jagman_swe

Anyway GGwellinformed Thanks again for the info; first relevant info here for a while... Seems like a curse being trialsbikemanufacturer. The British brands grinding to a halt in the late 60s-70s (killed by Sammy M and the Spanish; there is a reason that there is a pre-65 class). The Spanish brands in the 80s (Montesa saved by Honda) and the Italians in the 90s (only Beta surviving and Aprilia withdrawing). GG, Beta, MH (getting stronger and now with reasonably priced 4st), Sherco the big four. Ossa on the breaking point making it big 5; though questionable leader/ownership and GG stood in their way (we'll lets see if someone saves them). Scorpa reborn by Sherco, JTG still small (and unlikely to step up without JT), TRS (with JT and Raga) will be interesting to follow and Vertigo is the highest aimer (will they establish themselves for the big market before they run out of money). + the kids and electrical bike manufacturers. The biggest future and challenge in the next 10 years is to develop a competitive and priseworthy electrical trialsbike with batteries lasting a full day (Torrot and GGs main target ????). Just my personal summing up... /TJ

Well is it official? Nowhere to find info... Prolly the Ossa boss who told James to post here to get our professional factory valuation... However 3.5M€ seems a bit high unless they had a up and running factory in own non-hired quarters and loads of spares and ready to go bikes. Otherwise it would prolly take about 2000???? bikes to earn that kind of money unless they've got 1000 stowed in a barn somewhere... 1M€ sounds a more realistic figure.... Just wild guesses all the way... We'll soon find out...

Well yepp the top 5 guys has dominated totally since 2006 (with only Dougie maing top 5 06 and 7). Fuji and Caby (still in for top 3 thopugh) has past their zenith; although only Busto and Casales is up for top 5 next year if not Eddie or Ferrer, or less likely Dibsta or Pol T steps up a few notches. Shep and Kadlec def has the potential within a few years. And there will always be some youngster progressing. However a more fair top list and about the rank that most initaited followers have would come up with is to only count medals by 321 for GSB. Miller, Andrews, Smith, Franke would have been higher up if there was a ECH earlier and/or if the've had been participating more. 1 T BOU E 27 2 D LAMPKIN GB 26 3 J TARRES E 26 4 A RAGA E 25 5 T FUJINAMI J 22 6 T MICHAUD F 15 7 Y VESTERINEN SF 15 8 M COLOMER E 13 9 E LEJEUNE B 12 10 M RATHMELL GB 12 11 B SCHREIBER US 11 12 M LAMPKIN GB 10 13 U KARLSSON S 10 14 M ANDREWS GB 9 15 T AHVALA SF 9 16 S MILLER GB 7 17 D BOSIS I 7 18 G BURGAT F 4 19 D SMITH GB 3 20 S SAUNDERS GB 3 20 G FARLEY GB 3 22 A CABESTANY E 3 22 J FAJARDO E 3 24 G FRANKE D 2 25 D JONES GB 2 26 K KUROYAMA J 2 27 M FREIXA E 2 28 D MIGLIO I 2 29 J PONS E 1 30 L TELLING GB 1 31 B WILKINSON GB 1

Or 400! ;-) He has always been a real showman and will be sadly missed when he finally quits.

Yepp UK definitely deserves to have a rider in the X-trials. Also Casales would have been a great name to watch. Dibs struggling on the new Vertigo though only had slightly better results than Eddie. Eddie only has limited experience for indoor trials and the non-Repsol Monty might not be the most competitive bike indoors...so hope will do better this year with more experience and an updated Cota. Better solution: A format with up to 15 riders in each competition, 10 fixed riders + 2 open spots for wild cards + 3 places open for the best ranked riders who wants to ride the specific round. Start with a qualifing round before the event on easier sections between riders ranked 7-15 based on championship standings. The top 6 can have a go at the sections for practice before the qualy round. The top 6 and the top 4 from the qualy round will then go on into the main event including 10 riders. /TJ

Thanks well sun gets down 3.30-4 pm so only trials on weekends until the snow is coming. It's easier to spot the polar bears sneaking up on you from behind in day light...;-) However not much work just updating a xl spreadsheet once a year... /TJ

