Raga vs Fujinami in Andorra
 After
the traditional month long Summer break the 2006 FIM Trial
World Championship resumes battle this coming weekend, with
the small, but famous principality of Andorra having the honour
of hosting the penultimate round of this exciting series.
With only the Belgium Grand Prix remaining later in September,
the result of the trial high in the Pyrenees is sure to play
an important part in determining who will be this year’s
champion.
With a twelve point advantage at the top of the current overall
standings, reigning champion Adam Raga – Gas Gas is
the clear favourite to lift the title once again. Raga will
be confident coming to the highest altitude GP of the season,
having won here twelve months ago. However the man on form,
and Adam’s closest rival Takahisa Fujinami – Repsol
Montesa HRC will be looking to continue his run of three wins
in a row and apply more pressure, to at least take the title
fight to a last round showdown.
Following his fourth place at his home Grand Prix Dougie
Lampkin – Repsol Montesa HRC has admitted that he has
little chance of taking a record breaking eighth outdoor championship
this year, and must now concentrate on maintaining his third
place in the overall standings. Albert Cabestany – Sherco
and Antonio Bou – Beta are the two riders who can push
Lampkin down the rankings and will be looking to use what
could technically be classed as a home advantage in this Spanish
speaking country.
The race for the Junior championship could not be closer
with Daniel Oliveras – Gas Gas and Daniel Gibert –
Montesa locked together on the same number of points. British
rider Michael Brown – Beta sits in third place, two
points behind the Spanish pairing after his home round win,
and will remain a threat to the end of the series, with the
best ten out of twelve results counting in this class.
Loris Gubian – Sherco appears to have a clear advantage
in the 125 class overall standings, but again with this category
dropping their two worst results, the championship fight is
much tighter than it first seems. Therefore Matteo Grattarola
– Sherco and Alexz Wigg – Gas Gas, continue to
be real title contenders .
Andorra will host a Women’s World championship trial
the day prior to the men’s event over a similar, but
varied course.
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