1980 Valmalenco photograph collection by Stefano Bianchi

1980 Valmalenco (Italian world trial )
photograph collection
by Stefano Bianchi

For me , the 1980 Valmalenco Trial is the most exciting and iconic twinshock era Trial there has ever been. This was the Italian World round this year and was 8th round out of 11. It was held on the 13th of July 1980 and set in glorious sunshine. The sections were located on a mixture of different locations around the town , some wooded and some muddy. However the most iconic sections of the whole era occurred high up on the green grassed steep hillside surrounding this ski resort town . The local council laid on speaker systems for the busy hillsides crammed with spectators. Rather than commentary , the system played pop music of the music of the day and im told really helped make the atmosphere .

The huge rocks and steps were immortalized in the incredible Fantic promotional video featuring factory development rider Jaime Subira. Treat yourself to another look. If this video doesn't epitomize 70's Trial ....i don't know what does.

To appreciate the day , the atmosphere , crowds and the huge steps - watch both of these videos - Theyre only short :).
For me theyre almost the best thing on Youtube.

Back to the photos

29 competitors started the day consisting of 2 Brit ,19 Italian,9 French , 7 Swede, , 5 Spaniard ,5 Swiss , 3 Belgian , 2 German, 2 Finn , I Japanese and 1 American rider. Well ..... in the field of Trials numbers dont count for anything and Bernie Schreiber the only American took the win from Martin Lampkin by 7 points with Ulf Karlsson in 3rd .

Thank you so much to the photographer Stafano Bianchi for giving his permission for these photo to be reproduced on this site.

Its one hell of a step . Teobaldi up the step .