Bai' the way, it's in Spain
By TMX Archives on 14th Apr 10
THE opening round of the 2010 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship gets underway this weekend when Spain has the honour. The fishing village of Baiona, on Spain's west coast close to the Portuguese border, is the venue as the 35th running of the World Trials Champs kicks-off.
A total of 60 riders will gather in Baiona with 14 in the World Championship, 24 in the World Junior and 17 in the Youth category. The remainder are ‘guest' riders who aren't eligible for championship points.
Included are no fewer than eight British riders with half of this number in the Championship class. These include seven times World outdoor champ Dougie Lampkin (Beta) ranked seven, James Dabill (Gas Gas) eight, Michael Brown (Sherco) 10 and Alexz Wigg who is ranked 12 but is in fact starting his first full World Championship season.
Favourite to retain his crown is Toni Bou who is very likely embarking on his final season on the mighty Repsol Montesa. Bou is quite simply in a class of his own but is occasionally beatable. His main opposition will come from the usual suspects including Adam Raga (Gas Gas), Albert Cabestany who could be a genuine force again on the two-stroke Sherco, Bou's own team mate Takahisa Fujinami and Jeroni Fajardo on the Beta. Dougie Lampkin still feels that he belongs in the elite top six while 2010 is the year James Dabill reckons he will join them. Dibs has been on his best form ever indoors this winter and looks even better outside. He could be a big thorn in the side of his Gas Gas team leader Raga this season.
FOR FULL REPORT SEE T+MX NEWS, FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 2010