Thursday, May 26 2011
Normal service was resumed when Toni Bou – Repsol Montesa claimed an emphatic win on the second day of the French Grand Prix, held at Breal-sous-Montfort close to the city of Rennes. Bou went totally clean on his final lap to eventually run out the clear victor ahead of a rejuvenated Albert Cabestany – Sherco. Day one winner Adam Raga – Gas Gas was third on this occasion, as round two of the 2011 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship came to close after two days of hot competition.
Saturday’s runner up Jeroni Fajardo – Ossa lost valuable time as he was forced to return to the paddock to make running repairs to his bike on the first lap, and was finally beaten to fourth place by Takahisa Fujinami – Repsol Montesa who placed one position better than yesterday. French rider Loris Gubian – Gas Gas gave the huge home crowd something to cheer about as he took a well deserved sixth spot on day two after riding well throughout the weekend.
Britain’s twenty-year old Jack Challoner – Beta recorded his best ever result since moving up to the World Pro class, for the start of this season after winning the 2010 Junior title. Jack’s seventh place put him ahead of his compatriots Michael Brown – Gas Gas and James Dabill – Beta who finished in eighth and ninth spots respectively. Matteo Grattarola – Gas Gas from Italy completed the top ten.
Today’s Trial was very much a tale of two halves. At the end of the first lap Cabestany led Bou by a single mark after they both fived section eleven, the man-made waterfall. All the World Pro riders, except Alexz Wigg – Sherco failed this hazard on their initial visit. Behind the leading pair there was a tie for third, with both Fajardo and Fujinami having dropped seventeen marks apiece, making it a four way fight for the win, with Raga slightly off the pace on twenty marks at this stage.
The second lap was all about Bou, as the reigning and four times SPEA FIM Trial World Champion showed his true class by cleaning all fifteen sections to take the win by eleven marks from Cabestany. Raga mounted a fightback on lap two, however this was not enough to take the runners up spot, although it was sufficient for him to demote Fujinami to fourth. Fajardo’s closing tour was an absolute disaster, and he can perhaps count himself lucky to have hung on to a top five placing.
For the second day in a row the Junior class podium was a Spanish lock out, with Alfredo Gomez – Montesa taking his third straight win of the season to open up an eleven point lead at the top of the general standings even at this early stage. This time around Gomez was joined by Francesc Moret – Montesa, who holds second in the series, and Pere Borrellas – Gas Gas who sits in fourth place in the table just behind Pol Tarres – Gas Gas, who finished off the rostrum today.
Matching Bou’s closing performance, Jack Sheppard – Beta also went clean on his last lap to maintain his 100% record in the Youth category. Despite riding with a wrist injury, Sheppard was a clear winner today, finishing nine marks in front of Giacomo Saleri – Beta. France’s Steven Coquelin – Gas Gas completed the podium, as Jack’s main rival Cedric Tempier – Sherco was demoted to fourth spot on the second day of his home GP. Sheppard will head to the next round in Spain, next month, with a thirteen point margin over Tempier.
2011 SPEA FIM TRIAL
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Round 2
Breal-sous-Montfort -France
22 May – 2 Day Event (Day2)
Results:
World
1: Bou 12
2: Cabestany 23
3: Raga 29
4: Fujinami 32
5: Fajardo 46
Junior
1: Gomez 15
2: Moret 17
3: Borrellas 21
4: Tarres 22
5: Warenghien 30
Youth 125cc
1: Sheppard 6
2: Saleri 15
3: Coquelin 19
4: Tempier 25
5: Cox 38
2011 FIM Riders Championship
Current Standings:
World
1: Bou 55
2: Raga 48
3: Cabestany 47
4: Fajardo 39
5: Fujinami 39
Junior
1: Gomez 60
2: Moret 49
3: Tarres 43
4: Borrellas 41
5: Dagnicourt 34
Youth 125cc
1: Sheppard 60
2: Tempier 47
3: Saleri 45
4: Coquelin 41
5: Rigaud 26
2011 FIM Manufacturers Championship
Current Standings:
1: Montesa 94
2: Gas Gas 76
3: Sherco 59
4: Beta 48
5: Ossa 39 1
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