Wigg scoops the Youth crown
By TMX Archives on 22nd Dec 06
ALEXZ Wigg saw to it that Britain DID have a World Trials Champion in 2006 as the John Shirt Gas Gas star scooped the FIM Youth title following a titanic scrap with a Sherco-mounted duo, France's Loris Gubian and Italian Matteo Grattarola. It was a breath of fresh air for International trials to have up-and-coming competitive riders from France and Italy, not just from the Spanish conveyor system, but even better that a Brit beat them to the title!
Gubian was the early-season leader with wins in Spain and Portugal (just as Michael Brown did in the Junior) but the cornerstone of Alexz's eventual triumph was a pair of wins as the challengers jetted to the USA.
Like the Juniors, the final Youth standings were to be based on the best 10 scores from the 12 rounds and Wiggy opted not to fly to Japan but to crack on with his school exams. The following round in France threw up a strange result with Spaniard Alfredo Gomez claiming his only win of the series with Britain's Ross Danby an excellent second. It was also his second trip onto the podium in successive rounds after bagging a third place in Japan.
Alexz finished down in a disappointed sixth but it was a bad day for the leaders so he did not lose too much ground on his rivals. He was back on song with second behind home-boy Matteo Grattarola in the Italian round before hitting the top step of the podium in Poland. This was perfect timing for Alexz as Sunday, July 30, brought him to his own home round at Hawkstone Park and he took a win that he will always remember, in front of the biggest crowd of the season - his own! There was a huge roar as his name was called up for him to take the top step on the podium and a tear in the eye of his proud Dad Julian.
Runner-up to Grattarola in the penultimate round in Andorra kept the Championship nicely on course before a classy win in Belgium saw Alexz lift the title. It was the perfect end to a fabulous Youth Champs.
There was strength in depth from the Brits as well with Sherco's Lee Sampson and Gas Gas's Ross Danby finishing fifth and sixth overall respectively while Sam Haslam, Ireland's Rob Andrews and Richard Ellwood were frequent travellers on the cross-channel ferry.
It was certainly an interesting and competitive series – with the highlight obviously being a worthy British Champion!