INTERNATIONAL

1982 FIM WORLD TRIALS CHAMPIONSHIP

A strong, consistent season in 1981 would witness 19-year-old Frenchman Gilles Burgat becoming the youngest rider ever to win the FIM World Trials Championship, a record which still stands. As 1982 opened, however, it would be a change of power in the world championship for both riders and manufacturers. With the lure of more Italian Lira than SWM would offer, Gilles Burgat moved to the new 240 Fantic model as the Italian manufacturer raised its financial involvement in the world series. American Bernie Schreiber ditched the struggling Italjet project and moved to the vacant seat at SWM with a tried-and-tested machine. As the well-documented financial problems hit the mighty three manufacturers Bultaco, Montesa and Ossa in Spain, their world championship-winning riders, including Yrjo Vesterinen (Bultaco-FIN) 1977–1978 and Ulf Karlson (Montesa-SWE) 1980, were coming to the end of their careers. The old guard of English riders, including the first FIM World Trials Champion, in 1975, Martin Lampkin (Bultaco) and Malcolm Rathmell (Montesa), were in the same boat. This new generation would see other younger names joining Burgat and Schreiber, including 18-year-old Thierry Michaud (SWM-FRA) and another Lampkin, Arthur’s son John, on the new two-stroke Hiro engined CCM trials machine. As the trick riding, which included the ‘Pivot Turn’ and BunnyHop’, became more familiar, a new sound was beginning to have an impact at the very top of the sport; a young spectacle-wearing Belgian rider by the name of Eddy Lejeune on the four-stroke Honda. He had already tasted victory in 1980, with three wins, before winning again in 1981 in Belgium and Ireland. As we take a look at the first six rounds of the 12-round 1982 FIM World Trials Championship, Eddy Lejeune would lead the way, winning four rounds, followed by Schreiber and Burgat on one win each. Were we about to see a Japanese manufacturer with a four-stroke trials machine win its first-ever FIM World Trials Championship? We would have to wait and see.

Spain

Belgium Great Britain

An early start to the season would begin with rain in Spain on 21st February. In the damp conditions, four-stroke power claimed the win; Eddy Lejeune was the man on form. In Belgium, again, damp conditions continued but, riding on his doorstep, Lejeune again dominated with a huge winning margin.

In Great Britain, at the third consecutive world round on the bounce, Michelin tyres were out in force with a choice of four compounds available to the selected supported riders; it was just like Formula one!

American Bernie Schreiber needed a win, and he duly delivered on a cold, dry day before the series break until mid-May. With Schreiber winning the Scottish Six Days Trial, beating Lejeune, who finished third, he arrived in Italy as the one to beat. But, under warm skies, Lejeune was having none of it; in a very tough trial, he again out-pointed his American rival.

Would you believe that a French rider on French rubber won the French round? The defending champion Gilles Burgat gave the 240 Fantic model its first world round win on new super-sticky Michelin tyres. The top three all used the same compound tyre but using his home advantage Burgat was the winner. In Germany, a week later, Lejeune put on a masterclass of riding in a show of strength to take an easy victory.

The season’s opening half would conclude on 6th June in Austria with the Belgian Honda rider 11 points in front of Schreiber and well clear of third-placed Burgat. Of the old guard, only Ulf Karlson remained in the top five with 17 points, some 67 behind the leader Lejeune; times were changing.

Italy

SPAIN

Ulf Karlson (Montesa-SWE)

Talk about rain in Spain! At the opening round of the 1982 FIM World Trials Championship, the heavens opened to change the lie of the usually bonedry ground into a slippery, wet event. So it was no surprise that the fight for supremacy would be between the final top three Eddy Lejeune (Honda-BEL), Bernie Schreiber (SWM-USA) and Gilles Burgat (Fantic-FRA).

Words: CTM • Pictures: Erik Kitchen Mauri/Fontsere Collection and the Giulio Mauri Copyright

John Reynolds (Montesa-GBR)

Yrjo Vesterinen (Bultaco-FIN)

As we have seen before in Spain, the time element would prove troublesome as out of the 121 starters; only 55 would

finish on time. As the first lap opened, it was Lejeune on 34 and Burgat on 35 who would be battling for the lead, followed by Schreiber on 39 and the surprise of the day, John Lampkin on the new CCM in fourth on 42.

