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'The season is well under way'
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The classic trials season got well under way with the annual pilgrimage to 'Rochepaule' over 300 entries for this years 'Vieilles Tiges'(the old roots) now in its 24th year.
Claude ' Coutard father of 7 times French champion 'Charles Laid' out 16 section on both days in
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the 360 hectare all terrain motorcycle site in some of the regions most beautiful countryside.
Due to the heat wave of July and August the first days traditional loop of about 60 km was cut half because of fire risk, but rain did fall the eve of the trial to dampen down the dusty rocky tracks around the course. Sections the first day were thought by most to be little on the easy
side...
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Day1
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I took my rare 1952 Villers engined 'Freres Guiller' now well sorted after its first outing in the 200 pre 65 Scottish to a disappointing loss of 17 for the first day, calculating that 'loosing 3 in the 6th section' a steep climb for nothing in a dusty root filled slot mastered by few was not the place for forget where the markers showed the sharp turn for the decent taking 3 to get her back on the line after marking the climb.
Leaving the section and out the course I thought 'she pulled well there, but what a plonker for missing the cards'…
A 5 penalty maximum in section 9 and thought my trial was all over, this a tight right handler cross a steep
camber followed by a tight left hinder |
and out between 2 trees,ne of those dilemma sections to go right,o 'quick straight on and over the jumble of loose
rocks? or 'left tight turn,
slower might need one, but safe?' Plonker Brown here just could not make
his mind up… Ended up in the middle, as you do…
5… … Did redeem myself in the 16th and last section of the day in the 'parc
ferme' taking a clean in the tight turns over logs and rocks cleverly placed to
take dabs…
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Day2... |
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Traditionally much harder than day one and on a reduced course 300 riders set off odds and evens on a figure of 8 course, first section of the day ' a drop of down a greasy grassy banking U turn and back up, simple!' The difficult bit was the decent… First clean of the day for me and I felt great!
Especially if I tell you on walking the section I found it so slippery I couldn't stand
up! ! ! |
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Sections were tough but cleans came my way until a long twisting section cough me out where I again I missed 2 markers, but it was my first five of the day and I felt it my punch card was looking good! was determined to pull that 5 back and the next section in Rochpaule gave me that chance, you came in of the road up a steep climb to a tight left that could be cleaned with a 'wheelie turn' up round a tree and |
a grassy decent to end the cards. I
Fortunately for me a good friend 'Pascal Marival' one the regions best classic riders and to be admired for his 'none
stop' classic style was there to help. This wheelie turn was going to make our break the day for me… Not fast was the order of the day and with
'Pascal' on hand as minder I was up round and perfect for the turn…
An this point a little publicity…
I'm using classic shocks, there good, really good, soft damping. 'Mick Andrews' won't use anything else, and now I know why… Reached the penultimate section of the day and it was sh… .t or bust, a long straight rock strooned gully ending in a drop of cambered slab and a tight turn to the right round a tree up a steep climb and over a rock step to the end cards.
The kindly faced observer told me the only cleans were 'really tight to the tree' the other and angled faced stunner by the name of
'Maria' who wished me well, (and if she ever reads this) Maria "je t'aime, je t'aime"… so, quickly across the rocks, fighting it all the way, drop off the slab, tight to the tree make her grip up the climb, over the step and your out… well it was just like that and I was on my way back, full of confidence to clean the last sub of the day in the Parc Ferme for a total of 18, only I more than my previous days loss… ..Can't be bad, took me for the 4th overall in the Vieilles Tiges and 3rd in my class, pre 65 clubman… In fact a trial in which this year foreign riders took many of the class awards notably from Belgium and Swiss entrants.
I look forward to next years event, the 25th and I'm sure Claude is planning something special for its quarter of a century event…
So get your entries in early…! ! ! |
Coming soon
The first round of the 8 event French trial championship gets under way this month with the 'Ventoux trial Classic' run by the Provence trial classic club, this trial kicks of the championship and for this year gone 2 day! Set in the foothills of the famous
'Mont Ventoux' (known for its strength sapping of the climb in the Tour de France Cycle race).
The 18th and 19th are the dates for diary and the start will be in Bedion where rooms can be booked trough the club at the nearby holiday center for a reduced rate where riders and spectators alike can enjoy an evening together.
The good news is entries are already up on last year, and what a line up (!) entries from world champion
'Eddy Leleune' who will be out on his ex world championship winning Honda, 'Gilles Burgat' another ex world champion on his factory SWM from the 80's.
Ex champion 'Bernhard Cordonnier', ex Bultaco' works rider and 7 times French champion
'Charles Coutard' will also be entered along with the worlds number one classic champion the ever young Mick Andrews who I know will relish in this star studded entry… Stop press! Stop press!
Just I had confirmation that ex works rider and Montessa Boss 'Miguel Sierra' will be there on his 306 Spanish
championship-winning bikes!
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What a line up, not forgetting all the local stars like Bruno Gilbert using
one of our Motobecane kit-pro motors with good effect (just a little bit of publicity for us)
'Bruno Mortet' and current French Classic pre 65 champion 'Joel Corroy' all out to prove they can mix it with the best… We will be there to cover this event and all the results,
stay posted…
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