Jitsie Beta factory rider Jack Sheppard has claimed his second victory of the weekend by winning the final day of the French GP. After taking a commanding victory yesterday, the seventeen-year old has once again dominated his category, further strengthening his grip on the 2011 SPEA FIM Youth Trial Championship. With few changes made to the dry and dusty course overnight, Sheppard finished a huge nine marks ahead of his nearest rival after riding his second lap totally clean.
"I am really pleased with how today went, I've had a great weekend and this has certainly put the icing on the cake. Having ridden the course yesterday I had a fair understanding of the sections and the organisers made very few changes for the second day, so I knew I had a good chance of taking the win," said the Beta teamster.
With dry and extremely dusty conditions gracing the purpose built Trial Park for the second day running, grip was plentiful in most areas. Starting his first lap with commitment and confidence, Sheppard cleaned the first four sections with ease. A slack five on section five failed to dampen his spirits as the plucky Brit went on to clean a further nine sections, eventually finishing his first lap on six marks. Leading his class at the half way point Sheppard was determined to stretch his advantage and, similarly to overall championship class victor Toni Bou, rode his second tour clean, taking a well-deserved win in the process.
"Unlike yesterday I started pretty strongly. I was feeling good and cleaned the first few sections reasonably easily. I had a silly five at section five, which was annoying, but I tried not to let it get to me. The organisers had toughened up section six from yesterday and it had become quite difficult – I dropped another mark there and I was pleased with that to be honest. Yesterday I dropped just one mark on my second lap and today I managed to clean it, which was brilliant," continued the teenager from Suffolk.
Having claimed three wins from as many starts Jack has ridden a perfect championship so far, despite suffering from a long-standing wrist injury, which will require surgery in the coming days. With class rival Cedric Tempier only managing fourth today, Sheppard now sits thirteen points clear at the top of the championship standings. With a four-week break before the series arrives in Pobladura, Spain for the third round of the campaign, Sheppard holds both a solid points and psychological advantage over his competition.
"I could not have asked for a better start to the season. My wrist has been sore again today and I'm sure it will cause me a problem tonight, but I knew there was a job to do. I wanted to be in a position where I had a little cushion between the rest of the field and myself and that is exactly what I have. I now need to make sure I maintain these results and continue to push myself for the rest of the season," concluded the 2010 FIM Youth Trial vice World Champion and current series leader.