Well so it's official. And congrats Eddie on the place (not confirmed as late as 3 weeks ago asking him at our season final (he won on a 348 Cota `78 with old tyres) (pics on http://motorfoto.nu/)).Sad though for Dibsta, Busto and Casales not to get the chance however Busto, Casales and Kadlec will prolly get their chance in the coming years and prolly some wild cards 2016. Smart way though to limit the Spanish dominance... outside top 5 must be new nationality... /TJ 2016 FIM X-Trial World Championship Selection criteria and fixed riders for the whole season 2015 FIM X-Trial World Champion: Toni BOU 2 nd 2015 FIM X-Trial World Championship: Adam RAGA 3 rd 2015 FIM X-Trial World Championship: Albert CABESTANY Next in the 2015 FIM Trial World Championship classification (not mentioned above): Jeroni FAJARDO Next in the 2015 FIM Trial World Championship classification (not mentioned above): Takahisa FUJINAMI Next in the 2015 FIM Trial World Championship classification – new nationality: Alexandre FERRER Next in the 2015 FIM Trial World Championship classification - under 25, new nationality: EDDIE KARLSSON (25/12/1994) Wild Card Rider: Proposed by the Organiser and approved by the CTR. If a rider is injured or cannot participate, the substitute rider will be selected by the CTR Bureau.

Hi all! Couldn´t resist posting my own statistics. One way to rank the best rider is to count world titles and medals. #1. Bou, #2. Lampkin, #3Tarres and so on. We all now that these 3 are in a class of their own no question. Another way to rank riders is to look at their placings in the WCH (and ECH) throughout the years (giving them points for top 15 placings (20-17-15-...1) that favours a long succesful career. This is my list based on FIM results from website (although there might be minor errors in FIMs results).(Top 40 + some interesting names although the lower ranks have only been sorted on points). They use to have a list of most scored points but that one make no sense with different scoring systems and number of rounds per year.... And the current #1 is ever young Fuji; might get catched by Bou and Raga though if they don't quit! Happy reading /TJ 1 T FUJINAMI J 291 2 D LAMPKIN GB 265 3 A RAGA E 252 4 J TARRES E 218 5 T BOU E 212 6 A CABESTANY E 207 7 M COLOMER E 171 8 Y VESTERINEN SF 170 9 M RATHMELL GB 153 10 M LAMPKIN GB 152 11 J FAJARDO E 152 12 T MICHAUD F 150 13 E LEJEUNE B 142 14 D BOSIS I 135 15 U KARLSSON S 131 16 B SCHREIBER US 129 17 T AHVALA SF 126 18 M ANDREWS GB 121 19 K KUROYAMA J 121 20 M FREIXA E 117 21 D MIGLIO I 111 22 A BILBAO E 101 23 G JARVIS GB 97 24 P BERLATIER F 97 25 J DABILL GB 88 26 S SAUNDERS GB 84 27 B CAMOZZI F 84 28 S COLLEY GB 84 29 C COUTARD F 80 30 G BURGAT F 78 31 G FARLEY GB 71 32 R EDWARDS GB 61 33 R SHEPHARD GB 61 34 M SOLER E 60 35 B SELLMAN S 57 36 S MILLER GB 55 37 A CORGOT E 53 38 M JUSTRIBO E 52 39 M BROWN GB 48 40 J PONS E 48 46 T EVERTSSON S 39 47 D SMITH GB 38 48 G FRANKE D 37 49 L GUBIAN F 35 51 M GRATTAROLA I 33 55 J LAMPKIN GB 31 59 T SCARLETT GB 25 60 A FERRER F 25 63 N BIRKETT GB 24 64 J CHALLONER GB 22 68 A WIGG GB 18 73 J. CASALES E 16 81 E KARLSSON S 12 87 P TARRES E 10 100 J. SHEPHARD GB 7

Well if I wasn't dreaming last night dropping in quickly thought James had a post explaining some things (removed?) and have a look at the Salva interview to find out where the dark clouds above the Ossa factory comes from. Nice interview!! Me myself is neutral but want all Ossa owners and myself to be able to find spares for our bikes (at least for 2016 unless I go for 4st again (loved my Beta Evo 4T)). /TJ

Well we'll soon(er or later) find out if they can make it back or if it's just empty words to keep future and old customers calm before they give up for real. However as I posted earlier the rumuor was that they were putting up a production line in a new factory. A decent goal would be to beat GasGas (Parrot) in delivering the first batch of 2016 models (well prolly 2015s with new paint (Ossas) or new decals (GasGas)) ;-). (well and maybe some detailimprovements).

