Top Novice Albert!
By TMX Archives on 21st Apr 10
Having finished second only to Toni Bou in the 2010 SPEA FIM Indoor Trial World Championship Albert Cabestany has recently hit upon a rich vein of form.
However, he knows as well as anyone that his experience within the confines of the World's arenas will count for little when he travels to Fort William for the 99th Scottish Six Days Trial in a week's time.
Cabestany, the only man to have beaten Toni Bou in World Championship competition this year, only considered entering the Six Days when a friend of his ignited his interest and recently handed him a cluster of DVDs to watch. A year ago, all I knew about the event was that people rode many miles before they even got to a section, said the Catalan with a wry smile. I thought, this is not a trial for me'. But then I accepted that this is one of the things that makes the event so special so I decided to enter.
With the SPEA FIM Trial World Championship paying a visit to the Highlands this year Cabestany's entry is not entirely coincidental. It is clear that, while having fun is definitely on the agenda, he sees the SSDT as an opportunity to hone his skills in what is an unfamiliar environment.
I know the sections will be very different but getting used to the terrain before the World Trial in June will definitely help me. It will give me a feeling for the rocks and the grip. In addition, a friend of mine is 50 years old this year, and it has always been his dream to ride the SSDT, continued Cabestany. So the two of us, plus another friend, decided that this would be a good year to go.
The big question is whether Cabestany, who has proved to be something of an Indoor specialist, can compete for the win. I would like to say that I have entered just for fun. You have to enjoy the sections and the mountains and everything. But people expect me to win or at least to challenge for the victory.
Of course I would like to win but I recognise that to come and win at my first attempt will be very difficult. Also, I do not feel quite as comfortable on these sort of sections so I think it's going to be difficult to even think of winning. But I will try for sure. I am novice in this competition, and sure I will find many things that will surprise me. But I expect to be ready for the challenge!