Trial World Championship - Andorra looks up for grabs!
By John Dickinson on 14th Jun 18
After the excitement of Japan, just two weeks ago, when the Gas Gas factory duo of Jeroni Fajardo and Jaime Busto pulled off stunning back to back victories totally foiling Repsol Hondas Toni Bous plans of achieving his 100th TrialGP victory in front of the Honda top brass the series is back in action with the third round in Andorra this weekend.
And what a prospect it is!
Bou must be furious at what happened in Japan. He is 100 per cent dedicated to winning and is simply not used to things not going to plan. The momentum is with the Gas Gas boys. Jeroni has finally shown what he has long been capable of while Busto is a prodigious talent. Who knows what the lad is capable of?
The fact is that both riders have made what must be seen as a massive breakthrough. Toni isnt unbeatable and they now have to ride on the wave of confidence that they themselves have created. Toni of course will have other ideas and would anyone be surprised to see him roar back with a clean ride on the day?
As it stands, though, after two rounds and three scoring days Toni leads the Gasser guys by just two points, the scores being Bou 50 points, Fajardio and Busto 48 and Adam Raga straining to join the party, the TRS team leader just behind on 43.
Included in the 14 TrialGP challengers are Brits James Dabill (Beta) and Jack Price (Gas Gas).The Dibsta is well capable of a top-five finish, and must be motivated to beat his 2018 team-mate, veteran Albert Cabestany after twice losing out on tie-breaks in Japan, while Pricey should be swept along on the Gas Gas wave of euphoria! The stage is set for TrialGP fireworks in Andorra.
Meanwhile, in Trial2, which as a reminder is a full World Championship for riders of 250cc machines 300cc allowed for four-strokes and it is the Honda - Montesa four-bangers filling the top three places going into Andorra.
This is a real experience v youth battle with Italian Matteo Grattarola, having dropped down from TrialGP in search of a World title, currently holding the lead from Britains talented teenager Toby Martyn.In a real International clash it is Spains Gabriel Marcelli completing the top three in the points table.
Gas Gas mounted east Yorks brothers Dan and Jack Peace hold fourth and fifth respectively.Jack started brilliantly with second place in the opening round in Spain but dropped off the pace alarmingly in Japan while older bro Dan has been much more consistent.
The experienced Grattarola, who was world No.10 last season, is certainly a very strong contender while the British lads just have to fo go for their shots.Toby is capable of some amazing rides and has adapted quickly to the four-stroke while Dan and Jack are capable of staying right in the mix.
They will be joined by Womens World Champ Emma Bristow (see separate story) and Oliver Smith. This is a very competitive class with 27 contenders this weekend and there are sure to be some surprise results.
In the Trial125 class Britains hopes are with Billy Green (Beta) the Devon based youngster who finished runner-up in 2017 and who currently holds a narrow lead in the series. Billy won the opening round in Spain but slipped to fifth on a relatively easy opening day in Japan before getting back on top on the second day when the sections were stiffened-up.
Taking advantage in the Japanese opener was Spains Martin Riobo (Gas Gas) but he too fell away to sixth in the second encounter so Billy leads on 51 points from Riobo 47 while another Spanish contender Eric Miquel (TRS) and French challenger Hugo Defrese (Gas Gas) sit on 37 points.
Heres hoping that Billy can now build on that hard-earned lead but it wont be easy in Andorra which is seen by many as a second Spanish round but having won in Spain already Billy wont be worried by that!
As is the norm for 2018 FIM Trial World Championship events in Europe, Saturday will see the two rounds of Qualifying, run over a single section, which will determine the starting numbers
for Sundays single scoring days trial.
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