Vue from the top
By TMX Archives on 21st May 09
REIGNING champ Toni Bou wowed the crowds at the two-day British round of the SPEA FIM World Trials Championship which was staged at Nord Vue, Armathwaite, near Carlisle, Cumbria, last weekend. The Catalan star and his Repsol Montesa crew overcame a problem with the factory 4RT on Sunday, which cost him a crashing five at the sixth section, to take a stunning double win from arch-rival, Gas Gas-mounted Adam Raga, who finished a safe second on both days.
The big news for the Brits came on Saturday when home-hero Dougie Lampkin bagged his first WTC podium in two years with a superb, consistent ride on the factory Beta that netted third place. Although Doug could not match this feat on the second day, when he just couldn't get on a roll on the opening lap but came back strong on the final circuit, his fifth place points edged him to within a single point of his team-mate, Jeroni Fajardo, who holds fourth in the overall points standings.
In the Juniors, Alexz Wigg kept his nerve and his cool to claim a confident pair of wins – his fourth from the five days staged so far – on his crisp-sounding Beta EVO complete with trick Arrow exhaust, while similarly-mounted Jack Challoner weighed-in with fourth and sixth places.
In the Youth class, previously unbeaten Jonathan Richardson did little wrong but in this low-scoring class, at least for the title contenders, he had to be content with third and second places behind surprise winner of both days, beefy Spanish lad Carles Traviesa. Young Rich thought that he had been hard done by on the opening day when he was docked five marks for failing to beat the minute and a half time limit in a section. This turned out to be his sole loss on the opening lap and he dropped just two marks second time round. Ben Morphett had a super weekend, following-up a super-close fourth place finish on Saturday with a well-earned podium on day two. Local ace Jonny Walker perhaps felt the pressure of being the home-boy and his two seventh places don't really reflect his true ability
Words: JOHN DICKINSON
Pictures: ERIC KITCHEN
FOLLOWING a dismal wet day on Friday when rain fell during the entire official practise session, the 2000 strong crowd that turned-out for the opening day's action were well prepared and the predicted showers were not going to spoil anyone's day.
The FIM delegates had altered several of the proposed Championship sections, easing them slightly and the mainly man-made hazards, constructed from huge slabs of quarried sandstone with thought, from Graham Jarvis, and skill, from local earthmover Neil Wilson.
Two laps of 15 sections was the deed for the day and the excellent news for spectators was that all 15 were accessible and viewing was extremely good. The man-made quarry sections were spectacular, including number six which featured an Indoor style jump and eight which was dubbed Stonehenge by onlookers! It was responsible for extracting the first marks from Bou who arrived on clean but was shocked as the Montesa fell back off the man-made plinth at the summit of the climb. It wasn''t the hardest section of the day, although the jump ‘through' a tree caught a few out, but but only Adam Raga cleaned it twice on the factory Gas Gas. Sherco's Michael Brown also rode it well for a single and a clean.
The hardest section was undoubtedly 10, an ever-steepening climb up a spectacular rock staircase up the quarry wall. The bottom line here is that no-one scaled the heights – except Bou that is who demonstrated his incredible technique and genuinely awesome talent with a clean that defies description. On the second lap a steady drizzle of rain ensued that not even his genius could coax grip from nowhere and the hazard remained unconquered.
Section 13 featured several fearsome ascents and an equally fearsome drop down amongst trees. James Dabill was confident on this one, firing the Gasser out of the top of the almost vertical final ascent. The climb claimed popular Japanese ace Takahisa Fujinami who crashed back down the full height of the climb in freefall, bouncing off rocks and trees. Fuji retired and was taken to Carlisle General where thankfully it was found that nothing was broken. The section took Dougie for a pair of quick fives but both Raga and Bou grabbed airtime out of the Ends cards, their wheels easily clearing the final large slab.
The final section to take marks was – the final section where a huge tree stump did most of the damage. it squeezed two from Bou on the opening lap and a two and a five from Raga. The best here was actually Browny who squirted the Sherco through for just a dab on each lap.
So the podium was Bou, Raga – and a jubilant Lampkin who rightly acknowledged the cheers of a delighted crowd. Dibs was fourth, ahead of a lacklustre Cabestany with B rown sixth thanks to an excellent 19 score on his final lap.
Day two, despite the forecast, thankfully saw a dry day and the sections, which had been stiffened-up to how the planners originally wanted to see them, actually rode pretty much the same. In fact Bou's winning score was identical, 13 marks. But the factory Montesa hit problems, Bou actually proved fallible and Raga really should have capitalised.
The Mont went sick before the fourth section and despite much frantic action by the mechanics, Tony took a big five when the engine room failed to respond and he crashed backwards of a vertical rock face.
The Mont's electrics were then replaced en-masse – although the trouble was later described as "a stone in a breather pipe” and it was back to full health. This was proved when Bou again cleaned the awesome 10th hazard after Cabestany made it for a one, James Dabill for two and Browny a fighting three.