Hmm never click around before posting :-( Well ric, gg; better check around with club mate (Swedish dealer) and via him Nordic dealer Joa Hindren (ex WCH top 15 ). They've worked up Ossa into a strong market pos in the Nordic countries (2 Ossas in Norwegian TDN team etc). Our (Swedens) most promising youth rider has been riding a factory special 125 this year so we are more people showing interest in the Ossa future. /TJ

Thanks for sharing GG. Looks like any Ossa but with yellow paint ;-) Rear shock looks non-Öhlins though. And about light Ossas they had a JJM Ossa at the TDN in Andorra 2014. 55kg... Well wrong decade unless you start collecting rare catalan 201x bikes. /TJ

f**k my post dissapeared before finish posting (Don't have the patience to write all down but in short:) Well topic´s moving out of subject... Thanks imexian and sad story; hope you will sort it out. And Dabsta; all bikes have their ups and downs; end of story! Just for the buyer to choose the bike they prefer and suites their wallet, riding style or curiosity. Anyway hope GASGASwellinformed249 has got wrong info otherwise its a sad Ossa story with big names like Colomer and Fajardo involved and taken advantage of. Hope both GG and Ossa will survive. /TJ

Well time will tell. And with no EU money no JTG, TRS or Vertigo. Ossa still sold well; had a somewhat different bike; could have made it... Regarding GasGas and build quality, there were no GasGas frame in the early 90´s that survived more than 2 years of competition without needing welding. The first TXT pros broke down during their run in. Maybe not build quality just the use of components with shorter life length.. Strange however For GG not to make it with their strong market position both in trials and earlier in Enduro. Must be really poor managment... /TJ

Hi all! Just checking around if anybody has any news about Ossa. The rumour says they have moved into a new "factory (setting up a production line)". However no press releases or info/sign/rumours of a 2016 model is not that promising. They can't afford another no-sell year. /TJ

Well yepp too many good riders can't be wrong if you have the money or they bring sponsor money with them. Look at Montesa-Honda. And Dagnicourt is no top contender. Caudemberg (Beta) is better and more promising. Gubian has been very promising and has been backed up by French fed through his earlier career, although hasn't made any progress the last few years and no WCH since the break with Ossa. (WTC (Y/J/P) 2006-2014...). Well the only challenger for Ferrer in the French champ unless Caudemberg steps up a notch. And speaking about Beta riders. How is Jack Challoner; is he coming back? /TJ

Well. Seems like a move for the French market. Gubian has had his time to establish him self in the WTC. Beta already has 2 of the most promising youngsters with Casales (top 3 within 3 years!???) and Franzi Kadlec (hope he will take the step up into top 8 next year). And with Fajardo that would be one top rider too many... /TJ

Well with a few days practice or so they would prolly have done it... Would be Caby on Montesa (only prev 4st rider; wasted 2 of his best years on the Sherco 4stroke... ), Bou back on Beta, Raga on Sherco and Fajardo on TRS...even though Bou TRS and Raga Montesa would have been interesting... /TJ

Nice videos (have a few myself but no time to convert them). Well nice weather, good vacation and good trial with good sections though easy for the B-group.... The sections seemed to be a good mix of tricky rocks and climbs most on these films from sectons 7-13 (#1 and 2 on the beach) (7 was the hardest with the big step) featured at the start of the Raga video. The first video als has loads of action from the spectacular 11th section (big jump at the start). /TJ

Back in Sweden. Well nice weather, good vacation and good trial with good sections though a bit hard to get inbetween with the main group in a river bed with steep sides and small room for spectators moving around and the last group up the mountain on a grubble road didn't gamble to go up there just missing the pros riding the sections and missing the action elsewhere. The sections seemed to be a good mix of tricky rocks and climbs. Level spot on for pros with the tricky 6th section and the step of the 7th as the hardest ones. and too easy for the support class. Congrats Spain, France and surprise Japan (thought UK or Italy would take that one) maybe the nice hotel (same as me) and celebrating Fujis wifes birthday was a good preparation for the event). And for the B-group the Czech took a stable victory (nice to see Kroustek back on his old Beta 4 stroke :-) ). Congrats Aussies just grabbing bronze in front of Sweden (too many odd dabs...). /TJ

