Bou takes advantage in Portugal
By TMX Archives on 26th Apr 09
Reigning World Champion Toni Bou Repsol Montesa HRC took victory today at the second round of the 2009 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship. His main championship rival, Adam Raga Gas Gas finished second and Albert Cabestany Sherco once again made it an all Spanish podium.
The historic spa town of Chaves in Portugal, just south of the borderwith Spain was to play host to the second Grand Prix of this year'sseries, presenting a course which proved to be more challenging to theriders than it first appeared with many of the rock sections being veryslippery and made more so by overnight rain prior to the competition.
It was Bou who took the early advantage, dropping just two singledabs and a two on the opening lap. Raga, however did not get off to thebest of starts dropping two marks in both the third and fourthsections. The Gas Gas teamster went on to lose a further four marks onthe opening lap, with both he and Bou picking up a single time penalty.Toni finished the first half of the competition with a four markadvantage over his fierce rival.
Bou
On the second lap, Bou showed exactly why he is the current Worldchampion completing all fifteen sections without dropping a singlemark. Raga halved his score compared to his first lap, but it wasn't tobe enough to seriously challenge his fellow countryman.
Raga
With both riders tied in the championship before this event, Bou hasnow opened a slender three point lead over Raga in the championshipstandings, with Cabestany a further ten points behind Raga.
Cabestany
In the Junior Championship Alfredo Gomez – Montesa took his firsttop podium position of the season with a single mark victory over thewinner of both days of competition at the previous round in NorthernIreland, Alexz Wigg – Beta. Italian rider Matteo Grattarola – Shercotook the remaining podium position. Wigg still leads the Juniorstandings by three points over Gomez with Grattarola in third place,eleven points adrift of Gomez.
The Youth championship saw Jonathan Richardson – Sherco continue theform that earned him back to back wins at the opening GP with a fivemark victory over Tanguy Mottin – Gas Gas. Maxime Warenghien – Shercofinished in third place. This latest victory sees Richardson extend hislead in the overall Youth standings, he is now eleven points ahead ofMottin with Warenghien remaining in third place.
The 2009 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship now takes a short break,returning on 16th/17th May with the Grand Prix of Great Britain.
Day 1 Results: (1 Day event)
World
1: Bou 5
2: Raga 13
3: Cabestany 21
Junior
1: Gomez 14
2: Wigg 15
3: Grattarola 19
Youth 125cc
1: Richardson 15
2: Mottin 20
3: Warenghien 26
2009 FIM Riders Championship Current Standings:
World
1: Bou 57
2: Raga 54
3: Cabestany 43
Junior
1: Wigg 57
2: Gomez 54
3: Grattarola 43
Youth 125cc
1: Richardson 60
2: Mottin 49
3: Warenghien 40
2009 FIM Manufacturers Championship Current Standings:
1: Montesa 93
2: Gas Gas 83
3: Beta 65
4: Sherco 61
For more information please visit www.fim-live.com