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Headlines...
>> The Sherco Cup has started [ Go! ]
>> Sherco Academy Training Camp (by Bill Ibsen, Sherco USA) [ Go! ]
>> Sherco is providing full support for Sherco riders at the 2003 SSDT [ Go! ]
>> Carlos Pelaez, Latin American Champion for 7th time [ Go! ]
>> Download the latest brochure of the Sherco 50 Enduro and Supermotard [ Go! ]
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>> Sherco Academy Training Camp (by Bill Ibsen, Sherco USA) |
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World’s First Factory Barcelona, Spain- How did you spend your Spring Break 2003?
At the beach? Hiking? Riding? For fourteen fortunate youth riders,
Spring Break was spent vigorously training in the mountains of Spain
on specially prepared PXC factory Sherco 125’s, with former
World Championship rider, now Sherco co-owner, Andreu Codina. |
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| Our goal is to give this unique
group of riders not only the best equipment in the world as specially
prepared by Sherco designer Josep Paxau, but also the best training
in the world, as well." Basically, Sherco put together a factory youth trials team to contest three major European competitions: 1. Junior World Championship and European Championship 2. Women’s Cup 3. Youth Cup. They chose some of the most promising riders from three different continents, and eight different countries, including the USA: |
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| What’s a Trials Camp? The riders and minders arrived at the Sherco Factory outside of Barcelona. Working from the Sherco Factory parking lot and from the Sherco World Trials Team Factory semi, the team enjoyed a tour of the factory, participated as test riders in a French Magazine’s article of the new Sherco 80, received maintenance training from the famed Josep Paxau, and spent several days practicing in sections and areas formerly frequented by the likes of Jordi Tarres, Amos Bilboa, and Mark Colomer. Some of the riders also toured PXC, the R&D headquarters of Paxau, who gave the riders a peek of top-secret 2004 developments and bikes that they promised not to talk about. On Sunday, we watched a Supermotard race outside of Barcelona, where a couple of Sherco 50’s were competing. Also racing in a separate class from the Supermotard bikes on the winding outside go-cart track were 50cc road racers and scooters, too! (Believe it or not, those scooters riders are fast and fierce competitors)! The trials training consisted of impressively technical sections along the creek bed of an abandoned mountain vineyard. The factory riders were split into two groups according to engine displacement, with Andreu teaching the 125cc riders, and former World Championship rider Joan Pons teaching the 250/290cc riders. The sections contained typical Spanish mud, flowing creek beds, irregularly-shaped rocks, steep hill and waterfall climbs, and loose sand, challenging the riders in a diversity of ways, even within the same section. |
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The last 3 days of the Sherco Academy were spent near France at the +25 year old annual Three Days of Santigosa trial. Past year’s winners included Lampkin, Freixa, Bilbao, and Pons. In this three line (black, red, blue levels of difficulty) trial, the Youth Cup riders competed in the "Cadet" class, which are riders aged 14-15, riding the red line, which was equivalent to the Expert line in USA nationals. This three-day trial consisted of a single, 30-mile-long loop of 28 different muddy, rocky creek sections. At mid-day, all riders were required to impound their bikes and take a mandatory 30-45 minute refueling break to eat a hot, delicious Spanish gourmet lunch (including wine!) cooked on site as part of their entry fee. German Sherco Academy rider Christian Kregeloh skillfully took the win in the Cadet class each of the three days, and USA’s Will Ibsen was pleased to turn in a second place finish on the first day of the Santigosa competition. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| What was it Like? We caught up with Georgian Will Ibsen at the California Nationals immediately following the Sherco Academy week. Of his time in the Academy, Will said "I was a little nervous during my first day being in Spain with such a group of really good riders, but after a while I loosened up after getting used to the terrain. I had a lot of fun riding with kids from all over the world, especially Christian Kregeloh, because even though he’s German, he speaks English really well. He’s also got a hilarious sense of humor, and loves to play tricks on everybody. I learned a little Catalan from the Spanish riders (they speak Catalan, not Spanish) and taught them a couple English words. I also liked the food, even though it it’s a lot different than American food. I also like seeing all the secret stuff in Paxau’s private development lab. It was fun to ride almost 90 creek sections in 3 days during the Santigosa trial; I especially liked the deep water parts, and the ones with multiple stairstep waterfalls." |
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A Dad’s Perspective To get an adult perspective, we asked Will’s dad, Bill, about his thoughts. Bill commented that "I now have a picture of at least one major reason why the top level European riders tend to be better than the Americans…watching the synergy of these testosterone-filled teenagers play a friendly game of "one-up-manship" with each other during hour after hour, day after day of practicing together, I witnessed how the envelope of their capabilities continued to get pushed out. It was almost scary! The synergy of constant practice together reaped huge benefits. |
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On the last practice day, Andreu
intentionally brought the kids over to Joan Pon’s older group
of 290cc riders to watch some of the sick stuff they were doing in
an extremely steep, rocky creek bed set on a long hillside with one
12 foot high slanted wall. I was impressed that the 290’s were
making it through this terribly steep rocky section. It wasn’t
too long before the younger kids got tired of watching the older ones
have fun, and soon the 125’s were literally screaming up this
super technical, super steep creek bed, just like the 290’s!
