23 7AA. UK Tel/Fax: Email:

01663 733137 england@trialmag.com

CJ Publishing Limited is a Company Registered in England Number: 5947718 ISSN: 1753-0040 © 2010 CJ Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publishers. Great care is taken to ensure accuracy in the preparation of this publication, but neither CJ Publishing Ltd or the editor can be held responsible for its contents. The views expressed are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of the Publishers.

July / August 2010 • Trials Magazine

Editorial Staff Robin Morewood, Cyrille Barthe, Jean Caillou, Mike Rapley, Phil Disney, Stuart Taylor, Nick Shield, Matthew Heppleston, Kev Hipwell, Nick Oakley.

Photographers John Shirt Snr, Andrew Stewart, Colin Bullock, Fabrice Bolusset, Mike Rapley, Cyrille Barthe, John Watson, Justyn Norek, Stuart Taylor.

Proof reading Davina Brooks and Steve Crane Design and Production The Magazine Production Company (Dean Cook) Printing and Distribution Warners (Midlands) Plc Webmaster Frank Chastel Mail Order www.shoptrialmag.com

SECTIONS

News ...................... 4 Opinion ..................10 Calendar ................12 Centres .................14 Paddock ................16 Shopping ...............18 Subscription Form ..51 Posters ................ 57 DVD Superstore ..... 93 Back issues ..........110 Do you remember when? ..................114 3

TEST GAS GAS RAGA REPLICA 250

r a t s d l o G

Innovation is something all engineers aspire to as they try to take the boundaries of development of any manufactured product to a new level in all areas of life. To have the edge in competition usually brings results and, more importantly, sales. The European motorcycle manufacturers have always had to compete with the big budgets from the land of the rising sun, but for the smaller manufacturers the budget is tiny.

This has never stopped development and Gas Gas has always been at the leading edge in its history as a trials manufacturer. Remember it was they who gave us crankcase induction, the hydraulic clutch and not so long ago the lightweight tubular frame. The new Raga Replica on test here takes the frame technology even further with its new design. Yorkshire Centre Trials Champion Phil Disney takes hold of the handlebars for the test as we invite you to jump on board for the ride.

Words: John Hulme, Phil Disney Pictures: John Hulme

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Trials Magazine • July / August 2010

TEST GAS GAS RAGA REPLICA 250

July / August 2010 • Trials Magazine

21

COMPETITION World Championship

U O B W The

SHO

Toni Bou (Montesa-ESP)

26

Trials Magazine • July / August 2010

World Championship COMPETITION Adam Raga (Gas Gas-ESP)

With the rule changes now firmly in place we have found some surprise results in the World Series this year. With the previous round winner the first man away at the next competition and with no riders or minders allowed in the sections on the day of the event, the new oneminute rule has seen us witness some dramatic riding.

Despite the changes the top three riders in the world remain the same: Toni Bou, Takahisa Fujinami and Adam Raga. One thing has changed though and that is the points gap in the table as Bou continues to make the series a one man show.

Words and Pictures: John Hulme July / August 2010 • Trials Magazine

T

he fact that Toni Bou on the mighty four-stroke Montesa continues to dominate is of no surprise as the super-fit Spaniard continues to improve his style. His determination to succeed to be the best is incredible. After any defeat he emerges at the next round mentally fresh for a new challenge; failure is not an option. At the two-day events in both Japan and Great Britain he took one win per weekend. The reason for this is that he has to start first on the day, as the new rules state. In Japan he won the opening day but on day two, riding at the front, he had to understand the sections more and how they would ride. When it’s a one day event he gives away no advantage as he and his team have the day before the competition takes place to inspect and determine what the best route is through the hazards. Bou has one hand on the title and soon he will have the other, such is the points advantage he carries. Second place in the series, oh so close, is between two riders who both tie on points, though “Fujigas” holds the advantage over Adam Raga as he has won more world rounds this year taking wins in Portugal (Day 2), Japan and Great Britain to Raga’s only win in Japan on day two. This year Fujinami has looked very much like a new rider returning, such is his enthusiasm for the sport. Despite approaching the end of an illustrious career he continues to remain a crowd favourite with his one hundred percent riding style. This was witnessed to its full extreme on the closing section at the superb British world round held on the slopes of Ben Nevis. A spectacular section to say the least with its massive gap between the two fearsome steps. Fuji hit the first step so hard he nearly cleared the entire series of steps in one go – the crowd went mental. When he won the second day of this two day event his celebrations on the stage in front of the packed audience were a joy to see! For Adam Raga though, this year’s series has seen him go way off the performances we all know he is capable of. After his win in Japan on day two it looked like a new attack on the championship was about to explode but when he arrived in Scotland he instantly took a

