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The usual check of the morning weather, reveals a rather cool -7 in Vernon, but warming up to about 3-5 with sunshine later -I took the precaution of loading up my bike yesterday afternoon - so that will make life a bit easier today - glad to say that the heater in my new van works really well, compared to the old Outlaw special, so things should be “toasty” before I set off.

I flipped back to the blog from this date last year, and it was a different story back then - with snow all day.

In the UK they are having a rough couple of weeks, with a deep freeze hitting many parts of Europe - snow in Rome, also in Spain, and many of the Trials events slated for today in England have been cancelled.

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The Anaheim Super Cross, was dominated by Ryan Villopoto, who took the lead on the first lap and never looked back - James Stewart finished 2nd, after working his way through the pack, with Chad Reed taking 3rd & Ryan Dungey 4th. - Villopoto now heads the Championship points after 5 rounds.

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We have heard that Jonathan English, is the latest recruit to the WTC ranks, and he will act as the rep: for Ontario - the WTC now have contacts for all Provinces except Sask/Man.

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Although I’m not a football fan - many people will be glued to the box later today, when the US Super bowl takes place. - I will likely find something else to watch, when I get back from riding, - maybe  one of my Scottish tapes.

============>> more news as it happens.-UPDATE - Results from Barcelona Indoor

1. Toni Bou (Montesa Honda) 6 puntos
2. Albert Cabestany (Sherco) 17 puntos
3. Jeroni Fajardo (Beta) 28 puntos
4. Takahisa Fujinami (Repsol Montesa Honda) 20 puntos
5. Adam Raga (Gas Gas) 21 puntos

What a beautiful day it was in the Valley on Friday - the thick fog that blanketed Vernon early in the morning, was soon left behind, as I headed South to Kelowna and Summerland. - After picking up my bag order, ( Toolbelts, Back packs & snowmobile Tank bags) - I met up with Pete  & we went for lunch at a superb restaurant on the main drag ( Can’t remember the name - but it’s a stone building just down from the Petro Can on the main street) - Without doubt this is the place to eat while visiting the area, as both the food and prices are excellent.

I decided to take the Westside road on the way back, to avoid the traffic in Kelowna, and was happy to note that all the snow has melted from our favorite riding spot - so we will be out on Sunday for sure.

When I arrived at the north end of Swan Lake, I saw that the hot air balloons that are in for the Vernon Winter Carnival, were doing some practice lift offs etc from the frozen lake, so I took a couple of pics with my mini Olympus camera ( posted one on facebook) - looks like they will have a fantastic weekend with the weather forecast sunny and warm.

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I had a chat to Jacek last night, and he gave me an update regarding the Ryan Young School slated for Summerland - he talked to Ryan last week and says he is really looking forward to his visit to the Okanagan, and made a point of saying what a great area we have. ( I sent him a bunch of pics)

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The new Beta 520 dual sport bike has been given a very good write up in Cycle News - you can read all about it by clicking on their web-site, or contact Mountain Motorcycles for more information. - Although we don’t carry any enduro bikes, we were heavily involved in that aspect of the sport back in Yamaha days, both riding and managing the Off Road Team.

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More News as it happens>>>

A foggy start to the day, reminds me of how it was growing up in the UK, with the fog sometimes so thick that driving anywhere became hazardous to say the least - of course the City’s were even worse because the smoke from the coal fires, became Smog - the cause of many breathing problems.

Today will see me making a trip to Summerland to pick up some Snowmobile tank bags - I will hook up with Pete for lunch as I haven’t seen him for a while - then on the way back, I’ll drive by our riding area on the Westside road to see how much snow is there.

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Steve Saunders now has the first JTG in the UK, and will have it on display at the Telford Motorcycle Show - serial number is 0002, so he definitely gets top priority. - In other JTG news - Jordi Pascuet has signed with the new Spanish factory - he has ridden a variety of bikes over the years, including Beta and Gas Gas. - The new model bears a striking resemblance  to a Beta ( in my opinion) with a similar aluminum frame and the muffler appears almost identical.

Below is a pic of an excited Special delivery …

Steve Saunders looking proud

Just in the nick of time, Steve Saunders has received the first JTG delivery and has been braving the minus 8 temperatures on the Cotswolds to build and check over the bike ready for the trip up to the Telford show tomorrow.

As you can see from the photo above Steve is more than happy with the JT300, and reports that not only is the bike very compact and neat but sounds awesome!
Be the first in the UK to see the bike in the flesh over the weekend of the 4th/5th Feb at the Telford Classic ShoSteve Saunders, with the bike.

It’s Ground Hog Day, so will we be getting another six weeks of winter or not? - trusting a rodent for the weather forecast is perhaps one of the strangest Canadian customs. - but as the National weather guru, has admitted he got it wrong for his “Colder than usual” winter prediction, maybe a better way is just to look out the window?

