Bang Bang – shoot 'em up
By TMX Archives on 2nd Apr 08
WITH the opening round of the 2008 FIM SPEA World Trials Championship now having taken place in Luxembourg the second round, which takes place this weekend at Bangor, near Belfast in Ulster, is right upon us.The seaside town, which hosted the event in both 2003 and 2004, is a brilliant venue with the padock right by the marina, close to the sections which are mainly set on the rugged, rocky coastline, with a contrasting group of six hazards in a steep-sided gully plus a couple of man-made hazards (the first and the last) right by the start-finish.There's a full weekend of action as well with Saturday staging the first round of the European Championship, run over the same course with modified sections, while Friday sees both European and World competitors allowed to practise on the specially designated areas. Luxembourg's opener went pretty much as expected with last year's battle for supremacy between World Champ Toni Bou on the factory HRC Repsol Montesa four-stroke and deposed champ Adam Raga on his unique Gas Gas two-stroke on again with a vengeance. Bou got the jump in Luxembourg by just a single mark as Raga staged a brilliant comeback and sets the scene for another big clash in Bangor.
Former champ Takahisa Fujinami on the second Repsol Montesa nailed the final podium place in Lux but it was a very much on-form Dougie Lampkin who almost stole the show. In his first outdoor competition since switching back to to Beta and the two-stroke REV3, the seven-time champ was in a three-way tie for the lead after the opening lap. And Doug only lost out midway through the final lap to eventually finish a fine fourth - which with just a fraction of luck could easily have been an amazing 100th GP win. This was a huge confidence boost for Doug and he will be well up for Sunday's scrap.
James Dabill will be aiming for a lot better ride in Bangor than his opening effort in Luxembourg while Michael Brown will be hoping to stick right with his friend. And Shaun Morris, still suffering the effects of his eye injury, should add to the points he gained last Sunday on the John Shirt Gas Gas. And watch out for British Champ Graham Jarvis who has entered for a one-off Bangor ride in the 2008 series.
In the Junior Cup, Brits abound, and Alexz Wigg really shook the class last week with a clear win on the Future Montesa. Another performance like that would have Wiggy sitting pretty but Gas Gas duo Sam Haslam and Ross Danby will have other ideas. Watch out for Becky Cook and Donna Fox in the Juniors as they join Laia Sanz in a girl-power attack on the Junior series.
In the Youth Cup, Jack Challoner heads a bevy of Brits in a very competitive class that includes Luxembourg surprise winner Francesc Moret a protege of seven-time world champ Jordi Tarres and American ace Patrick Smage, contesting the whole series this year. There was little between these three last Sunday and a similar scrap is forecast for Bangor.
The action kicks-off on both days at a bright and breezy 9am with the last man due to finish on Sunday at 4.30pm.
It will be a super weekend and of course a full report and results, with pictures by Eric Kitchen, will be featured in T+MX next week!
For full pictures see T+MX NEWS, Friday, April 4, 2008