27

COMPARISON BETA – SHERCO – MONTESA

SHERCO 3.2 TR

MONTESA COTA 4RT

e v i t a n Alter

t s Te T

o undertake this test we had a preference for conducting it on our own favourite practice area with its varied natural sections and amazing lines, both dry and muddy areas, and some superb open tracks where we could get to know both the strengths and weaknesses of our test fleet. The Santigosa Three Day Trial was approaching and we had an idea: three bikes over three days, what if we rode each one on a different day? A quick phone call to our friends in the Moto Club Abadesses was enough to get their approval and then we had to rush to make sure the bikes were ready for the trial. No problem for the Beta or Montesa. However Sherco did not have a production bike available as this year’s build of the four-stroke model had not started yet. Thankfully Dani Del Valle at Sherco started work straight away to resolve this situation and provide us with the machine for the due date. As the holiday weekend approached we knew the factories would close for the weekend, so we had no option but to drive down to both the Beta and Montesa Honda factories on Wednesday to collect the bikes, a difficult drive with very little time to spare. Thankfully at Sherco things were going smoother as it was the tuning wizard Joseph Paxau himself that brought the 3.2 TR all the way to Santigosa. In addition the factory

38

had supplied a truck and mechanic to work in the paddock at Sant Joan des Abadesses to help riders and provide backup in case of any issues with our bike. Finally our usual test rider Oscar Alonso was forced to miss out from riding in the trial, so it was left to me to drag on my riding gear and become the test rider. I hadn’t really ridden much since the four days of the Aveyron in 2009; it was clear from the start that I was not going to have an easy job, but the challenge was more than attractive as I have always had a soft spot for the four-strokes. One positive aspect of all this was that those of more modest riding capabilities would be able to identify with my sentiments. Clice kindly supplied the riding gear and 5 High Performance brought a very nice carbon Airoh helmet for the occasion. By Thursday evening everything was ready and we had already finished checking over the Beta EVO. I had chosen the order of the test in an esoteric way and I’ll tell you why. I know the qualities of the Italian bike, like the softness of the engine for example. This was to hopefully give me a gentler introduction. We were saving the Sherco for Saturday, thanks to its lighter weight and more demanding nature. The Montesa was to be ridden on Sunday when I trusted its excellent suspension would help to carry me through the final day.

Trials Magazine • July / August 2010

BETA – SHERCO – MONTESA COMPARISON

BETA EVO 300 4T

ng s were coughi at two-stroke th t gh r ei ou th th u to Just when yo extinction due a h knells before at de l na gine has made fi r ei th two-stroke en e th s it s, e on ad si is sh e polluting em t back into th ce and has pu en rg is happening su at re th l or al aj m ch despite hi w , gs in bl si f of this four-stroke abated. As proo un n er io ut ol ev r r you dear read continue thei do this test fo to d of s te ie an it w al e evolution, w preciate the qu n perso nally ap ca u ied out during yo at th so e test was carr Th . ts is on ag our three prot l in Spain.

Three Day Tria a os ig nt Sa e th Salles – J Auferil Words: Ramon enez – E Alarcia m Gi A : Pictures

Day One – Beta EVO – Fantastic

At 09.30am precisely on Friday we were in the paddock located in the local sports centre. I was last away on the blue route, followed by the black route riders such as Albert Cabestany and Jeroni Fajardo, the best known of the invited riders. Between Ricardo’s jokes and the last minute chats I finally left almost 15 minutes late. The Beta cracked into life with the first kick, the engine was super smooth, and I returned to a familiar sensation that I first felt with my own personal REV 4T, even if the EVO has little in common with it, thanks to the new exhaust which allows the engine to breath more easily. It picks up revs much faster than it used to. The initial sensation of lightness and agility is very evident.