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We’ve heard from Jacek, that everything is going according to plan for the Ryan Young  School, which will take place in Summerland next April - Ryan has booked his flight, and Jacek will be picking him up in Spokane. - A reminder that this is not a spectator event, and access to the area will be controlled. - ( No free training tips at this one) - also, please note, that if you haven’t yet sent your money to Jacek, - better get on it fast, or your spot will be given to one of the reserve riders.

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If I had my choice of places to be this weekend, it would be at the Telford Motorcycle Show in Shropshire, England. - This is one of the biggest Vintage Trials Shows in the World, and has a very good reputation. - The promoter is Alan Wright , who has been organizing this event for many years - “Wrighty” is a well known character in Pre-65 circles, and tied Mick Andrews for the Scottish Pr-65 win a few years ago, riding his BSA Bantam.

The show will be filled with bikes from the past, but also they now include a modern section, with all the Importers showing off the latest Trials and Enduro bikes -  Steve Saunders will be there, with the first showing in the UK of the Jotagas Trials bike, and many celebrities will be on hand, including Sammy Miller, who will have one of the rare Moto-guzzi V8 road race bikes on display, and we are told, that Sammy will be “Firing” this up once a day, to thrill the spectators. - I was fortunate enough to see (and hear) two of these famous machines racing at the 1957 TT in the Isle of Man.
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February usually brings the rain, and we have some of this in the forecast - it can be a unpredictable time of the year, but at least we might get a chance for a ride at the weekend.

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Doug Hunter from Ontario, sent me some pics of the famous Talmag vintage trial, which was held last weekend in the UK - some beautiful old bikes, and you can see these pics on the Trials Magazine front page.

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Not a lot to report from the Trials World today - so lets talk about Hockey - What a game last night between the Cannucks and the Chicago Blackhawks - both goal tenders were unbelievable but Schnieder   was outstanding to keep the Vancouver team in the game during the second period. - For West Coast fans, it all ended well, with the Sedin Twins working together to score the winning overtime goal.

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The first Moto GP test of the New Year, is taking place in Sepang, Malasia, and it was was Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) who was fastest on day one - Dani Pedrosa (Honda) was second with Ben Spies (Yam)  3rd - All the bikes are now 1000cc, and Valentino Rossi is reported to be very happy with the all new Ducati - he was 5th fastest.

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We received a big box of goodies from Costa/Italy this week, - so now have trick parts to fit most bikes - the quality is fantastic, and adds to that “Factory” look. - You can see some of this on our For Sale page - prices are also very reasonable. - Our Talon Sprocket order should arrive soon.

More News as it happens>>>>>

The last day of the month, and it looks to be a great ending to January, with no overnight snow. - Yesterday we were over at my daughter’s home clearing the driveway of the white stuff that had accumulated while she was away in the Bahamas, hard on the old shoulder, which still bothers me.

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The latest issue of Trial Mag: arrived yesterday, and is full of great stories and pictures - Tony Bou has a regular blog on the inside front page, and in it, he tells of how  he had planned the big leap backwards at Sheffield, as this is one of the things he practices at his Spanish head-quarters.

Another superb write-up is on a three day mountain adventure that goes on in the Alps of Northern Italy every year, one of the organizers being Eric Lejuene ( younger brother of Eddie). - The beautiful photographs, reminded me of our Joss Mountain rides - and just like Joss, this is not a trip for the inexperienced or faint of heart.

There is also the first test of the new Jordi bike, which appears to pass with flying colors - a few things that the test riders didn’t like, but this is normal, and a similar test of the 2012 Ossa is in this latest mag:

The Publisher ( John Hulme) also visited the Montesa Factory while in Spain, along with Jonathan Richardson and his Dad Gerald - lots of pictures with this story,- sounds like they were given the Red Carpet treatment, - One interesting item mentioned that Amos Bilbao is only hired for 12 weeks each year on a “Free-lance” basis. - The visit ended with young Richardson coming away with a contract to ride a factory bike, with a spare engine and parts for 2012. -  John Hulme tried to get information on any new bike coming from the Honda owned company, but all he got was a polite ” No comment”

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Nice to look out of the window this morning and see a clear but wet driveway - yesterday it was white over, but  warmed up later to be quite a nice day - we could see a couple of bikes out on the ice at Swan Lake, and it’s also a popular place for ice fishing & snowmobiling.

I checked on the blog from this time last year, and it was -10, with a big snowstorm in the Valley and lots of other places - Jimmy had been shoveling for 4 hours to clear his driveway, but emailed to say that he only has about 8″ this year.

