SPAIN RECORD FOURTH TRIAL DES NATIONS WIN IN A ROW
 The
dominant Spanish quartet of Toni Bou – Repsol Montesa
HRC, Adam Raga – Gas Gas, Albert Cabestany – Sherco
and Jeroni Fajardo – Beta romped to a convincing victory
at the Trial Des Nations (TDN) held on the Isle of Man. This
latest win makes it four in a row for Spain, who can currently
boast all of their four team members in the World’s
top six rankings.
Spain dropped a mere seven marks for the entire trial including
a faultless first lap, this was a massive thirty two marks
clear of shock runners up Japan. Great Britain, who last won
this event in 2003 and also in 1997 when TDN was previously
hosted on the Isle of Man, could only manage a slightly disappointing
third place.
It was clear from the outset that the Spanish squad were
in a class of their own, as they moved ahead of the rest of
the field and left the remaining eight teams to scrap it out
for the lower positions. Great Britain, despite a nervous
opening were actually three marks in front of Japan at the
mid point, but they failed to produce the same form during
the second lap and were forced down to the lower step of the
rostrum.
Although there was a constant threat of rain, the two laps
of eighteen sections was conducted in dry and relatively warm
weather. The course, which started from the famous TT Grandstand,
included a good mixture of sections located in the surrounding
woods and along the spectacular coastline just outside the
capital town of Douglas. Many of the hazards were based on
those used back in 2002 when the Trial World championship
lasted visited this special motor-sport island.
Raga spoke on behalf of his wining team-mates: “Today
we have showed our true level. The trial was a little easy,
but still our first lap was very special. We made some mistakes
on the second lap, but still our margin of victory was a very
comfortable one. As a team we have worked well together, which
sometimes can be difficult as we are normally rivals.”
Fujinami reflected Japan’s delight: “This is
a great result for us, and the best we could have hoped for
as Spain were just too strong for all of us. To beat Britain
on their home ground is a good achievement for us.”
Lampkin summed up his team’s disappointment: “We
have given 100% today, but it just hasn’t been our day.
Spain were always going to win, but we should have really
been second with all the great home support we have had today
and throughout the weekend. We had high expectations, that
have ended in disappointment.”
The International Trophy was won by Belgium, who last claimed
this title back in 1999. The squad of Jan Cardinaels –
Montesa, Maxim Mathy – Gas Gas, Jordan Vandekasteele
– Gas Gas and Michael Vukcevic - Sherco Fended off the
challenge of Norway and Australia, who finished second and
third respectively.
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