All systems are go go go
By TMX Archives on 2nd Apr 08
This week editor JD checks-out the opening GPs and then remembers a great Northern character...
WELL, we've now had the opening rounds of the Maxxis British MX champs, the first encounters in the World Enduro Champs and this weekend saw the FIM SPEA World Trials Championship get underway with a run-out in Luxemburg. Next weekend sees World MX finally fire-up with a vengeance in Valkenswaard, Holland, and we can, without any fear or doubts, declare the 2008 International season well and truly open!
For Brits, the opening trials round was all about Dougie Lampkin. Yeah, we know that the Spanish duo of Bou and Raga are odds-on to battle all season for the title – and the opener simply reinforced that view – but the question remains, can Doug really nail one more victory and notch up the magic 100 GP wins?
Well, against all predictions he almost did it on Sunday! Joint leader after one lap he only let things slip late-on when still right in the mix.
After the initial hoo-hah when Doug re-signed for Beta and announced a return to two-stroke power on the factory REV3 it all went pear-shaped as he suffered a dismal Indoor season which was so bad, in terms of results, that some began to write-off his chances in the upcoming outdoors.
However, the ‘surprise' Beta switch was all about the outdoor season and while Doug was never going to be happy performing at anything less than his very best in the arenas, all the training was aimed at getting the best out of the Beta come the outdoor World series.
Having just missed the win in the opening round, would anyone now like to bet that the 100th GP win isn't possible?
It was actually a great weekend for the Brits with Alexz Wigg taking a clear win in the Junior Cup, Jack Challoner finishing an oh-so-close runner-up in the Youths and Becky Cook leading a British girls rout of the World Women's top ten with a brilliant second place, ahead of reigning World Champ Iris Kramer and keeping seven-times champ Laia Sanz on her toes all day.
THE toughest part of this job, by a distance, is without a doubt handling the obituaries, when we are called upon to announce the passing of someone from within the sport. It really is a small world and the chances are very much that I will have at least heard of the departed person, even if I have never met them. First and foremost with an obit, you have to get the details correct, and then, if you can, try and put across just what it was that made that person special.
On page two this week we have the sad task of announcing the death of a great northern character, Jim Broadhead, penned in this instance by one of his peers, Barry Robinson. Now, there are certainly many amongst us who knew Jim better than myself and who could tell many more and better stories but I'll do my best.
I met Jim through T+MX's ace photographer Eric Kitchen, with whom he was pally from way back. My own first encounter with Jim was actually in northern Spain at a World Trials Round. He was motorcycle mounted and when I asked him what he was up to Jim just said drily: "Well, I were out 'ere trail riding in't Pyrenees and I remembered there were a trial on so I thought I'd best have a look – fancy a beer, lad!” At this point, and bear in mind we were several thousand feet up a deserted dusty mountain and I was absolutely gasping, having walked most of it, Jim, like a well-practised magician, produced several bottles of beer from one of the many large and useful pockets in his venerable waxed cotton jacket.
"What a great bloke,” was my first thought and I've continued to think that ever since.
It was the first of many such enjoyable encounters with Jim. Barry Robinson and myself actually joined forces with him for a memorable trip to a French World Trials Round. He was such easy company, nothing was a problem, life was for living and I don't think we stopped smiling from setting-off to arriving home.
When Kitch rang me the other night from Luxemburg, to pass on the sad news, the least I could do was crack a beer and drink a toast. He'd have liked that!
It was simply a pleasure to have known Jim and I can only add my sympathies to the many that his wife Margaret and family will rightfully receive.