LUXEMBOURG IS SET TO WELCOME THE NEW CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHT
This coming weekend will see the opening round of the 2008
FIM SPEA Trial World Championship take place in the small
northern European country of Luxembourg. The town of Ettelbruck
last hosted the series back in 2003 when Marc Freixa was the
surprise winner on both days of the competition.
Five years later and the face of World trials has changed
dramatically with the Dougie Lampkin period of domination
now over, and the fresh image of Toni Bou – Repsol Montesa
threatening to create his own piece of history. Having only
been defeated twice on route to his first outdoor crown last
season, few would bet against the young Spanish rider repeating
his success during 2008.
However the fight to be King will be anything but easy with
the 2008 FIM SPEA Trial World Championship visiting no less
than ten different countries over the next six months before
the title will be decided. Luxembourg is the first of two
European destinations, before the series heads west to America
before globe hopping to Japan a month later. The second part
of the calendar is the most intense, and will prove to be
the most decisive, as the battle makes six stops in Europe
in fairly quick succession.
Adam Raga – Gas Gas once again looks set to be Bou’s
strongest challenger, having been the only rider to topple
his compatriot during the 2007 campaign. The four stroke pairing
of Takahisa Fujinami – Repsol Montesa and Albert Cabestany
– Sherco also promise to play their part in the mix,
and may have to contend with a rejuvenated Dougie Lampkin
– Beta following his return to his more favoured Italian
two stroke machine.
With 2007 FIM World Junior Champion Michael Brown –
Beta having moved up to the World Pro class, Alexz Wigg –
Montesa as runner up from last year, starts 2008 as the hot
favourite for top honours. Wigg will have strong opposition
in the form of Sam Haslam – Gas Gas, Ross Danby –
Gas Gas, Loris Gubian – Sherco and 2007 Youth Champion
Alfredo Gomez – Montesa.
The Youth category is perhaps the most difficult to predict,
with many of the top runners having now moved up a class for
the forth coming campaign. However with two wins during his
brief visit to the series last year, American rider Patrick
Smage – Sherco just could be the new champion in waiting.
Although Jack Challoner – Beta could also be worth an
outside bet.
Saturday will see the opening round of the Women’s
World Championship take place at the same venue, ahead of
Sunday’s main competition when the great fight will
begin once again.
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