JACK SHEPPARD
Sheppard takes Euro title

Just one week after clinching the 2011 SPEA FIM Youth Trial World Championship, Jitsie Beta factory rider Jack Sheppard has now added the 2011 UEM Junior Trial European Championship to his name. The eighteen-year-old from Suffolk sealed his latest international title by winning the sixth and final round of the Euro series held in Tanvald, Czech Republic. Sheppard went into the deciding encounter six points in front of his nearest rival Saleri and knowing that third place on the day would be sufficient for him to take his second crown in as many weeks. However like a true champion Jack signed off in style with yet another victory, making it four wins in six rounds.

Once again the teenager from Ipswich was not one hundred per cent sure if he would compete in the Czech Republic having only arrived back in Europe from his winning trip to Japan mid way through the week. Jack's long standing wrist injury was again the cause for concern with the two day Grand Prix in Motegi having left him in much pain. Thankfully as the week wore on Sheppard declared himself fit to ride, with the Euro title very much on his mind and within his grasp should he be able to perform somewhere close to his true potential.

With his Jistsie Beta factory team at his side Jack made what will be his last competitive outing this season, with him due to under go an operation on his wrist in mid-September that will effectively put him out of action for up to three months. Heavy overnight rain left conditions at the wooded hillside wet and slippery ahead of today's competition. For the second weekend in a row the conditions were very much to Sheppard's liking with him effectively destroying the opposition by the end of the opening lap. Sheppard's first lap total of a mere five marks put him well clear of eventual runner-up Saleri who parted with seventeen marks over the same period.

With victory within his grasp the Jitsie Beta factory rider could adopt a calculated-approach for his second lap, allowing him to run out a clear victor with a total for the trial nearly half that of his Italian challenger. Four wins, one second place and a fourth spot at the second round in Germany meant that Sheppard took the title by nine clear points despite having ridden most of the season with his injured wrist, which has prevented him practising at all between competitions.

In his typically modest manner Jack spoke about his second title. "Again it's a case of job done. Winning the European championship as well as the World title was always one of the goals we set at the start of the year. However when the problem with my wrist became apparent we had to start to prioritise which championship was the most important, as it was obvious that I was only going to be able to ride a limited amount of events."

Jack added, "Obviously I am very happy, two titles in two weekends is not bad going. Although unfortunately the two titles have not come without sacrifice, as I have had to miss some rounds of the British series which is a real shame. Also though I hope to be present in France to collect my World championship gold medal, I will not ride the last Grand Prix as it would be stupid to do further damage for no real reason."

"Again I would like to end by thanking the Jitsie team - Jan, Ivo, James - the guys at the Beta factory in Italy plus John Lampkin back in the UK and all my other sponsors and supporters who helped me to reach this point in my career," concluded Sheppard.

Women’s European Trial Championship
Laia Sanz celebrates her tenth consecutive continental title

Laia Sanz (Montesa Cota 4RT) retained her European Trial Champion title for the tenth consecutive year after a new victory in the event that ended the season this Saturday. Once again Laia Sanz’s mastery was absolute. She won the first event, in Civita Castellana (Italy) in April as well as the second, last Saturday in Grossheubach (Germany) and crowned her feat with what has been her victory number 31 in 34 events held since the year 2000. Riding a Montesa, brand with which she has won her last eight titles, she remains unbeaten in the continental championship since August 17th 2002.

To retain her title, it would have been enough for Laia Sanz to finish fourth in this last event. For her, however, the challenge was to achieve the top podium position, something she practically ensured herself at the end of the first lap, with no penalisation points and a notable advantage over her closest rivals.

Laia Sanz: “It’s very satisfactory to have revalidated the title once again, because to have done this for ten consecutive years is very difficult. In this period of time my rivals have changed, some which were here the first time I won are no longer competing, others have arisen and I continued working with the sole objective of doing better and better. The championship has been almost perfect. And I say almost because of the five points (doubtful in my opinion) given to me in the previous event, without which I would have finished the championship with zero points."