On the second lap, Lejeune scored the best lap of 31 marks to take the win as John Lampkin scored his and CCM’s first FIM points in seventh; his Uncle Martin would take the last point in tenth. With time playing a huge part in the results, for only the third time in his career, Yrjo Vesterinen did not make the finish, filling his Bultaco with water one section from home as Burgat just made the cut, struggling with a seizing engine on the new Fantic.

ROUND ONE: OLOT, SPAIN

21ST FEBRUARY 2 LAPS OF 21 SECTIONS

RESULTS: 1: Eddy Lejeune (Honda-BEL) 65; 2: Bernie Schreiber (SWM-USA) 79; 3: Gilles Burgat (Fantic-FRA) 86; 4: Jaime Subira (Fantic-ESP) 88; 5: Manuel Soler (MontesaESP) 88; 6: Ulf Karlson (Montesa-SWE) 89; 7: John Lampkin (CCM-GBR) 96; 8: Toni Gorgot (Montesa-ESP) 51; 9: Scott Head (Italjet-USA) 97; 10: Martin Lampkin (SWM-GBR) 99 – Other British 13: Peter Cartwright (Italjet) 108.

BELGIUM

Eddy Lejeune (Honda-BEL) Bernie Schreiber (SWM-USA)

This Bilstain venue is tough even on a dry day, but with a light drizzle of rain, it became a much more challenging event, as is to be expected. Riding on his own doorstep, Eddy Lejeune carried his winning form to his home round. A seven-hour time limit kept everyone on the move; the biggest problem though was the hordes of people wanting to watch their home hero Lejeune! Talk about a walk in the park; this was a very tough event. For Eddy Lejeune though, he could do no wrong, making this his third consecutive victory at the well-known Bilstain venue found just outside Verviers. A lap of 11 kilometres, ridden over three laps of 18 sections, would be made difficult once again with a tight time limit and so many spectators around the course slowing the riders’ progress.

Words: CTM • Pictures: Mauri/Fontsere Collection and the Giulio Mauri Copyright

Ulf Karlson (Montesa-SWE)

The highlight for many trials enthusiasts would

be the four-foot step on section 17. The problem was that there was no middle ground; you either got up it or you crashed back down, with no official ‘minders’ for the riders. Throw in the tight time limit, and it would bring many top riders crashing back down!

Many riders who have ridden at this venue will know how slippery it becomes when wet. Both Eddy Lejeune and Bernie Schreiber rode the step in a very confident mood, and the results were the same, with clean rides recorded. Martin Lampkin used all his strength with a huge single ‘dab’ to put him on the top. John Reynolds had a massive crash, finishing his day’s riding with a burst fuel tank on the Montesa.

Before the mud carried on to the rocks in the runup to the step, the section was very rideable, but on the second and third laps, it was carnage with many riders and machines crashing. Maybe it was the power of the four-stroke Hondas of Lejeune and his fellow Japanese team rider Kiyoteru Hattori, but they both went up the step with ease. None of the 18 sections was easy, the mixture of rocks and rooted climbs taking many marks for everyone.

The two Bultaco team riders, Charles Coutard and Yrjo Vesterinen, scored their first points of the year, finishing fourth and eighth, and it was also the first points in 1982 for Italian Danilo Galeazzi on the SWM.

Martin Lampkin was the only UK points scorer as John struggled home in 22nd position on 189 marks lost; yes, it was that hard.

After his exclusion for not making the time limit in Spain, it was a much better ride for the new French rider, Thierry Michaud, who finished 12th on 157 marks lost. In addition, many riders questioned the dubious observing in Belgium, which was considered inconsistent. Still, one thing was for sure, Lejeune, Schreiber and Burgat were starting to turn the championship into a three-way battle..

Manuel Soler (Montesa-ESP

ROUND TWO: BILSTAIN, BELGIUM

28TH FEBRUARY 3 LAPS OF 18 SECTIONS

RESULTS: 1: Eddy Lejeune (Honda-BEL) 79; 2: Bernie Schreiber (SWM-USA) 106; 3: Gilles Burgat (Fantic -FRA) 109; 4: Charles Coutard (BultacoFRA) 113; 5: Ulf Karlson (Montesa-SWE) 128; 6: Martin Lampkin (SWM-GBR) 131; 7: Danilo Galeazzi (SWM-ITA) 138; 8: Yrjo Vesterinen (Bultaco-FIN) 140; 9: Jean Marie Lejeune (Montesa-BEL) 143; 10: Fred Michaud (Bultaco-FRA) 145.