Of course we need the snow pack in the mountains, to ensure a good water supply for the summer, and this appears to be above normal for 2012, with over 300cm on top of the Coquihalla. ( 50% more than normal) - Naturally, our concern is always about how soon the snow melts in the Summerland area, - in 2011, Pete and myself were out on March 26th, but the snow was still deep at the parking lot, however we did get some riding in and I took a bunch of pictures for the record book. ( A lot of these older pics can be seen on the gallery)
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The winter months are a great time to catch up on a bit of bike maintenance, things like linkage greasing etc that is a must on all machines that have this type of suspension. - Although my 2011 Beta Evo Factory 300 has very little time on it, I still found a few things that needed a “Tweek” - engine mounts are often neglected, and can cause vibration, or in extreme cases, broken rear engine cases - we have seen this a few times over the years on all the modern bikes. (all brands) - It only makes sense to spend time to check the various nuts & bolts on any bike, as any moving part will tend to slack off after the “Run in” period. - Wheel spokes are another important  item that need checking on a regular basis, not just once a year, the cause of most rear tire leaks on the tubeless rims is simply because when one spoke becomes loose, it allows flex at the area under the rubber rim band, allowing air to escape through the spokes. ( Not a problem with the “T” rims fitted on many of the new models - or the older Beta’s)

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We have now received a shipment of the 2012 Beta brochures, and have scanned one to email anybody that’s interested, or we can send you one via snail-mail. - they always do a really nice job on the printing, and list all the trick accessory parts that are fitted stock on the Factory bikes. - A reminder that the old 290 Evo, is now a full blown 300, with a similar engine and updates just like the factory replica - a steal at $7995.

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We start the day off, with Birthday Greetings to our old buddy Barry Van As, who turns 62 today - we were hoping to celebrate with a ride at Bear Creek, but with all the snow yesterday, and then again during the night, we will just have to postpone that.

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In other news, James Stewart got his first win of the Super X series last night in Oakland, California, he finished ahead of an on form Chad Reed, and Ryan Villopoto.

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It was business as usual for Toni Bou in Marseille, where he took the win once again, with Raga and Cabestany  making up the podium - here is the fullFIM X-Trial World Championship 2012

Bou makes it three wins in a row

An exquisite Toni Bou - Repsol Montesa proved once again why he is head and shoulders above his rivals as he completed his two-night dominance at round three of the 2012 FIM X-Trial World Championship in Marseille, France.

The unrelenting Catalan outclassed his challengers for the second night in a row, cruising to a comfortable victory five marks clear of runner-up Adam Raga - Gas Gas. Albert Cabestany - Sherco completed the all-Spanish podium at the Palais des Sports arena, seven marks adrift of his slightly younger arch-rival and compatriot.

Bou laid bare his intent twenty-four hours earlier as he emerged from seven difficult sections during qualification having amassed just four marks. Despite picking up a further two courtesy of a time penalty no others came close to his score, the tough course punishing the World’s best Trial riders for the smallest of mistakes. Bou was the sole rider not to five section three, and the only rider not to pick up maximum marks in at least one section. Raga, meanwhile, was riding well. He was the best of the rest on Friday night, but Cabestany was close behind, setting the scene for a tense showdown between the two Spaniards in Saturday’s final.

The gruelling hazards took their toll on some of the less experienced protagonists, with Michael Brown - Gas Gas fiving every section in qualification and Alfredo Gomez – Montesa fairing little better. Alexandre Ferrer - Sherco performed a touch better, but was punished heavily for time, while Pol Tarres - Jotagas showed glimpses of promises on his JTG debut. All four failed to progress to Saturday’s semi-final. Loris Gubian - Gas Gas roused his home crowd with an inspired performance on Friday.

However, the Frenchman’s luck ran out in the semifinal as he was relegated alongside Jeroni Fajardo - Beta. The latter was extremely disappointed with his below par performance.

Come the final Bou made a rare mistake, losing his balance in section five and picking up maximum points. It was his sole error in what was one of his most polished rides this season. Bou’s team mate, Takahisa Fujinami - Repsol Montesa was less graceful over the big steps. The Japanese rider’s flamboyant style and over-enthusiasm saw him crash out of a dual lane race spectacularly, his bike flying over the crowd barriers to gasps from the audience. It was the most dramatic of his exploits over the two-day event, and it resulted in a fourth place finish.

Cabestany was angry at himself for making a handful of uncharacteristic mistakes on Saturday night. His third place was by no means a disaster, but it does mean he leaves Marseille tied on points with Raga in the championship standings.

Raga was more upbeat and satisfied with his riding. The series now takes a five-week break before commencing again in Madrid in early March, where Bou will attempt to keep his one-hundred per cent record intact and make it four wins from four rounds. Right now, few would bet against him if his swagger in Marseille was anything to go by.

Final - 1: Tony Bou (Montesa-ESP) 7; 2: Adam Raga (Gas Gas-ESP) 12; 3: Albert Cabestany (Sherco-ESP) 19; 4: Takahisha Fujinami (Montesa-ESP) 29;

Semi Final - 5: Jeroni Fajardo (Beta-ESP) 18; 6: Loris Gubian (Gas Gas-FRA) 19.

