WHO’S THAT RIDER? | Bikesportnz

The BikesportNZ.com photo archive is a treasure trove of classic old snaps.

We have decided that each week we are going to run an archive photo or two – a bit of a guessing game for you. See if you can answer the questions about BOTH photos.

We’ll offer you a few clues, but we also want to keep you guessing.

Check back and we’ll give you the answers next week, along with our next “Who’s that?” feature photos.

Crown Kiwi – EVS – 100%

Plus, we have a sponsor for the feature. Thanks to Crown Kiwi, EVS and 100% apparel and accessories, we can offer a small prize each week – a tee-shirt or a cap – to the first respondent with the correct answers.

We were absolutely swamped with correct entries this week, although the first to answer correctly was Dunedin bike fan Alan Tocher.

We had received a few comments from the “Tar Babies” that they couldn’t answer the questions about the “Dust Bunnies” and vice versa.

This week we swing back towards the dirt bike community.

There should be plenty of correct answers to the easy questions about these two photos.

Next week we’ll feature roadrace characters again.

Clues for photo above:

This photo was taken at the International Six Days Enduro in Taupo in 2006. This rider tragically died earlier this year. Who is he and where was he from?

We do also need you to answer the question about the photo below.

Clues for photo below:

These two characters help make the New Zealand moto trials riding scene the success that it is today.

Both photos (yes, we’re showing two from this sport this week) show a top rider and the other person in both photos is a commentator, organiser and promoter.

Naming the riders should be easy enough, but who can tell us the name of the man with the microphone?

Last week’s characters revealed:

The main photo displayed last week was taken at the Levels road-race circuit in the South Island about five years ago, before this young rider made it to the big time.

This rider is now a current Kiwi international.

It is, of course, Orewa’s Avalon Biddle.

The second photo shown last week was taken at Manfeild in 1992.

They are, of course American Doug Polen (left) and Italian Giancarlo Falappa.

They were both then racing for Ducati in the World Superbike Championships.

We also asked what was their highest ranking in the WSBK Championships?

Polen won the world superbike crown in 1991 and 1992 and the AMA Superbike Championships in 1993.

He teamed up with New Zealand’s Aaron Slight to win the prestigious Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race for Honda in 1994.

Polen also won the Endurance World Championship in 1997.

BikesportNZ.com interviewed him back in 1992 and discovered, during the course of discussions, that he had lost part of his big toe on one foot due to an accident involving a bike chain and sprocket, making it all the more remarkable that he would go on to become a two-time world champion.

Falappa never won the WSBK title – his best finish was fourth overall in 1992 – but he is remembered for his fearsome and aggressive riding style.

Known to many as ‘Lion of Jesi’, Falappa began his racing career in motocross before making the switch to road racing in 1988.

In 1989 he moved up to the Superbike World Championship riding for Bimota, winning three races and finishing the season in sixth place.

Falappa moved to the Ducati team in 1990.

His best result was finishing fourth overall in the 1992 season and fifth overall in the 1993 season (when he won seven races, including the season’s first three).

In 1994, Falappa crashed while testing a factory Ducati 916 and suffered serious head injuries. After being in a lengthy coma, he eventually recovered, but never raced again. He won a total of 16 races in his Superbike World Championship career.

Well done to those who emailed us with their answers last week.

Email your answers to this week’s quiz to contest@bikesportnz.com

Note: Be careful to answer the questions being asked. We may ask for a time, a place, an event or ask for one or several of the individuals in the two photos to be identified.

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