CHAMPIONSHIP AFTER TWO ROUNDS

POSITIONS: 1: Eddy Lejeune 30; 2: Schreiber 24; 3: Burgat 20; 4: Karlson 11; 5: Subira 8; 6: Coutard 8; 7: Martin Lampkin 6; 8: Soler 6; 9: John Lampkin 4; 10: Galeazzi 4; 11: Gorgot 3; 12: Vesterinen 3; 13: Head 2; 14: Jean Marie Lejeune 2; 15: Fred

Michaud.

GREAT BRITAIN

On a crisp Spring morning in early March, Bernie Schreiber arrived at Raydale, Bainbridge in North Yorkshire, knowing he had to stop the onward march of the winner of the first two rounds, Eddy Lejeune, on the four-stroke Honda if he was to stand any chance of a second FIM world title. Wetherby and District Motor Club Limited had used the wide-open land at this superb venue to the maximum with a wide variety of sections to test the very best. Would you believe 56 riders from as far afield as America, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Japan, Spain, and Finland would join 34 UK riders for the third round? There was concern in the press over the sales of new motorcycles and a declining marketplace for many manufacturers, including production models from Aprilia, Armstrong, Beta, Bultaco, Fantic, Gori, Italjet, Majesty Yamaha, Montesa, Ossa, SWM, Whitehawk and Yamaha. The big question was, just how many would remain? One thing was certain riders still wanted to ride in trials at all levels of the sport, including the FIM World Trials Championship.

Charles Coutard (Bultaco-FRA)

Malcolm Rathmell (Montesa-GBR)

FEET-UP FIVE

The fight for supremacy was at its highest after the first of the two laps.

Schreiber and Lejeune parted with 23 marks, with Schreiber being marked for a ‘Feet-Up’ five. Toni Gorgot followed on the short-stroke Montesa on 25 and Gilles Burgat on 26, with Yrjo Vesterinen behind also in close contact on 28. Malcolm Rathmell was the best of the Brits on 36, with Martin and John Lampkin on 41.

A huge crowd of over 3,000 people turned out as the sun shone through to brighten up the day, and the action just got better on lap two. As the trial reached its conclusion on the second lap, just a single mark separated Schreiber and Lejeune — they were that evenly matched before a derailed chain had the Belgian rider stood motionless on the Honda to record a fivemark penalty. As it happened, Schreiber won on 47, with Lejeune on 51. Martin Lampkin dramatically improved on his second lap to finish in eighth, with Rathmell ninth and John Lampkin taking the last championship point in tenth. Other notable home rides came from Peter Cartwright, who just missed the championship points by three marks and Gerald Richardson on the Ossa, who finished 19th.

The talk of the trial were the new Michelin tyres, and the factory-supported riders, including Lejeune, who had moved from Dunlop, had a choice of three compounds. It gave them an advantage in the varying terrain and the performance of Pedro Olle from Spain on the new white Italian Beta, who came home 13th. The championship would now take a break before returning to Italy in May.

John Lampkin (CCM-GBR)

ROUND THREE, BAINBRIDGE, GREAT BRITAIN

7TH MARCH • 2 LAPS OF 29 SECTIONS

RESULTS: 1: Bernie Schreiber (SWM-USA) 47; 2: Eddy Lejeune (Honda-BEL) 51; 3: Toni Gorgot (Montesa-ESP) 52; 4: Gilles Burgat (Fantic -FRA) 56; 5: Charles Coutard (Bultaco-FRA) 63; 6: Yrjo Vesterinen (Bultaco-FIN) 64; 7: Danilo Galeazzi (SWM-ITA) 67; 8: Martin Lampkin (SWM-GBR) 74; 9: Malcolm Rathmell (Montesa-GBR) 76; 10: John Lampkin (CCM-GBR) 79 – Other British 11: Peter Cartwright (Italjet) 82; 16: Chris Sutton (Ossa) 95; 17: John Reynolds (Montesa) 95; 19: Gerald Richardson (Ossa) 97.

CHAMPIONSHIP AFTER THREE ROUNDS

POSITONS: 1: Eddy Lejeune 42; 2: Schreiber 39; 3: Burgat 28; 4: Coutard 14; 5: Gorgot 13; 6: Karlson 11; 7: Martin Lampkin 9; 8: Vesterinen 8, 9: Galeazzi 8; 10: Subira 8; 11: Soler 6; 12: John Lampkin 5; 13: Head 2; 14: Jean Marie Lejeune 2; 15 Rathmell 2; 16: Fred Michaud 1.