Hi all. Going up alone for the day (on vacation in Spain); just checking if anybody wanted to join me around the course. Have rental car plan to check around the start if the Swedes doesn't start to early; maybe a single or a few of the opening sections in the town for b-group before heading for the main group (5-13) for all teams and over to last group (14-18) and then open schedule depending on traffic etc. Prolly a few sections on main and then final group on second lap. Will cheer on Swedish team (congrats Marcus Igelström to the spot in the team and good work in Portugal Eddie!) ; will be tight with Germany for the B-group with Chech (2-4th) and Aussie team (3-4 th) as outsiders. Good to see Japan back in Tdn and good luck Norwegians (Hakon. Joa and co), Danes (go Mikkel) and UK (go for silver). /Tomas

Looking at the results it seemed like Eddie Karlsson got into trouble on the end of the 2nd lap. all 5s... It's now confirmed that he had a big crash in section 9 and even feared a broken leg. However he kept on going punching 5s and no xrays in the hospital and no offical report yet about the severity of the injury; hopefully he can ride in Italy! BTW I confirm that he rode without minder in Japan. /TJ

Sorry bigfoot wrote post before yours were posted. No blame on the observer just inconsistency inbetween sections. And btw Jack Shep also had a 5... However road Inversanda one year with 1-2 foot water getting stuck 2-3 times for 0.5s and got a 5; equally hard section thought I was worth I 3 myself.... /TJ

Hmm reacted on this last night when watching the vid.. Definitely a five all days in the week. At least 2-3 secs of non-forward. Ok it's sort of fair if the observer judges all the riders the same. The problem is that you don't know which rules applies to the section you're riding. Personally when observing I tried to observe by the rules when I was young but as all others were leaner than me (and observing has become leaner through the years) I had to adapt; nowadays I'm almost ashamed of what I let through... And remember that even if you do a good job you will always do at least 2-5 mistakes on a day. However we don't have nostop in Sweden but still a good rule is less than a few dm (1 foot or so) backwards on first attempt is ok and a dm or so when balancing uphill on bike. However multiple tries or planned reversing is 5. For non stop 0.5 s rider caused or 1s obstacle caused would be ok... Remembered Hawkstone Park 98 not only for the best lap in WCH history by Dougie (2nd lap of 4 in mud). On 2 occasions Dougie got away with half meter backwards roll after jumping the bike round a corner. Colomer on one occasion in the rocksection weighed over backwards on the bashplate round the gravity axis of the bike and was docked a 5 instead of a 1 (old non stop rules). Think he lost the trial on that... However this was prolly a case of difference between observers and not having the guts to give a star a five. Seems like Bou has this advantage now. And French local riders. I've seen Laia Sanz laing down in the section and getting away with a 1 and Krämer being docked a 2 for waiving the leg twice close to a stream wall in the next section. Cheers TJ

Hmm reacted on this last night when watching the vid.. Definitely a five all days in the week. At least 2-3 secs of non-forward. Ok it's sort of fair if the observer judges all the riders the same. The problem is that you don't know which rules applies to the section you're riding. Personally when observing I tried to observe by the rules when I was young but as all others were leaner than me (and observing has become leaner through the years) I had to adapt; nowadays I'm almost ashamed of what I let through... And remember that even if you do a good job you will always do at least 2-5 mistakes on a day. However we don't have nostop in Sweden but still a good rule is less than a few dm (1 foot or so) backwards on first attempt is ok and a dm or so when balancing uphill on bike. However multiple tries or planned reversing is 5. For non stop 0.5 s rider caused or 1s obstacle caused would be ok... Remembered Hawkstone Park 98 not only for the best lap in WCH history by Dougie (2nd lap of 4 in mud). On 2 occasions Dougie got away with half meter backwards roll after jumping the bike round a corner. Colomer on one occasion in the rocksection weighed over backwards on the bashplate round the gravity axis of the bike and was docked a 5 instead of a 1 (old non stop rules). Think he lost the trial on that... However this was prolly a case of difference between observers and not having the guts to give a star a five. Seems like Bou has this advantage now. And French local riders. I've seen Laia Sanz laing down in the section and getting away with a 1 and Krämer being docked a 2 for waiving the leg twice close to a stream wall in the next section. Cheers TJ