Jack Challoner finished the highest placed British rider in day-two of the twin SPEA FIM World Championship round in France this weekend. The trial held in the small town of Breal-Sous-Montfort to the North West of the country saw two different winners in the World Pro class - Adam Raga (SPA - Gas Gas) won the first day, with reigning World Champion, Toni Bou (SPA - Montesa) taking the win on the second. Bou's win here has allowed him to extend his lead in the championships by seven marks going into the third leg of the championships next month.
Relentless Trials Rider, Jack Challoner is in his debut season at the top level of the sport, and this weekend demonstrated the form he set out in the X-Trial Championships where he concluded the championships in an impressive sixth position and best British rider.
Day 1
The Yorkshire rider didn't have the best start to the weekend, after a clean on the opening section Jack had a poor run of four maximum penalties where the top of the field scored low marks with ease. However, the determined twenty year-old was not put off by the start and managed to bring four clean rides to the surface to finish the opening lap of the day just behind fellow Yorkshire rider, Michael Brown (GBR - Gas Gas) who rested in seventh position.
The second lap was much better for the Miton Top Trial Team frontman. As he still gets to grip with the severity of the World Pro class. As he better's his knowledge of how to tackle the sections, Jack managed to get through ten of the fifteen section lap without fail. "Whereas I was one of the front runners in the Junior Class last year and always challenging for the win, here I am still a long way of the pace, I'm approaching each trial completely differently now, I know I'm not going to be fighting for the win so I try and look at how to score the most points in each round" Jack commented after finishing the opening day of the French round in ninth.
It was Gas Gas mounted Raga who claimed victory on the first day of the trial, while team-mate Dougie Lampkin was unable to compete due to a ongoing ankle injury which he picked up while riding the Scottish Six Day Trial at the start of the month. Concluding the day-one podium was Jeroni Fajardo (SPA - Ossa) with Toni Bou unable to carry his dominant form to the top step finishing in third.
Day 2
Having finished behind fellow British riders, James Dabill (Beta) and Michael Brown (Gas Gas) who finished sixth and seventh respectively on Saturday, Jack Challoner was keen to show that he could well be a threat to their championships for the rest of the year. Jack, who beat the duo in the X-Trial Championships at the start of the year is the debut rider and is quickly learning how the World Pro class is conducted.
Challoner started the second day how he finished the first, he was consistent throughout the lap and impressed the French crowds when he cleaned section four after watching the World Champion, Toni Bou five the difficult hazard on the opening lap. Jack finished the opening lap in eighth, behind Michael Brown (Gas Gas) and Loris Gubian (FRA - Gas Gas) but it was clear from the outset that the battle for sixth and seventh position was going to be close.
Beta front man, James Dabill (GBR - Beta) was just one mark behind Jack after the opening lap but eager to fight with Brown and Challoner for British positions. Toni Bou had a very impressive run, cleaning the entirety of the second lap and stamping his authority on the championships, with fellow Spanish riders Albert Cabestany (Sherco) and Adam Raga finishing second and third respectively.
"Today has been great and a very close marked trial. I have felt very comfortable on the bike today and I am gradually understanding the sections in the World Pro class better. I am learning every weekend and my results are showing that" Jack commented after the trial.
"I still have a lot of work to do in the championship, but I can't forget this is my debut year. I hope I can continue to battle with James and Michael at this level and gradually push my way up through the leader-board"
Jack concluded by saying "Michele (minder) has done a great job this weekend and the Miton Top Trial Team bike is brilliant and great fun to ride, I'm looking forward to the next round of the championships for sure"
There is a short break in the championships, before the next round in Spain towards the end of June.