ITALY

Bernie Schreiber (SWM-USA) Gilles Burgat (Fantic-FRA)

With the Scottish Six Days victory under his belt, all eyes would be on Bernie Schreiber to continue to take the fight to Lejeune in Italy after his win at round three in Great Britain. It was vital for the growing Italian trials manufacturers to have the bragging rights in Italy regarding who had invested the best between the two top players, Fantic and SWM. After the rain and snow in Scotland at the SSDT, it was a welcome change to the warm Italian sun for round four of the championship. The two-lap course around the village of Locca would test the riders with its bone-dry rocks and climbs on a demanding course. It needed to be tough, such was the high standard of riding from the top three, and showing the resurgence of motorcycle trials in Italy, an estimated crowd of over 5,000 people watched the action unfold under the summer sun. The valley for the competition was sealed off, with the monies from the paying spectators going to the local community.

Words: CTM • Pictures: Eric Kitchen Mauri/Fontsere Collection and the Giulio Mauri Copyright

Toni Gorgot (Montesa-ESP) John Reynolds (Montesa-GBR)

The area included some of the many overflow gullies from the local rivers, which were full of huge boulders; the sections would wind up the steep

banks. Section one would give riders an idea of what would come during the day, with a long, steep, rocky and very traditional section lined by the many thousands of spectators. It stopped everyone bar a handful, including a superb performance from Lejeune using the four-stroke machine to its very best with his smooth flowing riding, parting with just two marks. The only two riders to exit the ends cards without stopping were Gilles Burgat on the 240 Fantic, now featuring many changes to the engine and the frame, and French rider Thierry Michaud on the SWM. He would score his first-ever FIM World Championship points in Italy with a strong fifth-place finish. As is usual for the top riders, they had used up over 70% of their time allowance on the first lap, not leaving much time to complete the second and finish in the allocated seven hours and twenty-five minutes.

Bernie Schreiber took the first-lap lead from Eddy Lejeune, with the scores at 58 and 65 marks lost. On the second lap at the last-but-one section, Schreiber was stopped by an eager spectator in the section. On the rerun, he still took the five though. Lejeune could sense victory and was pulling his rival in at many of the sections to take the win.

To give readers some idea of the severity of the event, eighth-place finisher, Great Britain’s John Lampkin, had just six clean rides all day and 28 five-mark penalties in his total of 178 marks lost.

ROUND FOUR: BEZZECA, ITALY

16TH MAY • 2 LAPS OF 25 SECTIONS

RESULTS: 1: Eddy Lejeune (Honda-BEL) 107; 2: Bernie Schreiber (SWM-USA) 114; 3: Gilles Burgat (Fantic -FRA) 123; 4: Danilo Galeazzi (SWM-ITA) 137; 5: Thierry Michaud (SWM-FRA) 140; 6: Toni Gorgot (Montesa-ESP) 140; 7 Renato Chiaberto (Ossa-ITA) 167; 8: Yrjo Vesterinen (Bultaco-FIN) 168; 9: Ulf Karlson (Montesa-SWE) 170; 10: Martin Lampkin (SWM-GBR) 171 – Other British 11: John Reynolds (Montesa) 172; 15: John Lampkin (CCM) 178.

CHAMPIONSHIP AFTER FOUR ROUNDS

POSITONS: 1: Eddy Lejeune 57; 2: Schreiber 51; 3: Burgat 38; 4: Gorgot 18; 5: Galeazzi 16; 6: Charles Coutard 14; 7: Karlson 13, 8: Vesterinen 11; 9: Martin Lampkin 10; 10: Jaime Subira 8; 11: Manuel Soler 6; 12: Thierry Michaud 6; 13: John Lampkin 5; 14: Chiaberto 4; 15: Scott Head 2; 16: Jean Marie Lejeune 2; 17; Malcolm Rathmell 2; 18: Fred Michaud 1.

FRANCE

For the first time this year Gilles Burgat (Fantic), riding on home soil, pushed Eddy Lejeune and Bernie Schreiber into second and third to give the 240 Fantic its first world round win. As the top 20 finishers were all on Michelin rubber, it was Burgat who had the softest compound of tyre fitted as light rain turned the event into a very slippery one, which gave him the winning edge.

