Raga waits to become King in Belgium
 The
waiting is nearly over, as this weekend coming will decide
who will be the 2006 FIM Trial World champion. After an epic
campaign that has seen the series visit both America and Asia,
as well as crisscrossing Europe, the final Grand Prix of the
year will take place at the famous motor racing circuit at
Spa- Francorchamps, Belgium. Following a short absence the
championship returned to this northern European country last
season to make its debut at this historic venue.
A winner here twelve months ago, Adam Raga – Gas Gas
is the clear favourite to lift this year’s title. Only
an absolute disaster will prevent the Spanish rider from taking
his second successive outdoor crown to add to his tally of
four indoor championships. Sitting ten points behind Raga,
Takahisa Fujinami – Repsol Montesa HRC knows that only
a miracle will allow him to repeat the success he enjoyed
back in 2004 when he earned his first and only World title.
Behind this leading duo, the battle is far more close and
fierce with Albert Cabestany – Sherco holding a single
point advantage over Dougie Lampkin – Repsol Montesa
HRC, thanks to his victory at the last Grand Prix in Andorra
earlier this month. On current form Cabestany is perhaps favourite
to take third place in the series, but Lampkin will not give
in easily, as he still searches for his 100th World round
win.
Belgium will also see the Junior Championship decided, with
the seasons long three-way battle continuing between Daniel
Gibert – Montesa, Daniel Oliveras – Gas Gas and
Michael Brown – Beta. Gibert leads his Spanish counterpart
Oliveras going into the final showdown, but anything could
happen, including Brown having an outside chance of the title,
once all the riders drop their two worst results come Sunday
evening.
It is a similar story in the Youth championship with the
final victor still very much undecided. French rider Loris
Gubian – Sherco currently heads the standings, but has
both Matteo Grattarola – Sherco and Alexz Wigg –
Gas Gas in close contention. Wigg is perhaps the strongest
challenger to Gubian, with the British rider having missed
the Japanese Grand Prix due to school exams, he has no rounds
to drop and has only been off the rostrum once this season.
Belgium waits to crown the three new World champions……
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