1998: Jubilant Jarvis

The quiet unassuming rider that is Graham Jarvis was delighted to take his first SSDT victory for a French trials motorcycle manufacturer with Scorpa, in a very wet event. He took an early lead on the first day and on Tuesday he parted with no marks but incurred three-time penalty marks, giving him the advantage.

The previous year’s winner Steve Colley had the start of a nightmare week. First, he lost eight marks on time on the Tuesday, and this was followed by nine on the Wednesday which put him right out of contention for the win. Having arrived late at the event due to world championship commitments young Spanish rider David Cobos had his machine put into the secure compound on Sunday by Gas Gas personnel. He arrived at the event later that evening and surprised everyone with a loss of just two marks on day one. As the week passed Jarvis and Cobos slowly pulled away from everyone else and made the fight for victory between themselves. Cobos on his first ride in the event pushed Jarvis all the way to finish a very close second. Good friends Wayne Braybrook and John Shirt Jnr fought their own battle for third, with Braybrook just having the edge.

David Cobos (Gas Gas-ESP): The young David Cobos surprised everyone with his second place at the event.

Graham Jarvis (Scorpa): This was the first win for Jarvis and for a French motorcycle manufacturer at the event.

Friendships for life are made at the event. Riding for the same Gas Gas manufacturer, we see John Shirt Jnr passing on all his knowledge to the young David Cobos.