Bou and Raga shared the lead on eight as they went into the final lap – and surprisingly Bou handed the initiative to Raga with a five at the sixth section. Raga, who was on two, remained in front until the show arrived back at the dreaded section ten. Just as on saturday it defied all efforts on the second lap, including Raga who was close – but no cigar.
After a long, detailed inspection, Bou again pulled-off the impossible with a simply inspired ride which was acknowledged by 3000 open-mouthed spectators. Toni then reeled-off the final five hazards to again stand on the top step from raga with an all-Spanish podium completed by Albert Cabestany who had enjoyed a much better day. And a brave Fuji finished a fine fourth after again flirting with disaster when he fired the Mont skywards at the 13th.
As for Doug, he said, "I couldn't do a thing right on the opening lap, whatever I tried went wrong. It was a damage limitation exercise after that but at least I finished strong so it's not too bad. It was good to get on the podium yesterday.”
He did in fact put virtually all his first lap wrong right, cleaning the second, 12th and 13th sections which had taken him for maximums first time through and this just edged him ahead of James Dabill who himself had improved notably on his second circuit.
For the full report and pictures, see T+MX Friday May 22.
Double winner Alexz Wigg just gets Beta!
WORLD TRIALS CHAMPIONSHIP
Rd 3 – Nord Vue, nr Carlisle, BRITAIN
DAY ONE
1 Toni Bou (E - Montesa) 7 + 6 + - = 13
2 Adam Raga (E - Gas Gas) 10 + 12 + - = 22
3 Dougie LAMPKIN (GB - Beta) 20 + 20 + - = 40
4 James DABILL (GB - Gas Gas) 20 + 26 + 1 = 47
5 Albert Cabestany (E - Sherco 28 + 20 + - = 48
6 Michael BROWN (GB - Sherco) 33 + 19 + - = 52
7 Jeroni Fajardo (E - Beta) 25 + 29 + - = 54
8 Marc Freixa (E - Gas Gas) 28 + 37 + - = 65
9 Loris Gubian (F - Gas Gas) 43 + 33 + 2 = 78
10 Daniel Oliveras (E - Gas Gas) 49 + 49 + 3 = 101
DAY TWO
1 Toni Bou (E - Montesa) 8 + 5 = 13
2 Adam Raga (E - Gas Gas) 8 + 8 = 16
3 Albert Cabestany (E - Sherco 13 + 13 = 26
4 Takahisa Fujinami (J - Montesa) 17 + 10 = 27
5 Dougie LAMPKIN (GB - Beta) 27 + 10 = 37
6 James DABILL (GB - Gas Gas) 22 + 16 = 38
7 Jeroni Fajardo (E - Beta) 23 + 17 = 40
8 Loris Gubian (F - Gas Gas) 24 + 22 = 46
9 Marc Freixa (E - Gas Gas) 31 + 22 = 53
10 Michael BROWN (GB - Sherco) 30 + 33 = 63
11 Daniel Oliveras (E - Gas Gas) 33 + 38 = 71
SERIES STANDINGS after 3 rounds: 1 Bou 97 points, 2 Raga 88, 3 Cabestany 69, 4 Fajardo 55, 5 LAMPKIN 54, 6 DABILL 50, 7 Fujinami 49, 8 Freixa 42, 9 Gubian 36, 10 BROWN 34, 11 Oliveras 25, 12 Himmanen 10, 13 MORRIS 9.
NEXT ROUND: June 6/7 – Twin Ring Motegi, JAPAN.
WORLD JUNIOR TRIALS CHAMPIONSHIP
Rd 3 – Nord Vue, nr Carlisle, BRITAIN
DAY ONE
1 Alexz WIGG (GB - Beta) 8 + 3 = 11
2 Alfredo Gomez (E - Montesa) 8 + 5 = 13
3 Matteo Grattarola (I - Sherco) 11 + 7 = 18
4 Jack CHALLONER (GB - Beta) 15 + 6 = 21
5 Alexandre Ferrer (F - Sherco) (21x0) 12 + 16 = 28
6 Benoit Dagnicourt (F - Beta) (17x0) 16 + 12 = 28
7 Sam HASLAM (GB - Gas Gas) 14 + 15 = 29
8 George MORTON (GB - Beta) 16 + 19 = 35
9 Emil Gyllenhammar (S - Gas Gas) 24 + 13 = 37
10 Francesc Moret (E - Gas Gas) (18x0) 17 + 27 = 44
