FIM 2008 SPEA Trial World Championship
 Round
1 - Ettelbruck
Reigning World indoor and outdoor champion Toni Bou –
Repsol Montesa HRC started the new outdoor series as he finished
the 2007 season with a win at the opening round of the FIM
2008 SPEA Trial World Championship. His Spanish rival and
runner-up in the 2007 series, Adam Raga – Gas Gas was
second with Japanese rider Takahisa Fujinami – Repsol
Montesa HRC in third place.
The small town of Ettelbruck to the north of the Grand Duchy
of Luxembourg played host to the opening round of the 2008
championship with a challenging course, which was made considerably
harder by recent rain and this was reflected by the high scores.
Reigning champion Bou got off to a nervous start with two
uncharacteristic fives in the opening lap. This, along with
a single mark for failing to complete the lap in the allocated
time meant there was a three way tie at the top of the scoreboard
at the end of the first half of the competition. This was
between Bou, Fujinami and a rejuvenated Dougie Lampkin –
Beta, all of whom were on twenty-five marks apiece. Raga was
a further five marks behind at this stage on a score of thirty.
On the second lap, Raga attempted one of his trademark comebacks,
dropping just fourteen marks for his second tour of the fifteen
slippery sections. However despite his best efforts it wasn’t
to be quite enough with Bou dropping eighteen marks on the
same lap. This proved sufficient to secure him the win over
Raga by a single dab.
As a result, Bou tops the initial 2008 championship table
with a three point lead over Raga and five points over Fujinami.
In the Junior championship, last year’s runner-up,
Alexz Wigg – Montesa won by a clear ten mark margin
over second place Alfredo Gomez – Montesa with Matteo
Grattarola – Sherco taking the remaining podium position.
Although nervous about his first World championship event
since switching to the four-stroke Montesa, four cleans in
the opening four sections clearly settled any fears Wigg had.
The Youth championship was much closer with Francesc Moret
– Gas Gas taking his first World championship win by
a single mark over Jack Challoner – Beta. Young Amercian
rider, Patrick Smage – Sherco had to settle for third
position after collecting three time penalties on the second
lap, which put him out of contention for the top podium place.
The 2008 SPEA Trial World Championship moves swiftly on with
round two being held in the seaside town of Bangor, Northern
Ireland on the 6th of April, which happens to be next weekend.
This event will also incorporate the opening round of the
UEM Trial European Championship on Saturday, ahead of Sunday’s
main competition.
Day 1 Results: (1 Day event)
World
1: Bou 43
2: Raga 44
3: Fujinami 53
Junior
1: Wigg 29
2: Gomez 39
3: Grattarola 40
Youth 125cc
1: Moret 52
2: Challoner 53
3: Smage 55
2008 FIM Riders Championship
Current Standings:
World
1: Bou 20
2: Raga 17
3: Fujinami 15
Junior
1: Wigg 20
2: Gomez 17
3: Grattarola 15
Youth 125cc
1: Moret 20
2: Challoner 17
3: Smage 13
2007 FIM Manufacturers Championship
Current Standings:
1: Montesa 35
2: Gas Gas 26
3: Beta 23
4: Sherco 17
This round: 30th March
Ettelbruck, Luxembourg
Next round: 6th April
Bangor, Northern Ireland
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