beatabeta

Hi My brother has recently dusted off his 1989 Fantic 245 and is keen to get out and practice locally before considering entering any trials. Where do people go practicing in the above areas?? He lives near Leighton Buzzard and I believe there are several pits/ local haunts where off roaders go. Can someone point him in the right direction please???

where abouts do you live?

The pipes cost around

Agreed an "easy" Nene Valley event for beginners is probably best likened to Hawkstone on Sunday for an good rider. Nene Valley and the word easy are rarely mentioned in the same sentence..........

If Bou is lucky he 'could' get 4 WTC's I still feel that with the current level of Gas Gas's development that Raga can still be dominant for the next few years. However come 2009/2010 ther will be some major threats to Bou and most of the current crop of riders in the top10. This is from Spain and France as well as the megastars we have just around the corner. I think Brown can be top 6/7 next year and improve again in 2009 and Wiggy will be top10 easily next year and who knows after that . I doubt that Tarres and Lampkin will ever be matched let alone bettered

From what I've heard there may (probably not) be a bike to buy in 2008. No pricing agreed yet. Gas Gas are still massively focussing on the 2T bikes and improving overall quality and funding to support 'riders' not rider The bike in the picture is what the 4T will look like, they have got the 4T engine in the Pro chassis so will be changing cosmetically. No names confirmed yet and the only reason you can see a bit of the word 'Pro' is because they have effectively a 2007 bike with the new engine - so 2007 plastics. Apparently these have been tested in America for a while now - even before they were tested in Europe (less chance of being spotted) There was even a report of a 4T Gas Gas being spotted in the UK last year on the back of a Range Rover with the registration G45 GAS. Although how true that number plate is I dont know. Can say almost 100% that 1) there wont be one at Hawkstone and 2) Raga wont be riding one next year in WTC although someone else may - Fajardo maybe?!?!?!? not to happy on Beta so may welcome a return to GG so long as they dont dispose of him so badly again.......... Wait and see

Not for a second suggesting that an observer would/has given Doug a better score than he had dropped, but I have seen observers giving 'dubious' 5's to other riders when it could make a difference to Doug or another rider winning. Have seen that in UK, Andorra and Spain - all down to each individuals idea of a '5' I guess

Got to agree with 'bradgg125' on this - yes doug was great, yes he is still unquestionably brilliant, but - NO I dont believe Doug can or will win at Hawkstone or any other WTC event. he had a great run and its unfortunate that he will end his career on 99 wins but everyone needs to look to the future and not the past. Alexz Wigg is the future of British Trials and is our best hope of another Bithish World Champion I have to disagree with 'Scorpa3' in that despite the fact that James Dabill has improved HUGELY this year, I dont feel Dibs will ever be World Champion. YES we all need to get behind Doug and all the Brits this weekend but everyone needs to accept that the likely winner will be Spanish and that they will be lucky to get Doug on the podium - unless he has some 'marking assistance' again.....

No one apart from JT who won the WTC thre times in a row in 93/94/95. Michaud took the title from JT after 1 year - 1988, Ahvala won the WTC in 1992 - 6 years after JT first won it. Doug has not retained the title after losing it - Tarres did it TWICE When Colomer took the title in 1996, JT knew his time was up and retired at the end of 1997 (seeing out his Gas Gas contract), he could easily have ridden 2 or 3 more years like Doug and easily have been 2nd/3rd or 4th but he wanted to go out at the top. Doug is great, but I feel he is only in it for the money now as he must know in his heart of hearts that he cannot win the WTC again. I think this will be his last year

Hi there, first time on the forums for me today and this appears to be the best ongoing discussuion. Have to agree with 'nickday1' here. Jordi Tarres is an absolute trials god who has to be the best rider ever. Dougie is a great rider but Tarres is the best of all. Here's why I think this - Jordi always had 3 or 4 other riders who were ready to win the title if he slipped up - Michaud, Saunders, Bosis, Miglio, Bilbao, Ahvala, Colomer to name a few and came back twice after losing the title where Doug has only ever had 1 rider at a time pressurising him for the title - Colomer (98-02) and Fujinami (02-03) Let us not forget that 3 years have passed since he last won the title, cant see it happening again.