Trials Torque: American High
By John Dickinson on 2nd Aug 17
THERES no doubt that the American round of the World Trials Championship was a major success.
And as far as the men goes it sees the series approaching its conclusion with just two one-day rounds to go in the Czech republic and Italy.
Bar a major disaster Toni Bou is all set to tie-up his 11th FIM World title, to match his 11 Indoor crowns.
America saw the British contingent making the trip count.
James Dabill followed up his fourth place in the British round with another two solid scores and closed down on Albert Cabestany's sixth place in the series.
Dibs is riding with real confidence now and just needs to keep this momentum going with a strong finish to his 2017 campaign.
Jack Price is in his first season in TrialGP and, as everyone does, has taken time to adjust to the huge step-up from Trial2.
But Pricey is a real battler and if Jack can finish the year on a high note he could genuinely look forward to making inroads on regular top 10 slots in 2018.
The Brits have shone in Trial2 this year with Iwan Roberts, Dan and Jack Peace and Toby Martyn up at the sharp end all year and they packed the higher echelon of the Top 10 in the USA.
The fly in the ointment is that Spanish contender Gabriel Marcelli has been eating into Iwan's Championship lead and the Welsh ace needs to stop the rot in the Czech republic to get his title challenge back on track.
With all rounds to count it looks like there's going to be one awesome final round in Italy when it will all come down to who can handle the pressure.
In his first year in Trial2, Jack Peace is probably happier with his performances than Dan as the older Peace bro had really targeted the Trial2 series this year.
He has enjoyed some really good results but just not been consistent enough to really challenge.
Same for Toby Martyn although the Cornish teenager has really hit form lately and the final two rounds are really important to all the Brits.
The Ladies enjoyed their first ever trip outside Europe for a World Championship event.
And for Emma Bristow, aiming for four in a row World Championships it was the perfect start with two emphatic wins.
But respect to Jess Bown for a really strong weekend which made the considerable expense worthwhile and we look forward to Jess capitalising on her early points in the next two rounds in the Czech Republic and Italy.
In Trial2 Women we saw the return of the amazing NiKita Smith.
Nikita competed in the Women's series in 2013 as a 15-year-old but then suffered that well-documented road accident in 2014 that came so close to costing her life.
She has shown incredible resolve in battling back to fitness from multiple injuries and to return to the series after four years is an amazing feat.
And with an excellent performance in the USA, with Women's Trial2 proving to be a hotly-contested series, Nikita is right in there with a real chance of lifting the title when the series returns to Europe.
And hats off to Alicia Robinson for scoring points in the USA with a strong performance.
There's little doubt that Alicia represents the future of British Women's trials.
