ROUND 3: BELGIUM BILSTAIN: 26TH FEBRUARY 1978

As expected, Lampkin came out fighting and in a real gutsy performance he took the ‘Bulto’ by its horns and took a well-deserved victory. The event at Bilstain had a very ‘English’ feel to it with its rocky muddy banks. Lampkin was in attack mode all day, and in his favour fellow British rider Rob Shepherd on the four-stroke Honda took the runner-up position from Vesterinen on the tie-decider as they both parted with 68 marks lost. The biggest loser in the championship was American Bernie Schreiber who finished out of the points down in 15th position after an eventful day. Living not far from the venue was home rider Jean Marie Lejeune, who came home 4th. He is the eldest brother of three in a trials riding family and was followed by Eddy who competed on a no-awards basis as he was too young to score points and the youngest brother Eric.

RESULTS: 1: Lampkin 60; 2: Shepherd 68; 3: Vesterinen 68; 4: Lejeune 72; 5: Colson 73; 6: Karlson 75; 7: Andrews (320 Yamaha) 85; 8: Rathmell 98; 9: Birkett 109; 10: Claude Goset (Montesa-BEL) 110. CHAMPIONSHIP: 1: Vesterinen 40; 2: Lampkin 35; 3: Karlson 22; 4: Andrews 22; 5: Shepherd 22.