The FIM SPEA Trial World Championship returns to Bangor
this weekend
 This
coming weekend will see the FIM SPEA Trial World Championship
return to Ireland for the first time since 2004, with the
seaside town of Bangor hosting round two of the 2008 series
this Sunday. Adding further weight to the occasion the event
will also incorporate the opening round of the UEM Trial European
Championship just twenty four hours earlier over a similar,
but modified coastline course.
The 2008 World series promises to be one of the most exciting
of the modern era, with the first round of the championship
held in Luxembourg last Sunday producing close finishes in
all three classes. Reigning World Champion Toni Bou –
Repsol Montesa HRC from Spain opened the defence of his title
with a narrow win over his arch rival Adam Raga – Gas
Gas who won the championship in both 2005 and 2006. The great
news for British fans is that Dougie Lampkin – Beta
was back near his best in Luxembourg, and was challenging
for the win right until the closing stages.
With his outdoor debut on his new two stroke Italian machine
now out of the way, Lampkin will arrive in Bangor full of
confidence and eager to maintain momentum. The twelve times
World champion, a tally that includes seven outdoor titles,
remains stuck on ninety nine Grand Prix wins, and would so
dearly love to capture number one hundred on home soil. No
one more than Dougie will appreciate the importance of a vocal
home audience, and will be looking towards the many thousands
of expected fans to cheer him towards that magical and historic
victory.
Lampkin will arrive in Bangor on Thursday afternoon ready
for Friday morning’s first official practice session,
which he will use to familiarise himself with the terrain
and to set up his factory bike. After last weekend’s
fourth place Dougie is eager to hit the top spot this Sunday,
and spoke about the task that lies ahead.
“I can’t wait to get to Bangor, it’s going
to seem like a long week, as I am desperate to be back on
my bike. I am very confident that the Lightweight Motorcycle
club will put on a great trial, and I know that North Down
Borough Council are focussed on creating the best event of
the series. Hopefully I can put my home advantage to good
effect, so that I can stand on top of the podium on Sunday
afternoon. It’s a tough ask, but one I want so badly.
So roll on Bangor.”
Preparations for the event are already at an advanced stage,
with work on the course making good progress and this isbeing
matched back in the paddock, where all the main infrastructure
and organisation is in place. Bangor is set to welcome no
less than sixty-two competitors representing twelve different
nations, from countries as far away as America, Japan and
New Zealand.
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