Great Britain is ready to welcome the title fight
By G2F on 23rd Jul 07
After a short one-week break the 2007 FIM SPEA Trial World Championship resumes once again, to begin the first of the final three rounds of this year's series.
Great Britain is recognised as the spiritual home of trials by many, so it isfitting that the World famous Hawkstone Park motocross circuit is the venue forwhat is always a special Grand Prix in the sporting calendar. The steep andsandy hillside is unique on the tour and creates some very different sectionsthat are a great test of skill and bravery.
Toni Bou Repsol Montesa HRCcan do little wrong this season, having only been beaten twice in thechampionship to date. Although he was defeated last time out by Adam Raga GasGas, Bou will still arrive in England confident he can improve on the fifthplace he took here twelve months ago. Raga knows that he must win and hope thatToni finishes off the podium if he is to have any chance of closing in on hiscompatriot over the rounds that still remain.
The Gas Gas rider can havehope, as both Dougie Lampkin and Takahisa Fujinami Repsol Montesa HRC havetaken the victories over the last two years respectively, at a trial that maynot suit Bou the best. Having suffered badly at the last GP Lampkin will belooking for revenge on home soil, and could not find a better place to recordhis 100th World win. Albert Cabestany's Shero return to form could alsoprovide an upset and might just make the climax to the title fight closer thanmost may expect at this stage.
Michael Brown Beta is another rider whowill be hoping that the massive home support he will receive will be enough topropel him to his first World title. Only a disaster will prevent Brown takingthe Junior championship, although he has to first fight off the challenge ofAlexz Wigg Gas Gas, who was victorious in the Czech Republic, and Sam Haslam Scorpa who completed an historic British 1-2-3, for top honours on theday.
With American rider Patrick Smage Sherco having now returned tothe USA after his mini European tour, which netted him two wins in three rounds,normal service should be resumed in the Youth category. Alfredo Gomez Gas Gas,like Brown, looks odds on favourite to take his first ever World crown atHawkstone Park, with both of the supporting classes being allowed to drop theirtwo worst results. However with Gomez focused on the title, home rider RossDanby who currently sits second in the overall standings will be looking todelight the British fans with his maiden win of the season.
The day priorto the main event, will see a demonstration trial that includes an invited entryof past masters, including ex World champions Marc Colomer and ThierryMichaud.
Past winners GP Great Britain
1991 Diego Bosis
1992 Diego Bosis
1993 Marc Colomer
1994 Dougie Lampkin
1995 Jordi Tarres
1996 Dougie Lampkin
1998 Dougie Lampkin
1999 Dougie Lampkin
2000 Dougie Lampkin
2002 Dougie Lampkin
2005 Dougie Lampkin
2006 Takahisa Fujinami
2007 Riders Championship Current Standings:
World
1: Bou 175
2: Raga 157
3: Fujinami 129
Junior
1: Brown 169
2: Wigg 138
3: Gontard 112
125cc
1: Gomez 170
2: Danby 141
3: Cervantes 129
2007 Manufacturers Championship Current Standings:
1: Montesa 307
2: Gas Gas 171
3: Sherco 158
4: Beta 128
5: Scorpa 81
This round: 29th July Hawkstone Park, Great Britain
Next round: 2nd September Sant Julia De Loria, Andorra