Bou looking to extend his lead in France
By G2F on 5th Jan 10
Having won the first round of the 2010 SPEA FIM Indoor Trial World Championship in Sheffield, defending champion and title favourite Toni Bou - Repsol Montesa will be looking to consolidate his early-season advantage and extend his championship lead when the series heads to Marseille, France this coming Saturday.
However, while Bou will be gunning for his second victory of the new decade en route to what could be his fourth consecutive indoor crown, he will not have it all his own way. Particularly if last year's winner in France, Albert Cabestany - Sherco, can raise his game in the compact, but atmospheric Palais des Sports stadium.
Another man who will be looking to dethrone Bou and begin his own title challenge in Marseille after a disappointing opening round in Great Britain is Adam Raga – Gas Gas. The Spaniard, who missed out on a podium in Sheffield courtesy of James Dabill - Gas Gas beating him in a tiebreak, has been living in his countryman's shadow during the last few seasons and will want to address his championship deficit at the earliest opportunity rather than afford Bou room to breathe at the top of the standings.
Having climbed on to the rostrum at round one and relegated Raga to fourth place, Dabill will be keen to maintain his momentum and build on his performance in front of his home crowd in the UK with another top three finish in southern France. However, his plight will not be made any easier by the likes of the ever-consistent Takahisa Fujinami - Repsol Montesa and Jeroni Fajardo - Beta, both of whom have a point to prove.
After stumbling at the first hurdle and failing to qualify in Sheffield, twenty-one-year-old French rider Loris Gubian - Gas Gas will be looking to establish himself on home soil alongside fellow rookie, Britain's Alexz Wigg - Beta. The promising if inexperienced duo were awarded fixed rider status this year courtesy of their previous performances.
Wigg won the 2009 SPEA FIM Junior Trial World Championship to add to the Youth title he won back in 2006, while Gubian sealed his selection by finishing ninth in the 2009 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship at only his first attempt. Nineteen year old Alexandre Ferrer – Sherco will join these other two young riders in Marseille, with the French rider being the event's only wild card entrant.
A good result in Marseille is critical for all concerned if they are to challenge the seemingly indomitable Bou and prevent him from adding yet another piece of silverware to his bulging trophy cabinet before the series moves to Spain a week later. It is there, at round three of the 2010 SPEA FIM Indoor Trial World Championship in Barcelona on Saturday 31st January, that fans will be treated to an action-packed double-header with the FIM Indoor Enduro World Cup.