Non Qualifiers – 7: Pol Tarres (Jotagas-ESP) 32; 8: Alfredo Gomez (Montesa-ESP) 33; 9:  Michael Brown (Gas Gas-GBR) 35; 10: Alexandre Farrer (Sherco-FRA) 41.

Championship Positions

1: Bou 60; 2: Raga 39; 3: Cabestany 39; 4: Fujinami 30; 5: Fajardo 17; 6: Gubian 16; 7: Brown 7; 8: Gomez 5; 9: Tarres 3; 10: Challoner 2; 11: Dagnicourt 1; 12: Farrer1.

Picture Credit: FIM/Good-Shoot

report thanks to Trial Mag: -

It was a busy day yesterday - delivering snowmobile oil up the valley, then shipping off parts etc - good to get this done before the snow arrives today. - strange weather pattern, with the temperature forecast to be +9 tomorrow.

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Results from the qualifying rounds at the World Indoor at Marseille, which were held on Friday are as follows. -

Tony Bou   (Hon/Mont)   3    - Adam Raga (GG) 19 - Albert Cabestany (Sherco) 21 - Jeroni Fajardo (Beta) 22 - Takahisa Fujinami (Hon) 23 - Loris Gubian (GG) 24.

Non- qualifiers.

Pol Tarres (JTG) 32 - Alfredo Gomez (Hon/Mon) 33 - Michael Brown (GG) 35 - Alexandre Ferrer (Sherco) 40.

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I noticed a couple of good video clips posted on facebook yesterday, by Big John Moffat of Scotland -they were from the movie “On Any Sunday” - without doubt the best motorcycle film ever produced. - a neat segment on Trials riders, who are called “The violin players” of the sport, and another of Steve McQueen, Mert Lawill and Malcolm Smith playing on their dirt bikes in the sand dunes near the beach. - both McQueen and Smith are on Husky’s, but Lawill is on a Greeves, disguised as a a Harley, because he was of course contracted to HD at the time. - Great stuff.

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We heard from Yamaha Jeff, who said that the Vancouver show people tried to contact the Island Trials riders regarding the Tradex event, but they got no response, so sounds like a bit of bad communication.

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Sad news reported on Cycle News today, saying that James Stewart’s mechanic, was killed when hit by a vehicle, while he was stopped to help a young lady, who had run out of gas. - charges are pending.

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Yesterday, I had an appointment  for an eye check up - just a routine thing, and while I was pleased to learn that there has been no change in the last couple of years with my “Bionic”  eyes - what had changed was the fee charged, and while I never complain about anything to do with health and welfare - the 37.5 % increase, is I guess a sign of the times - last time the Seniors rate was $30 - this time $48.00.

The reason that I mention this, is because although it appears everything has gone up in price, especially food - motorcycles, and motorcycle accessories, have stayed pretty stagnant, over the past few years. - another good reason to ride a Trials bike.

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We’ve heard that the boys from Nova Scotia, are holding their first Indoor Trials demo next month at a local show, although they only have about 8-10 active riders in the area, they are full of enthusiasm, and hope to have Jon English attend. - the event will be sanctioned by the WTC.

The ATRA also have another Indoor practice day near Falun, planned for February, but no other details are available at this time.

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There was a link to an interesting video clip from a 1993 Indoor, on face-book yesterday - the obstacles were all made up of sponsor items, ie: Coke bottles, cigarette packages, and Castrol Oil bottles - all created in a difficult arena setting. - What impressed me ( although I saw this many years ago) - was the riding of Amos Bilbao, on the very chunky looking Montesa, and Marc Colomer, on the Prototype Beta Techno. - With all attention being given to Tony Bou and the rear wheel hopping, it’s easy to forget, how very good the stars of the 90’s really were at this sort of thing.

Back in the mid 80’s, the Stan Bakgaard Indoor shows, were way ahead of their time, in degree of difficulty, and professional quality. - most of the team - Steve Day, Steve Fracy, Pete Bustin, and Stan rode Yamaha TY 250’s - although Darren Bradbury (Swampy) was a regular crowd favorite on his twin-shock Armstrong. - Who could forget the very high scaffold section, with the bell hanging from the roof of BC place, for the riders to  ring if they were lucky enough to reach the top. - Stan took his “Traveling Circus” right across the Country, and was a hit at the Kelowna Home Show & Regatta on more than one occasion. - As a spectator event, these shows were, and are, fantastic to watch. However, I don’t think that I’ve ever spoken to anybody who went out and bought a Trials bike because they attended one of these shows. - they are all about entertainment, but on a small club scale, they do give local riders a chance to talk to people about the sport, in a friendly environment.

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