Words: CTM • Pictures: Mauri/Fontsere Collection and the Giulio Mauri Copyright

As Burgat took the win in the damp conditions, Thierry Michaud used the home advantage to take his best finish of the year, unfortunately losing out on the podium to Bernie

Schreiber as they tied on 119 marks lost. Once again, this was a high-scoring event, and the English rider on top form was John Reynolds, who came home seventh, followed by John Lampkin in tenth. With Martin Lampkin still riding the prototype 350 SWM, he finished 16th, with Mick Andrews making an appearance finishing 29th on 173 marks lost.

ROUND FIVE: ST LEONARD, FRANCE

23RD MAY 3 LAPS OF 15 SECTIONS

RESULTS: 1: Gilles Burgat (Fantic -FRA) 93; 2: Eddy Lejeune (Honda-BEL) 99; 3: Bernie Schreiber (SWM-USA) 119; 4: Thierry Michaud (SWM-FRA) 119; 5: Toni Gorgot (Montesa-ESP) 121; 6: Jaime Subira (Fantic-ESP) 128; 7 John Reynolds (Montesa-GBR) 130; 8: Fred Michaud (Bultaco-FRA) 131; 9: Charles Coutard (Bultaco-FRA) 138; 10: John Lampkin (CCM-GBR) 143 – Other British 16: Martin Lampkin (SWM) 149.

CHAMPIONSHIP AFTER FIVE ROUNDS

POSITIONS: 1: Eddy Lejeune 69; 2: Schreiber 61; 3: Burgat 53; 4: Gorgot 24; 5: Galeazzi 16; 6: Charles Coutard 16; 7: Thierry Michaud 14; 8: Karlson 13, 9: Jamie Subira 13; 10: Yrjo Vesterinen 11; 11: Martin Lampkin 10; 12: Manuel Soler 6; 13: John Lampkin 6; 14: Renato Chiaberto 4; 15: Fred Michaud 4; 16: John Reynolds 4; 17: Scott Head 2; 18: Jean Marie Lejeune 2; 19: Malcolm Rathmell 2.

GERMANY

Putting on a super display of both man and machine on some very natural terrain, Eddy Lejeune was in stunning form to give everyone else a lesson in trials riding; the winning 24-mark winning advantage told its own story. It was a good day for Great Britain as John Lampkin finished fourth and Peter Cartwright scored his first ever FIM World Trials Championship points with a superb eighth place as the old guard of Martin Lampkin took the last point on the 350 SWM.

Words: CTM • Pictures: Mauri/Fontsere Collection and the Giulio Mauri Copyright

John Lampkin (CCM-GBR)

Eddy Lejeune trounced the opposition as the series took another break with six rounds

completed. Bernie Schreiber remained his nearest challenger as Burgat’s fifth place dropped him off the pace of the leading two. These three riders were well in front of the rest of the championship points-scorers. Unless Schreiber or Burgat could turn their form around, it was looking more likely that we would have the first four-stroke winner and a first for a Japanese manufacturer in the FIM World Trials Champions, with a further six rounds remaining.

ROUND SIX: SULZ AM WILBERG, GERMANY

30TH MAY 3 LAPS OF 17 SECTIONS

RESULTS: 1: Eddy Lejeune (Honda-BEL) 19; 2: Bernie Schreiber (SWM-USA) 43; 3: Toni Gorgot (Montesa-ESP) 47; 4: John Lampkin (CCM-GBR) 58; 5: Gilles Burgat (Fantic-FRA) 62; 6: Juan Freixas (Merlin-ESP) 66; 7: Ulf Karlson (MontesaSWE) 70; 8: Peter Cartwright (Italjet-GBR) 72; 9: Martin Lampkin (SWM-GBR) 81; 10: Thierry Michaud (SWM-FRA) 82.

CHAMPIONSHIP AFTER SIX ROUNDS

POSITIONS: 1: Eddy Lejeune 84; 2: Schreiber 73; 3: Burgat 59; 4: Gorgot 34; 5: Ulf Karlson 17; 6: Galeazzi 16; 7: Charles Coutard 16; 8: Thierry Michaud 15; 9: John Lampkin 14; 10: Jamie Subira 13; 11: Martin Lampkin 12: 12: Yrjo Vesterinen 11; 13: Manuel Soler 6; 14: Juan Freixas 5; 15: Renato Chiaberto 4; 16: Fred Michaud 4; 17: John Reynolds 4; 18: Peter Cartwright 3; 19: Scott Head 2; 20: Jean Marie Lejeune 2; 21: Malcolm Rathmell 2.