Trials Torque: Czech in for a double header
By John Dickinson on 6th Sep 17
AFTER a six week break the 2017 FIM Trial World Championship roars back with the final two of the eight round series in the Czech Republic and Italy on consecutive weekends.
Czecho gets things underway this weekend, September 9/10, at Lake Michal, Sokolov, about 120k from Prague.
The venue was used in 2015 and was well received by the riders featuring slippery sections in woods.
This year the trial will see some changes including several man-made sections in the start area, one of which will be used in the new for 2017 Qualification that will take place on Saturday in order to determine the start order for the single day round on Sunday.
In TrialGP the phenomenon that is Toni Bou, barring a disaster, will win his eleventh outdoor World Championship to match his eleven Indoor crowns to stretch his record breaking run ever further.
Repsol Honda's star is already 28 points ahead of nearest rival Adam Raga and only needs a 20 point advantage after Sunday to retain his iron grip on the series.
In turn TRS ace Raga on 127 points is well clear of the challengers for his own vice-champions position, 24 points ahead of third-placed Jaime Busto, Bou's Repsol Honda 'apprentice' who has really advanced this year.
Busto, on 103, has pulled ahead of his third team mate, veteran Japanese Takahisa Fujinami who is locked on 95 points with Vertigo's Jeroni Fajardo.
Veteran Sherco No.1 Albert Cabestany has struggled this year and sits on 85 points and being rapidly closed down by Britain's James Dabill.
Dibs has established himself as Gas Gas No.1, being well clear of Franz Kadlec and Matteo Grattarola. Dibs is just three points behind Cabestany, is riding well and will have his sights firmly set on that sixth place which is very much up for grabs.
Jack Price has stuck to the task of knuckling down to his first TrialGP campaign and sits in 13th place with 19 points. Another good points scoring ride, targetting a top 10 finish will be Pricey's priority.
Trial2 is once again Britain's big stage and Beta mounted Welsh ace Iwan Roberts currently holds first place on 125 points but Iwan's lead was closed down dramatically in America by Spain's Gabriel Marcelli (Montesa) who took a maximum 40 points with a double win. Iwan needs to stop the rot in Czecho and reassert his advantage.
Fellow Montesa rider Francesc Moret is third but almost 20 points astern just six points ahead of Vertigo's Toby Martyn in fourth.
Dan Peace is just four points adrift of Toby - and riding really well - while his younger brother and fellow Gas Gas rider Jack holds seventh although almost 30 points adrift.
Whatever happens this weekend the Trial2 title will almost certainly wait until Italy to be decided.
The Ladies resume their 2017 title race that saw them kick-off in the United States, the first time that the girls have competed outside Europe.
Reigning three-time champ, Sherco factory rider Emma Bristow made the perfect start to her 2017 Women's TrialGP campaign with a convincing double victory.
And as her main rivals, Spain's Sandra Gomez and Berta Abellan plus German Theresa Bauml tripped one another up over the two days it did Emma a big favour.
Emm won't relax though and will be looking for a hard trial so she can show her true skills.
Jess Bown scored good points both days in the States having made the trip, a fantastic experience, and the Scorpa rider sits in seventh overall.
Womens Trial2 saw no-one able to take control in America with all the contenders really up and down.
Spain's Neus Murcia came out on top on 29 points but three girls were right behind on 28 - including two Americans Kylee Sweeten, Maddie Hoover and Norwegian Erika Melchior.
Britain's Nikita Smith sits in sixth place but only four points off the lead having scored a fantastic second place on the first day. Young Alicia Robinson came away from America holding ninth overall and will be looking for another haul of points in Czecho.