Sure, there were lots of crashes, but also multiple cleans on this
Champ-level section. It continues to amaze me what these Sherco 125’s
are capable of climbing with a skilled rider. (I think it surprised
all the 290 riders, too!) The kids in the Sherco Academy got along famously with each other, even though the Spaniards and the Italians didn’t speak much (if any English), because kids are kids no matter where they come from. I enjoyed watching them cut up with each other-especially during their spontaneous "language lessons." Probably they learned more slang than proper language. |
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| The other aspect to the Sherco
Academy that I believe was valuable for Will was to get a very clear
vision on what the European riders his age are capable of doing, especially
in the area of positioning the bike. With riders of the caliber of
Will’s Spanish 125cc teammate David Millan, who was a former
multi-year World Bicycle Trials Champion, we were able to witness
a hopping style with a fluidity and precision that exceeds that of
most (and possibly all) of our American Champ class riders. Thus,
their ability to comfortably and precisely set up for obstacles, slick
or dry provides a significant advantage, particularly in their highly
technical-style sections. Overall, I think the Sherco Academy helped Will break through some of the "Euro-trials-mystique" that often intimidates foreign riders, catch a vision for what these machines are capable of, get a balanced understanding of what the European kids his age do well- and not so well, and, with Andreu’s help, make a plan on the areas that he needs to work on to improve his competitiveness. We feel tremendously grateful for the privilege of being selected for the Sherco Academy, and for the fantastic level of support and encouragement that we receive from Sherco USA and Ryan Young Products. These guys are the best!" |
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What’s Next? The Sherco Academy plans to reconvene the week prior to the French Youth Cup round to be held near Paris during the first week of July. Andreu tells us that the Academy will actually train the week prior in Southern France, in a village called Sainte Jalle, and then will travel together to Maisse, where Round 1 of the European Championship/Women’s Cup/Youth Cup will be held. Round 2 will be July 22 in Cerreto Laghi, Italy, with the final third round held on September 21 in San Marino, Italy. It is exciting to see this new, worldwide, Youth movement in trials! |
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>> Sherco is providing full support for Sherco riders at the 2003 SSDT |
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Following its past year’s practice, Sherco is providing full rider support for all Sherco riders. At Sherco we are well aware of the importance of our customers, and we want to take good care of them! For this reason, we have prepared along with our UK importer Malcolm Rathmell Sports, a complete service and support facility in order to make you feel part of our Team. You will find at the SSDT paddock the following services at your disposal: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1. Mechanical advise and support from our team mechanics Jeanot, Dani Garcia, Sheldon and "Killer". 2. A complete supply of Sherco original part’s and accessories. 3. Hospitality brunch at the end of every day including hot soup, sandwiches, and home made cakes and fresh fruit. 4. A warm welcome at the Sherco truck for all Sherco riders. Good luck to all the 65 Sherco rider’s in the paddock! |
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Sherco Moto S.A.R.L. Concept: Marc Griera . Pol Navarro . Rubèn Navarro Support: Wayne Thais |