11 James FRY (GB - Sherco) (12x0,9x1) 22 + 22 = 44
12 S Staltari (I - Gas Gas) (12x0,7x1) 22 + 22 = 44
13 Ross DANBY (GB - Gas Gas) 25 + 22 = 47
14 Guillaume Laniel (F - Gas Gas) 36 + 13 = 49
15 Ivan Peydro (E - Gas Gas) 30 + 25 = 55
16 Craig ROBINSON (GB - Gas Gas) 30 + 26 = 56
18 Ben WIBBERLEY (GB - Gas Gas) 38 + 34 = 72
19 Sean DOYLE (IRE - Gas Gas) 35 + 53 = 88
21 Harry HARVEY (GB - Gas Gas) 61 + 65 = 126
DAY TWO
1 Alexz WIGG (GB - Beta) 5 + 1 = 6
2 Matteo Grattarola (I - Sherco) 8 + 3 = 11
3 Alfredo Gomez (E - Montesa) 9 + 4 = 13
4 Alexandre Ferrer (F - Sherco) 1 + 15 = 16
5 Ross DANBY (GB - Gas Gas) 13 + 4 = 17
6 Jack CHALLONER (GB - Beta) (21x0) 20 + 6 = 26
7 Sam HASLAM (GB - Gas Gas) (17x0) 17 + 9 = 26
8 Guillaume Laniel (F - Gas Gas) 16 + 16 = 32
9 Emil Gyllenhammar (S - Gas Gas) 28 + 6 = 34
10 Simone Staltari (I - Gas Gas) 19 + 16 = 35
11 James FRY (GB - Sherco) 27 + 11 = 38
12 Benoit Dagnicourt (F - Beta) 25 + 15 = 40
13 Ivan Peydro (E - Gas Gas) 26 + 21 = 47
14 Mardon Moi (N - Beta) 29 + 25 = 54
15 Francesc Moret (E - Gas Gas) (11x0) 35 + 22 = 57
16 C ROBINSON (GB - Gas Gas) (9x0) 31 + 26 = 57
17 Ben WIBBERLEY (GB - Gas Gas) 35 + 26 = 61
18 Sean DOYLE (IRE - Gas Gas) 43 + 34 = 77
21 Harry HARVEY (GB - Gas Gas) 61 + 73 = 134
SERIES STANDINGS after 3 rounds: 1 WIGG 97 points, 2 Gomez 86, 3 Grattarola 75, 4 CHALLONER 60, 5 Ferrer 46, 6 DANBY 40, 7 Laniel 39, 8 HASLAM 36, 9 Dagnicourt 35, 10 Moret 24,.. 12 MORTON 20,.. 14 FRY 15,... 19 ROBINSON 3, 20 WIBBERLEY 1.
NEXT ROUND: June 6/7 – Twin Ring Motegi, JAPAN.
FIM YOUTH TRIALS CHAMPIONSHIP
Rd 3 – Nord Vue, nr Carlisle, BRITAIN
DAY ONE
1 Carles Traviesa (E - Gas Gas) 2 + 0 = 2
2 Pere Borrellas (E - Gas Gas) 1 + 2 = 3
3 J RICHARDSON (GB - Sherco) (27x0,fc) 5 + 2 = 7
4 Ben MORPHETT (GB - Beta) (27x0) 2 + 5 = 7
5 Tanguy Mottin (F - Gas Gas) (25x0) 1 + 6 = 7
6 Luca Cotone (I - Beta) (23x0) 5 + 2 = 7
7 Jonathan WALKER (GB - Gas Gas) 2 + 11 = 13
8 Maxime Warenghien (B - Sherco) 7 + 7 = 14
9 Marc Horrach (E - Gas Gas) (22x0) 15 + 8 = 23
10 Francesc Ciurana (E - Gas Gas) (20x0) 12 + 11 = 23
11 Matteo Poli (I - Beta) 16 + 8 = 24
12 Matteo Cominoli (I - Beta) 21 + 8 = 29
13 Hakon Pedersen (N - Sherco) 23 + 7 = 30
14 Josh BRAIN (GB - Gas Gas) 13 + 18 = 31
15 Romain Tessaroil (F - Gas Gas) 19 + 21 = 40
DAY TWO
1 Carles Traviesa (E - Gas Gas) 2 + 3 = 5
2 Jonathan RICHARDSON (GB - Sherco) 4 + 3 = 7
3 Ben MORPHETT (GB - Beta) 5 + 3 = 8
4 Marc Horrach (E - Gas Gas) 2 + 7 = 9
5 Luca Cotone (I - Beta) (25x0) 5 + 6 = 11
6 M Warenghien (B - Sherco) (24x0) 6 + 5 = 11
7 Jonathan WALKER (GB - Gas Gas) 9 + 3 = 12
8 Matteo Cominoli (I - Beta) 11 + 2 = 13
9 Hakon Pedersen (N - Sherco) 6 + 10 = 16
10 Matteo Poli (I - Beta) 7 + 11 = 18
11 T Mottin (F - Gas Gas) (23x0,3x1) 16 + 4 = 20
12 F Ciurana (E - Gas Gas) (23x0,16x1) 10 + 10 = 20
13 Pere Borrellas (E - Gas Gas) 8 + 13 = 21
14 Gianluca Tournour (I - Gas Gas) 13 + 10 = 23
15 Romain Tessaroil (F - Gas Gas) 11 + 17 = 28
16 Josh BRAIN (GB - Gas Gas) 12 + 33 = 45
SERIES STANDINGS after 3 rounds: 1 RICHARDSON 92 points, 2 Traviesa 65, 3 Mottin 65, 4 Warenghien 58, 5 Borrellas 57, 6 Cotone 54, 7 WALKER 48, 8 Horrach 45, 9 MORPHETT 41,... 17 BRAIN 2,...
NEXT ROUND: June 6/7 – Twin Ring Motegi, JAPAN.