Can the Brits do well in France?
By TMX Archives on 9th Jul 10
FOLLOWING on from the recent excellent British round of the SPEA FIM World Trials Championship, the double-header which represented rounds five and six of the 2010 series, the circus moves on to mainland Europe this weekend with the French round which will take place at St Michel De Maurienne this Sunday, July 11.
Defending champ Toni Bou holds a commanding 17 point series lead from Adam Raga but in third place, Bou's Repsol Montesa team-mate Takahisa Fujinami is just a single point behind the Gas Gas rider and Fujigas, on top of the world after his win in Fort William a week last Sunday, will be looking to overtake the former champ!
These three plus the remaining usual suspects, Sherco's Albert Cabestany and Beta's Jeroni Fajardo will be dominating the top five but Brits Dougie Lampkin, James Dabill, Michael Brown and Alexz Wigg ought to be looking to break-up the favourites' stranglehold. Doug got on the podium in Scotland – can he shock them in France? Dibs and Browny both have the skill, they just need the breakthrough.
In the Junior class the battle continues between Britain's Beta star Jack Challoner, who took a morale-boosting win on Sunday last in Scotland and his Spanish nemesis Alfredo Gomez on the Montesa. Gomez holds the narrowest three point Championship lead and obviously nerves will become as much a part of this contest as skill so keep it cool Jack! French Sherco rider Alex Ferrer is capable of creating an upset and could infuence the points table, especially on home ground where he will be looking to repeat his opening round victory in Spain. Joining Challoner in Fance will be Jonathan Richardson, Harry Harvey, George Morton and Becky Cook.
Youths will also see a Brit caught-up in a two-horse race as Jack Sheppard, Beta-mounted like Challoner, battles for the World crown with Spanish foe Pol Tarres on the Gas Gas. Pol, nephew of the legendary Jordi, holds a ten point series advantage but Jack has beaten him twice this year and can claw his way back into contention. Joanne Coles, Britain's leading Lady prospect, is Britain's only other representative in the Youths.
T+MX will of course bring you a report with pics on the French round in next week's issue.