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Looked at from one perspective, the Andoran World trial was
the worst round of the season for defending champ Doug Lampkin,
what with the Montesa rider failing to win either of the two
days. But observed from the other side, it was his best round,
as he sewed up the fifth World Championship of his career. Although
he has been more human this year - confirmed by his Andoran
losses to Marc Freixa and Graham Jarvis, not to mention earlier
defeats at the hands of Takahisa Fujinami and Adam Raga - Lampkin's
fifth title was never really in doubt. All of the Brit's losses
came when he was so far ahead in the points standings that some
lapses in concentration were to be expected - and when they
came, the damage was minimal. Saturday saw an absurd competition,
far too difficult even for these god-like riders. Only after
eight sections were modified to ease Sunday's loops did the
competitors begin to enjoy their rides. Jarvis replicated his
great performance of the week before, but this time, fellow
Sherco rider Freixa joined him as a day-winner. The 15 hazards
were designed in more or less the same area as last year, but
their architect must have had a screw loose! Even during Friday's
inspection loop, many riders (Lampkin included) were already
complaining of the course's danger and unfeasibility, but their
protests were ignored. So extreme were the conditions that daredevil
Fujinami - the Japanese famous for his "kamikaze"
style - literally refused
to enter two of Saturday's
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sections, instead electing to preserve his health and take a
pair of fives. Freixa, the Saturday winner, scored no fewer
than 78 points! Needless to say, it was even more ugly for the
lesser-skilled riders. To make matters worse, it was widely
opined that the observers did not strictly apply the rules -
otherwise, many of the threes would have been fives. Eight hazards
were simplified for day two, but to the extent that the opposite
condition resulted. The over-corrections made the course too
easy, with Jarvis scoring just a single point in his second
loop. Clearly, it's time to have a professional rider join the
International Committee for the Friday official inspections.
Day 1
The
first six sections were located in a creek, and some were actually
ride able. In fact, the first zone was incredibly easy, but
the hostility started just after. The next few sections were
extremely difficult, though not excessively dangerous. The last
group of hazards, on the other hand, were placed on steep rocks,
so frightening that the minders had to scurry about and be ready
to catch their falling riders in more than one spot per zone.
Lampkin and Jarvis were the only ones to even attempt section
11, and both fived soon after entering. Lampkin and Raga both
tried section 13, and each fived it! Halfway through this strange
competition, Freixa led with 36 marks, and Jarvis was behind
him with three points more. Colomer was in third with 41, and
then came Lampkin with 42 and Fujinami (who had fived the easy,
in town 15th section - cleaned by his major rivals) on 43. It
began raining at the beginning of second loop, making the sections
in the river quite slippery -hence the further-worsening scores
in the competition's second half. Only Lampkin improved a little
and reached the runner-up position with 40, while Freixa made
42 mistakes and kept the head, winning his first World round
this year. Jarvis' 47 was good enough to complete the podium,
three points ahead of Fujinami.
Day 2
With the easing of eight sections, the competition became more
possible for everybody, despite the precipitation of the evening
and morning, and the spectators were able to applaud the occasional
clean. Still, each section demanded considerable investigation,
as all were almost completely new. The previous day's top four
waited a long time before attempting the third and fourth sections,
allowing the sun time to dry out the very wet ground. Lampkin
was a bit distracted, no doubt thinking of how he required just
one championship point to put the title in his pocket, and he
fived section four, Fujinami led, but crashed in section six,
falling in the river, then recovered very well and showed high
concentration and good riding. At the end of first loop, he
was ahead with 12 points, two better than second-placed Marc
Colomer. Three riders were tied for third - Lampkin, Jarvis
and Freixa, all with 16 marks. In loop two's easiest section
- the first - the unfortunate Fujinami jumped over a flag and
was given a five by the observer. There was no time to protest,
so he ran the loop quickly (as did all the top riders), and
finished with just 10 points. Freixa, his main rival for the
series runner-up spot, was even better, posting a loop-two total
of five, but the Brits were the magicians of the lap, with Lampkin
and Jarvis posting just one - and two- points totals, respectively.
The win went to Jarvis, with Lampkin just a point behind, and
happy with the crown. In third position was Freixa, ahead of
Fujinami. Colomer dropped two places, ending in fifth.
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