And to the Trials des Nations
By TMX Archives on 25th Sep 08
THIS weekend sees the elite of both Ladies and Mens trials riders descend on the tiny principality of Andorra to contest the annual Trial des Nations and no fewer than 24 Nations will be represented on the rocky mountainsides.Britain has strong teams in both contests, none more so than the Ladies squad who are actually on a hat-trick of victories - and start as strong favourites to do just that. Becky Cook, Maria Conway and Donna Fox really enjoyed their victory in the Isle of Man last year and are all really up for it again and three wins on the trot would be a fantastic achievement for the girls.
Individually, eight times World champ Laia Sanz and former champ Iris Kramer will challenge individually but it will be a surprise if their respective Spanish and German team-mates can rise to the challenge.
Meanwhile it is a huge ask for any National team to unseat the Spanish squad as they bid to extend their winning streak to five. World champ Toni Bou leads Adam Raga, Jeroni Fajardo and Albert Cabestany into battle on what is effectively home turf for the squad, all of whom are in the top six of the World Championship.
However, if anyone is going to take the trial to them it is the British squad led by Dougie Lampkin and backed-up by young guns James Dabill and Michael Brown, both of whom are well up to speed on the International scene. The vastly experienced Graham Jarvis, currently battling with Brown for the British Championship, should prove to be a great anchorman as Graham always delivers. He arrives off the back of a fantastic win in the Red Bull Romaniacs extreme enduro so will be fit and well up for the anchorman role.
The battle will probably be between Britain and Japan with Takahisa Fujinami being joined by Kenichi Kuroyama, Fumitaka Nozaki and Tomojuki Ogawa, all of which have plenty of International experience.
The Irish team of Gareth Andrews, Michael Burton, Sean Doyle and Andy Perry will be going all out to win the popular International Trophy.
Having won the International class in 2006 the Irish guys entered the TdN class last year and rode a tactical trial in the Isle of Man to finish last in class - thus ensuring a drop back to the International class! They always have a top attitude and the Irish boys will definitely challenge for the win.
T+MX will have a full report next week with pics by Eric Kitchen who was already set-up in Andorra before T+MX went to press this week!