Cabestany snatches a late win again in Marseille
By G2F on 25th Jan 10
Almost in a carbon copy of last year Albert Cabestany - Sherco once again stole a late and dramatic win from Toni Bou - Repsol Montesa at the second round of the 2010 SPEA FIM Indoor Trial World Championship in Marseille, France. Under immense pressure Cabestany cleaned the final section to take the victory by a single mark from Bou.
Adam Raga - Gas Gas made a welcomed return to the podium, his first since recovering from injury, and whilst he show moments of brilliance, overall he did not have the level to challenge his two Spanish counterparts. It was a total Spanish whitewash, with Jeroni Fajardo - Beta completing the four man final, and claiming fourh spot on the night.
The slightly amended format saw Cabestany head Raga and Bou into the semi final after a closely fought qualifying session, whilst Fajardo had to defeat Takahisa Fujinami - Repsol Montesa in a tie break to claim his automatic qualification. Wild card rider Alexandre Ferrer - Sherco was the first entrant to be elimanated, as Alexz Wigg - Beta, James Dabill - Beta, Loris Gubian - Gas Gas and Fujinami all transferred to the last chance decider.
Surprisingly it was Dabill and Wigg who emerged on top respectively after the dual lane race and two further sections. For the second round in a row Fujinami failed to make it through to the sharp end of the competition as he and Gubian waved an early good bye to the passionate French fans who had packed the small sports arena on the outskirts of the city.
Like two battle hardened gladiators Bou and Cabestany traded blow throughout the closing four sections, with the leading duo locked on five marks apiece as they went into the deciding hazard. Bou looked to be inch perfect as he hopped his factory four stroke across the boulders in the water pool, but one small slip was enough for him to lose a critical mark. Knowing nothing less than a clean would give him the win, Cabestany was simply perfect in his approach and deservely grabbed the win with the best ride of the night.
Cabestany and Bou are now tied at the top of the general standings, with two of the five rounds having been completed. The title fight moves swiftly on with round three of the 2010 SPEA FIM Indoor Trial World Championship taking place in Barcelona, Spain next Sunday.
Results:
Trial
1: Cabestany 5 - Final
2: Bou 6 - Final
3: Raga 14 - Final
4: Fajardo 17 - Final
5: Dabill 13 - Semi Final
6: Wigg 20 - Semi Final
7: Fujinami 4 - Last Chance
8: Gubian 11 - Last Chance
Qualifying
1: Albert Cabestany (SPA-Sherco) 2
2: Adam Raga (SPA-Gas Gas) 6
3:Toni Bou (SPA-Montesa-HRC) 6
4: Jeroni Fajardo (SPA-Beta) 9
5: Takahisa Fujinami (JPN-Montesa-HRC) 9
6: James Dabill (GBR-Gas Gas) 11
7: Loris Gubian (FRA-Gas Gas) 21
8: Alexz Wigg (GBR-Beta) 25
Non-Qualifiers:
9: Alexandre Ferrer (FRA-Sherco) 26
Current FIM championship standings:
1: Cabestany 35
2: Bou 35
3: Raga 21
4: Dabill 18
5: Fajardo 15
6: Fujinami 8
7: Wigg 6
8: Lampkin 5
9: Gubian 4
10: Brown 3
11: Ferrer 1