After a couple of hundred meters the route crossed the main road into Sant Joan; here two policemen stopped traffic to allow us through and saluted our passing. How come it is not like this all the time? We took the single track which very quickly led us towards the mountains. The Beta was in its element and I was already coming to appreciate the elastic spread of power available from the engine; I sped round the loose corners using either 4th or 5th gear which allowed me to keep up a good speed. At the first section there was, inevitably, a queue.

These sections at Can Jombi were perfect as they were pretty easy, which gave me sufficient time to feel right at home on the EVO. I still needed to find my trials legs as I was not timing steps well and was having a few nervous doubts before some of the more tricky parts of a section. Once in the section the Beta

July / August 2010 • Trials Magazine

39

TRAVEL Azur Dream Team France

middle In the

river flows a

62

Trials Magazine • July / August 2010

Azur Dream Team France TRAVEL

A major tourist destination for both geological and prehistoric gems, the region of Vallon Pont d’Arc in the Ardeche, France gave up its treasures that were dear to the hearts of trials riders. Two guides from the region developed this tour, so that panoramic views and technical trails could be combined as a training session along with the discovery of this region rich with emotion.

Words: Fabrice Bolusset

July / August 2010 • Trials Magazine

63

CYCLE Comparison 24”

Rockman Tracktor

TMS Evo 24

A Happy

m u i d Me 70

Trials Magazine • July / August 2010

Comparison 24” CYCLE

KABRA F-24

2

Because 24

Despite what your wife might tell you, size matters! It’s a fact that certain sizes of wheel suit different types of riding and terrain. Once again the Trial Magazine testing team have endeavoured to answer questions which the whole cycle trials world has been asking about 24” bicycles. The granite rocks of Buthiers, France would be our play ground; the TMS EVO 3 24, Because Trial, Kabra F-24 and Rockman Traktor would be our toys!

Words: Jebegood and Laurent Pictures: Steph Milachon July / August 2010 • Trials Magazine

009 was undoubtedly the year of Danny MacAskill, street riding and his 24” wheeled bike, which means that 2010 might just be the year for riding 24” in natural sections. One of the best elite riders from Spain, Junda de la Pena, had the idea of creating a bike specifically for 24” competition which allowed him to mix the best features of 20” and 26” wheeled trials bikes.

This aimed to be a bike which could reconcile the two great schools of trials competition, the Spanish and the French. This project immediately attracted the attention of the whole cycle trials community and the presentation of his Kabra F-24 on the net last December caused mixed opinions within the community. This sparked a race between different manufacturers to take on the new 24” pure competition class. The Trial Magazine test team needed to try out this new dimension for you so we gathered together all the 24” inch bikes currently on the market and carried out a full-on, comprehensive test! Most certainly a world first! Our first question to be answered was: is there really a benefit to riding a 24” bike in sections? Our test team (Tom Francisco, Gregory Soignon and Jebegood) took off down to Buthiers to try and find the answer; this time there was neither rain nor snow but instead radiant sunshine. The whole thing was documented and photographed by Steph Milachon. >>

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MOTORCYCLE – CYCLE – SID E-CAR & CLASSIC Section

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SUMMER PAGE SPECIAL

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ARISON:

CYCLE COMP ON TEST 24” ISO N: COMPAR OKE TR -S Rer U FO /Montesa co Beta/Sh CE: TRAVEL – FRAN TEAM AZUR: DREAM MEETING TELLS ALL DAN THORPE

ON TEST

AaS’ 2 S eG GA ga R plic

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– Bi-Monthly / August 2010 Issue 22 - July 9 771753 004034

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OVER: CYCLE CROSS

rner Rob Wam Chris S ith ARISON: CLASSIC COMP YAMAHA TY 175 50

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