Off to Andorra

And while the British Championship was sweltering in Swaledale last Sunday news reached us, via James Duxbury from Jordi Pascuet that there was snow at the St Julia de Loria venue high in the Andorran mountains.

 

The event sees a relatively small entry with just 15 World Pro riders, 20 Juniors and 15 125cc Youth entrants.

 

In the Pro class Gas Gas number one Adam Raga arrives as the ‘surprise' Championship leader having won both rounds in America at the end of May.

 

As we've said before, this is hugely ironic as Adam has been most vociferous at his dislike of the newly implemented no-stop observation ruling  and even picked up an FIM rebuke and was forced to apologise after remarks he had made on the record.

 

So Adam arrives back in Europe  after fouir days competition holding a single point Championship advantage over the seemingly unbeatable six times champ Toni Bou. Does anyone think that that would have happened under the old stop-allowed rule?

 

British champ James Dabill heads the British attack on Andorra and Dibs, majestic in the British round last Sunday, is looking for the breakthrough that will put him right in that top five mix - not in his lonely sixth apot.

 

Dibs will be backed-up by Michael Brown and Jack Challoner. Browny will have had another week to recover from his recent knee operation while Jack needs to kick-start a move up the top 10 rankings this year.

 

Jack Sheppard and Jonny Richardson are Britain's sole contenders in World Junior - and both had shockers in last Sunday's British Champs Trial.

 

So they were straight off to Andorra for some intensive practice. Jack is leading the series so needs to be on absolute top form if he is to hold off the likes of Fracesc Moret, Jorge Casales, Cedric Tempier and Pol Tarres while Jonny is desperate to get his factory Ossa in the mix.

 

There's also a handy entry of 15 125cc riding Youths and Britain again sports a twin-pronged attack with Bradley Cox and Dec Bullock.

 

Bradley comes off a shocking Scottish Six Days and missed the British Champs round on Sunday, minding for Jack Challoner in the Italian round.

 

He has to get right back to business in Andorra though as he currently trails Frenchman Carles De Caudenberg in the series although Bradley bossed him good and proper in the second day in America.

 

In short, Britain has a great chance in all classes, what we need is some real application from our undoubtedly talented youngsters.