Trials des Nations Preview
By G2F on 25th Sep 07
The small yet World famous motorcycling island of the Isle of Man is set to welcome the Trial Des Nations (TDN) event this coming weekend, as countries from around the globe descend to do battle in this great team competition. Home of the incredible TT races for the last century, the stunning island off the west coast of the UK mainland is no stranger to staging World-class events, and last hosted the TDN back in 1997.
No less than thirty teams, representing nineteen different nations fromas far a field, as America and Japan will arrive in the capital town ofDouglas later this week to compete for three separate titles. Saturdaywill see the female competitors take to a compact course, this willstart from the famous TT grandstand before working its way around theoutskirts of the host town and the neighbouring dwelling of Onchan.
The three-rider team from Great Britain are the defending champions inthe Women's category, with the home squad having snatched a dramaticvictory from the Spanish girls in France last year. The winning trio ofDonna Fox, Maria Conway and Becky Cook will be hoping for a repeatresult on home soil, but will no doubt have to fight off a strongchallenge from Spain, Germany and France if they are to successfullyretain their title.
Sunday morning will see the men take centre stage, with nine teamscompeting in the World Championship class for the main prize and tenteams in the International Trophy class fighting it out for thesupporting award. Following a similar route to the women, the men willcomplete two laps of eighteen sections around the coastal venue.
Spain will once again start as clear favourites in the top category,with all four of their riders being ranked the World's top six. Theline up of Toni Bou, Adam Raga, Albert Cabestany and Jeroni Fajardo isan awesome prospect for any rival team, but despite their predictedsuperiority, they will not under estimate the threat of the Britishsquad who were victorious on the same island a decade ago.
Dougie Lampkin, James Dabill, Graham Jarvis and Michael Brown (ShaunMorris is out following a recent injury to his eye) will have to be attheir very best to put Spain under pressure, and to keep the Japaneseteam at bay. Lampkin, now a resident of the Isle of Man, will be hopinghis local knowledge and some great home support may just give the Britsthat all important edge.
Australia, Belgium and the Netherlands will be the main threecontenders for the International Trophy, with 2006 winners Irelandhaving now been promoted to the top class following their victorytwelve months ago.
In addition to staging two days of Trial Des Nations action, Douglaswill also host the final round of the 2007 Women's Trial WorldChampionship on Friday 28th September. This will comprise of two lapsof fifteen sections in the same area.
Trial Des Nations Previous winners
World Championship
1997 - Great Britain
1998 - Spain
1999 - Spain
2000 - Spain
2001 - Spain
2002 - Great Britain
2003 - Great Britain
2004 - Spain
2005 - Spain
2006 - Spain
Trial Des Nations Previous winner
International Trophy
1997 - Germany
1998 - Germany
1999 - Belgium
2000 - United States
2001 - Germany
2002 - Norway
2003 - Finland
2004 - Ireland
2005 - United States
2006 - Ireland
Trial Des Nations Previous winners
Women's Cup
2000 - Spain
2001 - Norway
2002 - Spain
2003 - Germany
2004 - France
2005 – Germany
2006 – Great Britain
This event: 29/30th September - Douglas, Isle of Man
Women's / Men's Trial Des Nations
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