World X-Trial heads for Barcelona
By John Dickinson on 3rd Feb 16
ADAM Raga heads into this weekends second round of the FIM World X-Trial championship as the surprise but popular series leader having made a sensational start to the season taking victory in the opening round in Sheffield at the beginning of January.
It was an X-Trial debut win for Raga and the all new Jordi Tarres-inspired TRS machine and more than that, amazingly it was the first time since 2006 that anyone other than Toni Bou has led the series.
Incredibly, Toni has won every world title indoors and outdoors since 2007 but before that Raga was a four time X-Trial champ so Sheffield was an amazing comeback effort by the 33 year-old who won four X-Trial crowns before the Bou domination.
The line-up for Barcelona, which as usual will take place in the impressive St Jordi stadium, built for the 1992 Olympics, way up on Montjuic, is Bou, Raga, Albert Cabestany, Jeroni Fajardo, popular Japanese Takahisa Fujinami, Frenchman Alexandre Ferrer and young Swede Eddie Karlsson – plus the one wildcard allowed (James Dabill got the call-up in Sheffield); in this case local up-and -coming teenager Jaime Busto joining Bou and Fuji on a third factory Repsol Montesa.
Speaking ahead of this Sunday's all-important showdown, with all the leading combatants on home soil, Raga explained.
"It's true to say I was very happy after my victory in Sheffield as it is an event I have not ridden well at for many years.
"To win again in this great event after 11 years felt very special, especially as we made history for the new TRS team and bike by taking the win on its debut in the series, something that has never been done before by anyone else.”
"Barcelona is always an important race, and this year it is no different.
"Like Sheffield it is another event and we start and try to do our best again to take the win.
"We know Toni (Bou) will be strong and has not been beaten in this competition since 2009 so we have a very difficult task.
"I am extremely motivated to repeat the victory I last took in Barcelona back in 2008 and to win again with the new bike, but as a new team we have a lot of work to do and must be realistic about our goals.”
"Back in 2008 the sections in Barcelona were a mix, with 50 per cent being done by Bernard Estripeau.
"This year Bernard will make all the sections in Barcelona, so I think we will find a different type of test and one that might be more technical and like Sheffield, so I am looking forward to seeing the new sections.”
"This is the 39th edition of the Trial in Barcelona, so it has a great history and is a place where your fans, family and friends come to support you in such a strong way, so it is clear how much I would like to take the win again in front of them and inside this famous arena.”
Let's see what happens on Sunday evening.
