Adam Raga has shown that he wants to win the World Cup, and in a trial where it was very easy to make a mistake, he has managed to withstand the pressure, keeping his cool and the day ends with his winning at Kramolin. It is the fourth victory for the Gas Gas rider so far this season and the fifth time he has won the Czech GP.
While expecting a complicated trial, the weather has been a benefit for everyone, offering a sunny day and a rather easy trial, where the controls have not had any complications by the judging of the Non-Stop regulations. The twelve zones were of a style very similar to each other and with little technical challenge and good grip, which caused a maximum equality among the candidates for victory.
Very quickly it became a two horse race at the top between Toni Bou and Adam Raga. The rider of the Gas Gas TXT Pro 300 Factory Replica came out ahead in the first loop, with mainly zeros on his card and just a single penalty point, compared to Bou with six points. In the second lap, a tie between the two riders with one point each, while the third place rider had already accumulated 14. In the third round, a mistake by Raga in zone 3 equaled the score momentarily, until Bou erred as well, and also accumulated a 'five'. The differential was maintained to the end and Adam won the race by three points ahead of Toni Bou. The result, a lot of work, combined with tension meant always having to ride to the limit, without making the slightest mistake, but has given the Gas Gas rider a position close to the championship lead, with Bou, now just two points ahead. With two double Grand Prix events to conclude the World Cup, these four races still have many points to be played out, and everything suggests that the title will not be awarded until the last day of the championship.
On this occasion, the other Gas Gas riders have had some trouble containing their mistakes. Thus, the Italian Matteo Grattarola finishes, this time in ninth place. The rider from the UK, Michael Brown, is getting better after his knee injury, he was tenth by a single point, and the Frenchman Loris Gubian has also maintained a similar level, being eleventh. Catalan Pere Borrellas scored three championship points.
Juni
or World Championship: Good game for Casales
The test for Junior riders has been very easy too, near the end of the 36 zones four riders were separated by just a single point. The Frenchman Warenghien has gone on to win the trial and Gas Gas School of Champions rider Jorge Casales has been pushed back a final position by a rider who had more 'zeros', finishing in fourth place. The weak performance of his chief rival so far, Britain's Jack Sheppard, makes Jorge's lead in the championship even greater, although there are still four races and there are many points at stake.
On this occasion, Francesc Moret, another Gas Gas rider, has had a bad day, finishing in eleventh place.
Adam Raga
“The trial has gone very well. It's been hard, psychologically, because you could not fail. A day in which the race is very long and never ends. Tied or with few points of difference and that means a lot of pressure. I had to put-in a lot. It was more of a melee battle. I cannot say it's been easy; it had complicated times. Now the world championship is very even and this is good for the sport. We will work hard for the next GP in Great Britain and will fight to be at the highest level possible and try to become the leaders".
Jorge Casales
“It was a trial that was too easy. For only one zero I could not get on the podium and because I touched a tree I have not won. But still, I'm very happy with the riding and team work, not only today, but in the last few races. For my part, I will try to do better in the following events. Still a lot can happen but the goal is still possible".
CLASSIFICATIONS
World Pro
1. Adam Raga (Gas Gas) 9 points
2. Toni Bou, 12 points
3. Albert Cabestany, 17 points
4. James Dabill, 32 points
5. Jeroni Fajardo, 35 points
9. Matteo Grattarola (Gas Gas), 64 points
10. Michael Brown (Gas Gas), 65 points
11. Loris Gubian (Gas Gas), 69 points
13. Pere Borrellas (Gas Gas), 100 points
Junior
1. Maxime Warenghien, 2 points
2. Pol Tarrés, 2 points
3. Carles Traviesa, 3 points
4. Jorge Casales (Gas Gas), 3 points
5. Jonathan Richardson, 7 points
11. Francesc Moret (Gas Gas), 20 points
14. Franz Kadlec (Gas Gas), 30 points
Standings
World Pro
1. Toni Bou, 163 points
2. Adam Raga (Gas Gas), 161 points
3. Albert Cabestany, 120 points
4. Takahisa Fujinami, 119 points
5. Jeroni Fajardo, 113 points
7. Matteo Grattarola (Gas Gas), 64 points
8. Loris Gubian (Gas Gas), 51 points
12. Michael Brown (Gas Gas), 38 points
14. Pere Borrellas (Gas Gas), 19 points
Junior
1. Jorge Casales (Gas Gas), 141 points
2. Pol Tarrés, 128 points
3. Jack Sheppard, 125 points
4. Francesc Moret (Gas Gas), 115 points
5. Cédric Tempier, 102 points
12. Kyle Middleton (Gas Gas), 30 points