Round 8 FIM Trial World Championship 2006
By G2F on 3rd Aug 06
Hawkstone Park 29/30 July 2006Over eight thousand fans packed into the famous Shropshire venue that is Hawkstone Park, to witness the second successive staging of a round of the FIM Trial World championship on the UK mainland. The 2006 TMX Grand Prix of Great Britain had a hard act to follow with the inaugural event in July 2005 being considered by many as the best round of last year's series. However despite the anticipation and high expectations this year's event delivered on a new and an increased level, with riders from as far a field as Australia and Japan taking part in the competition.
The newly introduced Mini Masters trial on Saturday afternoon proved to be highly popular with over three thousand enthusiastic fans packing the wooded hillside to watch riders of yester year in action. The small, but select invitation only entry showed that they had lost none of their old magic as the field of Donato Miglio, Steve Saunders, Joan Pons, Marc Colomer and Amos Bilbao all passed through the first section with relative ease.
Ten times British champion Saunders relished the opportunity of riding again in front of his home fans and even found time to take a swig from a beer bottle that was handed to him midway through one of the hazards. Whilst it was 1996 World champion Colomer who eventually collected the winner's champagne, it was Bilbao who brought the largest roar from the crowd with his familiar extrovert antics.
Rewarded with a fighting fourth place for his efforts, Britain's multi World champion Dougie Lampkin was unable to repeat the victory he enjoyed twelve months earlier and missed out on the opportunity of clinching his 100th Grand Prix win on home soil. However there was plenty for the British crowd to cheer about, with home winners in the other two classes. Michael Brown moved within two points of the Junior championship leader thanks to his latest victory, whilst teenage sensation Alexz Wigg moved to the head of the Youth standings after his victory at Hawkstone.
Eurosport commentator Jack Burnicle kept the crowd informed from the main stage in the factory paddock in his own controversial style. Whilst out in the woods Steve Colley and Woody Hole provided the large crowd with up to the minute information thanks to the SWAN live electronic scoring system that plotted the rider's progress section by section. This new facility helped build a fantastic atmosphere as Japanese Takahisa Fujinami snatched a single mark victory from championship leader Adam Raga, who in turned demoted Albert Cabestany by the same slim margin to create one of the closest finishes of the season.
L+M Events would once again like to thank the British public for turning out in their thousands and playing their role in what will go down as part of Hawkstone Park's rich history. Also they would like to extend their most sincere appreciation to all their loyal sponsors and traders whose contribution is priceless. With over one hundred staff on site, it is impossible to thank each and everyone individually, however everyone involved can be proud in having done their bit to deliver this highly successful event.
Special mentions go to Ron Eddings and his Bradford and District Motor Club crew, without whom it simply would not happen; to Dave Willoughby for his kind assistance and expertise; to John Collins from the ACU for smoothing the way; to Salop Motor Club for the loan of their famous land and especially to Maggie Challinor for her endless work. Following difficulties with local residents and certain departments of the local authority, L+M Events will be conducting a full review over the coming weeks before making an announcement regarding the staging of the 2007 Grand Prix Great Britain.
Issued by: G2F T: + 44 (0) 161 763 6660 F: + 44 (0) 161 763 6663 E: worldpress@g2f.co.uk