X marks the spot
By TMX Archives on 28th Jan 15
AFTER a break of a month since the opening round in Sheffield on January 3 the 2015 World X-Trial Championship resumes in Marseille, France, on Saturday, with Toni Bou looking to extend his incredible run of victories and ultimately a ninth successive Indoor crown.
The big interest for British fans, though, is the second competitive outing on the all-new Vertigo for British Champ James Dabill.
It is still very early days for the pairing but the team have had a very useful four weeks' training and development since Sheffield. And while a good result is what the team is after, proof they are moving in the right direction is probably more important in the long run.
Team manager Dougie Lampkin's influence could really lift The Dibsta's level this year and James will be keen to capitalise on this amazing chance.
The remaining contenders are the usual suspects and contracted riders Albert Cabestany, Adam Raga, Jeroni Fajardo, Alexandre Ferrer and young Swede Eddie Karlsson who received an unexpected call-up just before Sheffield to replace veteran Japanese ace Takahisa Fujinami.
Fujigas is still recovering from a knee operation and opted to give the indoor season a miss before embarking on his 20th World Championship campaign..
Eddie said: "To have a chance to do a full season indoors against the best riders in recovering the world is an amazing opportunity for me as a young rider, as normally you have to wait until later in your career to break into this series.
"I have been training a lot riding on the back wheel as this is very important for riding indoors.
"I have watched videos of previous events in Marseille and the sections seemed more technical than Sheffield, which should suit me better. It will be a tough night for me but I am looking forward to it.”
FOR MORE TRIALS TORQUE STORIES SEE TMX NEWS JANUARY 29, 2015 (ISSUE 1956)
