Thirty-five years of age Albert Cabestany - Sherco is one man who is really looking forward to the third round of the 2016 FIM X-Trial Championship at Wiener Neustadt, Austria, this coming Saturday. The Sherco rider is a veteran of the International trials scene with only Japan’s Takahisa Fujinami - Repsol Honda - his senior, the difference in age being just five months.
After two rounds, the series has been all about the Barcelona Boys, four-times FIM Indoor Trial World Champion Adam Raga - TRS and reigning nine times series winner Toni Bou – Repsol Honda. Raga took a sensational win in the opening event in Sheffield with Bou runner-up before the positions were reversed at the second round at the Palau San Jordi arena in their home city of Barcelona.
With the pressure on Bou and Raga to break the Championship deadlock in Austria, Cabestany could be perfectly posted to cause an upset. With two third placed rides to date Albert from Tarragona on the Costa Dorada, has pulled off several stunning individual rides in the opening rounds, just to remind us of his silky skills that helped him claim victory in the final round of the 2015 series in Oviedo, Spain. Therefore his rivals are well aware of just what he is capable of.
Albert spoke as he looked forward to Saturday. "Well, we've been working very hard since the last event in Barcelona when I once more finished in third place."
“In the Palau San Jordi I started the final very strong, but unfortunately I struggled in the middle of the lap with a couple of mistakes which was not good for the result. I must try to improve on this and be closer to the top step of the podium. For sure this will be difficult as Toni (Bou) and Adam (Raga) are in a great condition. Also the rest of the guys are all in good form so I must improve."
“I enjoyed very much the Austrian GP at Wiener Neustadt last year. I found it a very complete race, with different kinds of sections to what we are used to which was good for the riders and for the championship. I am hoping that this year they follow the same theme and that we can all enjoy once again one of the best events of the season."