Luxembourg is set for The New Championship Fight
By TMX Archives on 24th Mar 08
This coming weekend will see the opening round of the 2008 FIM SPEA Trial World Championship take place in the small northern European country of Luxembourg. The town of Ettelbruck last hosted the series back in 2003 when Marc Freixa was the surprise winner on both days of the competition.
Five years later and the face of World trials has changed dramatically with theDougie Lampkin period of domination now over, and the fresh image of Toni Bou Repsol Montesa threatening to create his own piece of history. Having only beendefeated twice on route to his first outdoor crown last season, few would betagainst the young Spanish rider repeating his success during2008.
However the fight to be King will be anything but easy with the2008 FIM SPEA Trial World Championship visiting no less than ten differentcountries over the next six months before the title will be decided. Luxembourgis the first of two European destinations, before the series heads west toAmerica before globe hopping to Japan a month later. The second part of thecalendar is the most intense, and will prove to be the most decisive, as thebattle makes six stops in Europe in fairly quick succession.
Adam Raga Gas Gas once again looks set to be Bou's strongest challenger, having been theonly rider to topple his compatriot during the 2007 campaign. The four strokepairing of Takahisa Fujinami Repsol Montesa and Albert Cabestany Sherco alsopromise to play their part in the mix, and may have to contend with arejuvenated Dougie Lampkin Beta following his return to his more favouredItalian two stroke machine.
With 2007 FIM World Junior Champion MichaelBrown Beta having moved up to the World Pro class, Alexz Wigg Montesa asrunner up from last year, starts 2008 as the hot favourite for top honours. Wiggwill have strong opposition in the form of Sam Haslam Gas Gas, Ross Danby Gas Gas, Loris Gubian Sherco and 2007 Youth Champion Alfredo Gomez Montesa.
The Youth category is perhaps the most difficult to predict,with many of the top runners having now moved up a class for the forth comingcampaign. However with two wins during his brief visit to the series last year,American rider Patrick Smage Sherco just could be the new champion in waiting.Although Jack Challoner Beta could also be worth an outside bet.
Saturday will see the opening round of the Women's World Championshiptake place at the same venue, ahead of Sunday's main competition when the greatfight will begin once again.
Past winners GP Luxembourg
1988 -Thierry Michaud
1989 - Jordi Tarres
1991 Jordi Tarres
1993 - MarcColomer
1995 - Tommi Ahvala
1997 - Dougie Lampkin
2003 MarcFreixa
2007 FIM Riders Championship
Final Standings:
World
1:Bou 214 - Champion
2: Raga 191
3: Fujinami 155
Junior
1: Brown 189- Champion
2: Wigg 152
3: Gontard 134
125cc
1: Gomez 190 -Champion
2: Danby 162
3: Cervantes 150
2007 FIM ManufacturersChampionship
Final Standings:
1: Montesa 377 - Champion
2: Gas Gas210
3: Sherco 194
4: Beta 160
5: Scorpa 100
This round: 30thMarch Ettelbruck, Luxembourg
Next event: 6th April, Bangor, Ireland