UEM REPORT
LAST ROUND OF TRIAL EC IN TANVALD

For the second time in two years, the last round of the Trial European Championship, after the cancellation of the Myslenice round, was held at Tanval, in North Czech Republic, where there is a perfect area into a forest, rich of natural obstacles. All the sections became tougher for the heavy rain fell in the night before.

In the Europe class, Alfredo Gomez (Montesa) was one of the first riders to start and had the hard task to open all the sections. Nevertheless this inconvenient duty, his score after the first lap was very good: 24 points. Challoner and Matteo Grattarola (Gas Gas) were controlled each others. Grattarola took a smooth advantage, climbing the high inclined wall in section 8, but fived section 10 and 11, the last for having lightly touched a mark. This fact discouraged him so much as conditioning his successive riding. Challoner on the contrary started to feel more confident as never. At the turning point Challoner led, scoring 21, two points less than Gomez. Grattarola’ score of 32, plus 3 points of delay sounded as a sign of surrender. In the second lap, Gomez replied the good performance delivering his card with 24 mistakes, but Challoner made even better: only 19! That meant victory and title. Grattarola, with a little bit of pride, scored 23, but was too late to avoid of yielding the second place in the championship to Gomez. Indeed thanks to the runner-up position of today, both reach 90 points, but the Spanish rider has one more second place.

Between the Juniors Sheppard mortgaged his win and title with a masterpiece first lap, just 5 marks! Nothing to do for Giacomo Saleri (Beta), sometimes not so calm and cool as the British one. Saleri finished behind him today and kept the second place in the final standings. Thanks to the third place of today, Steven Coquelin (Gas Gas) overtook Cedric Tempier, not present here, and occupied the final third place.

Winner today and second behind the already Over-40 champion, Andrea Buschi, was Finnish Staffan Floessel (Sherco). Third in the championship Dutch John Van Veelen (Ossa), who arrived runner-up, ahead of the last year champion, at his first competition this year, Sweden Magnus Lijeblad (Sherco).

In the day before it was held the third and last round of the Women and Youth Championship. Spanish multi-champion Laia Sanz(Montesa) won again and clinched her tenth European title. Second place for Emma Bristow (Ossa), who beat country-mate Rebekah Cook (Sherco).

Between the Youths crown to French Steven Coquelin (Gas Gas) only third in this last round, beaten by Norwegian Sverre Lundevold (Beta) and Italian Gabriele Giarba(Beta), both followed him in the final championship standings.

FINAL RESULTS

YOUTH TRIAL EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
Pos. First Name and Name Nationality FMN Machine Points
1 Sverre Lundevold NOR NMF Beta 20
2 Gabriele Giarba ITA FMI Beta 17
3 Steven Coquelin FRA FFM Gas Gas 15
4 Bradaley Cox GBR ACU Beta 13
5 Jiame Busto ESP RFME Gas Gas 11
6 Paul Bury FRA FFM Gas Gas 10
7 Timo Myöhänen FIN SML Gas Gas 9
8 Iwan Roberts GBR ACU Beta 8
9 Jack Price GBR ACU Gas Gas 7
10 Martin Matejicek CZE ACCR Gas Gas 6
11 Franz-Xaver Kadlec GER DMSB Gas Gas 5
12 Pietro Petrangeli ITA FMI Beta 4
13 Leonardo Valenti ITA FMI Beta 3
14 Billy Bolt GBR ACU Beta 2
15 Nacho Fernandez ESP RFME Gas Gas 1

WOMEN TRIAL EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
Pos. First Name and Name Nationality FMN Machine Points
1 Laia Sanz ESP RFME Montesa 20
2 Emma Bristow GBR ACU Ossa 17
3 Becky Cook GBR ACU Sherco 15
4 Rosita Leotta GER DMSB Sherco 13
5 Sandra Gomez ESP RFME Gas Gas 11
6 Sandrine Juffet FRA FFM Gas Gas 10
7 Alba Villegas ESP RFME Sherco 9
8 Marilyne Journet FRA FFM Beta 8
9 Donna Fox GBR ACU Beta 7
10 Mireia Conde ESP RFME Beta 6
11 Ina Wilde GER DMSB Sherco 5
12 Nikita Smith GBR ACU Gas Gas 4
13 Pauline Masanes FRA FFM Gas Gas 3
14 Martina Balducchi ITA FMI Beta 2
15 Sara Trentini ITA FMI Beta 1

