After a four-week break the 2011 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship will burst back into action when it arrives in the relatively unknown setting of Pobladura de las Regueras, Northern Spain this coming weekend. The Spanish GP marks the first of two back to back events, with many of the riders looking to travel directly to Andorra ready for the next weekend’s round after this current encounter.
Spain will mark the third round of an eight-stop tour that will eventually decide the 2011 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship. Reigning World champion Toni Bou – Repsol Montesa is currently sat at the top of the series standings with a seven point buffer over second placed Adam Raga – Gas Gas heading into this event.
The Spanish GP will arguably be one of the most important events of the season, not only because of the twenty valuable championship points on offer, but also because of the huge amount of pride which is at stake. The current top four names in the series standings all bear the familiar red and yellow stripes of the Spanish flag and as such each rider will be in search of victory at their home Grand Prix.
Despite an initially disappointing start to the season, when he placed fourth at the opening round of the championship, Raga is still within touching distance of series leader Bou, having since topped the podium on day one of France’s two day event. With countrymen Albert Cabestany - Sherco and Jeroni Fajardo – Ossa placed third and fourth respectively in the general standings, this quartet of fiery Spaniards will certainly be out for blood.
Takahisa Fujinami – Repsol Montesa, who currently holds fifth in the championship table, has so far fallen victim to inconsistency. Although the now veteran campaigner is on level points with Fajardo, he has failed to find his form, having only appeared on the podium once so far this season. Similarly, British riders James Dabill – Beta and Michael Brown – Gas Gas, have shown moments of greatness at the first two rounds of the competition, though have struggled to progress further into the top five and will look to improve on this in Spain.
Mirroring the World Pro class, the highly competitive Junior category is also dominated by Spanish riders all searching for the top step of the podium in front of home support. 2010 vice Junior Trial World champion Alfredo Gomez – Montesa has ridden a flawless season so far, taking three wins from as many starts, however teammate and countryman Francesc Moret – Montesa is still a serious threat, especially on familiar terrain.
Breaking the mould of Hispanic supremacy in the upper two classes, the Youth category has been controlled by Britain’s Jack Sheppard – Beta. Having recently been diagnosed with a serious wrist injury he has been advised to keep practice to a minimum and will undergo surgery at the end of the season. Despite this, the 2010 vice Youth Trial World champion is determined to claim his first title and keep France’s second placed Cedric Tempier - Sherco at bay. Jack currently sits thirteen points clear of Tempier following three consecutive victories, as the young British rider and the rest of the Trial brigade head to Spain ready for this weekend’s showdown.
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