Bou ends season in style
By G2F on 22nd Sep 08
Toni Bou Repsol Montesa HRC today secured his second successive outdoor World title with a convincing and comfortable victory at the grand prix of Spain. Main championship rival, Adam Raga Gas Gas finished second, with Jeroni Fajardo - Beta claiming third position.
The under-development motorsport venue of Parcmotor, close to the townof Castelloli some sixty kilometres east of Barcelona was to play hostto the final round of the 2008 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship, withthe course being laid out around the incomplete racing circuit andconsisting of typically Spanish long, dry sections featuring largesteps.
With a comfortable fourteen point lead in the championship standingsover Raga going into the final round, it was a confident Bou whostamped his authority on his home event and laid down the gauntlet tohis would-be challengers with a very impressive first lap score of justthree marks. Closest rival at the halfway stage of the competition wasteam-mate Takahisa Fujinami – Repsol Montesa HRC who was twelve marksadrift with Raga in third place and Fajardo in fourth.
Bou turned in another single score lap in the second half of thecompetition, dropping a further seven marks to end the day on a totalof ten. Raga attempted one of his now trademark comebacks, dropping tencompared to his first lap score of sixteen, but with Bou on a roll itwas not to be and he had to settle for second place. As in Portugal theprevious week, it was a rejuvenated Fajardo who kept Fujinami off thepodium and claimed his second successive top three place of the seasonensuring himself of fourth place in the final standings.
With the Junior championship decided last week in Portugal andchampion, Loris Gubian – Sherco electing to ride in the Worldchampionship class at today's event to gain experience for next season,Alfredo Gomez – Montesa claimed his first victory in the junior classover Alexz Wigg – Montesa and Matteo Grattarola – Sherco.
The Youth championship was also decided previously and with Youthchampion Jack Challoner riding in the Junior championship classFrancesc Moret – Gas Gas ended the season in style with back to backvictories in Portugal and here in Spain. Alexandre Ferrer – Shercoreturned to the podium to finish second with Benoit Dagnicourt takingthe remaining podium position.
The special award of the SPEA Youth Hopeful Trophy was awarded to PereBorrellas – Gas Gas with Jonathan Richardson – Sherco in the runner-upspot and Lica Cotona – Sherco in third position.
The final event in the 2008 outdoor season takes place with the Trialdes Nations to be held in Andorra next weekend where Bou, Raga andFajardo will put today's rivalries aside in their attempt to retaintheir Spanish Trial des Nations crown.
Day 1 Results: (1 Day event)
World
1: Bou 10
2: Raga 26
3: Fajardo 27
Junior
1: Gomez 23
2: Wigg 23
3: Grattarola 40
Youth 125cc
1: Moret 17
2: Ferrer 21
3: Dagnicourt 36
2008 FIM Riders Championship Final Standings:
World
1: Bou 225
2: Raga 208
3: Fujinami 183
Junior
1: Gubian 183
2: Wigg 171
3: Gomez 150
Youth 125cc
1: Challoner 171
2: Moret 159
3: Ferrer 152
2008 FIM Manufacturers Championship
Final Standings:
1: Montesa 408
2: Gas Gas 307
3: Beta 272
4: Sherco 198
This round: 21st September Castelloli, Spain
Next event: 27/28th September Sant Julia De Loria, Women's / Men's Trial Des Nations