Motegi, Japan
BOU MAINTAINS WINNING FORM ON FIRST DAY IN JAPAN
Spaniard Antonio Bou – Repsol Montesa HRC demonstrated
yet more of the exceptional form he has shown so far this
year, with another emphatic win on the first of the two days
of competition at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit in Japan. Bou
was followed home by Adam Raga – Gas Gas, the two in
a class of their own as they ran away from the rest of the
field. Local hero and team-mate to Bou, Takahisa Fujinami
– Repsol Montesa HRC filled the final podium position,
to the obvious delight of the local Japanese fans.
 The
Japanese round of the 2007 FIM SPEA Trial World Championship
lived up to all expectations; exceptional organisation, challenging
sections and legions of passionate yet impeccably-behaved
spectators, turning out to see the World’s best at the
purpose-built motorsport park. The weather rewarded their
efforts, with bright sunshine and a welcome cooling breeze
accompanying the action all day.
Bou indicated his intentions throughout the first lap, with
clean after clean. In fact, he recorded a near perfect score
of just a single mark, as a result of a dab on the final part
of the final section, a climb up a huge rock face/waterfall
on the man-made hazard on the start/finish straight of the
circuit. Raga hounded Bou relentlessly and he ended the first
lap on just four marks; two dabs on the second section, with
a very tricky, long climb up an earth bank and two separate
dabs, including one in the final hazard.
Behind them, there was a four-way battle for third, with
Fujinami, Dougie Lampkin – Repsol Montesa HRC, Jeroni
Fajardo – Beta and Albert Cabestany – Sherco separated
by just four marks.
The second lap saw a rare mistake by Bou, as he fived a section
most other riders cleaned, when his rear wheel lost grip and
he slid backwards slightly. However, his five marks was still
the lowest second-lap score, ensuring the victory went his
way, with a total of just six marks. Raga dropped seven additional
marks, including a five in section two, which remained cleaned
by only two riders throughout the day.
The battle for third place eventually went to Fujinami, who
finished a single mark ahead of Cabestany. Lamkpin’s
challenge disappeared when he broke his rear wheel, lost time
as it was repaired, then fell and dislocated a finger.
It was a British 1-2 in the Junior class, with series leader
Michael Brown taking the win after a very close fight with
Alex Wigg, the final winning margin just three marks. Alfredo
Gomex took another victory in the Youth class, from Brit Ross
Danby, with Alexis Cervantes filling the podium.
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