TRIAL EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
Pos. First Name and Name Nationality FMN Machine Points
1 Jack Challoner GBR ACU Beta 20
2 Alfredo Gomez ESP RFME Montesa 17
3 Matteo Grattarola ITA FMI Gas Gas 15
4 Martin Kroustek CZE ACCR Beta 13
5 Francesc Moret ESP RFME Montesa 11
6 Pere Borrelas ESP RFME Gas Gas 10
7 Luca Cotone ITA FMI Gas Gas 9
8 Carles Traviesa ESP RFME Gas gas 8
9 Francesco Iolitta ITA FMI Beta 7
10 Matteo Poli ITA FMI Ossa 6
11 Jiri Fikejz CZE ACCR Beta 5
12 Filippo Locca ITA FMI Beta 4
13 Gabriel Marcinow POL PZM Gas Gas 3
14 Jesper Johansson SWE SVEMO Beta 2

125cc JUNIOR TRIAL JUNIOR CUP
Pos. First Name and Name Nationality FMN Machine Points
1 Jack Sheppard GBR ACU Beta 20
2 Giacomo Saleri ITA FMI Beta 17
3 Steven Coquelin FRA FFM Gas Gas 15
4 Bradley Cox GBR ACU Beta 13
5 Martin Matejicek CZE ACCR Gas Gas 11
6 Francesco Cabrini ITA FMI Beta 10
7 Michel Schulte GER DMSB Beta 9
8 Cory Dubik GBR ACU Gas Gas 8
9 Marcus Elliasson SWE SVEMO Beta 7
10 Philip Mackroth GER DMSB Beta 6

OVER-40 TRIAL JUNIOR CUP
Pos. First Name and Name Nationality FMN Machine Points
1 Staffan Floessell FIN SML Sherco 20
2 John Van Veelen NED KNMV Ossa 17
3 Magnus Liljeblad NOR NMF Sherco 15
4 Philippe Bontemps FRA FFM Gas Gas 13
5 Torsten Schumann GER DMSB Beta 11
6 Willy Kramer GER DMSB Gas Gas 10
7 Jindrich Klaus CZE ACCR Sherco 9
8 Jorgen Nylund FIN SML Scorpa 8
9 Dariusz Blaszczyk POL PZM Sherco 7
10 Martin Kuchar CZE ACCR Montesa 6
11 Jukka Makela FIN SML Gas Gas 5
12 Karel Veyr CZE ACCR Beta 4

Final Rankings

Women Trial European Championship
Total
1 Laia Sanz ESP RFME Montesa 60
2 Emma Bristow GBR ACU Ossa 49
3 Becky Cook GBR ACU Sherco 47
4 Sandrine Juffet FRA FFM Gas Gas 32
5 Sandra Gomez ESP RFME Gas Gas 30

Youth Trial European Championship
Total
1 Steven Coquelin FRA FFM Gas Gas 55
2 Sverre Lundevold NOR NMF Beta 50
3 Gabriele Giarba ITA FMI Beta 39
4 Paul Bury FRA FFM Gas Gas 36
5 Bradley Cox GBR ACU Beta 35

Trial European Championship
Total
1 Jack Challoner GBR ACU Beta 101
2 Matteo Grattarola ITA FMI Gas Gas 90
3 Alfredo Gomez ESP RFME Montesa 90
4 Francesc Moret ESP RFME Montesa 82
5 Pere Garcia Borrellas ESP RFME Gas Gas 56

125 cc Junior UEM Cup
Total
1 Jack Sheppard GBR ACU Beta 110
2 Giacomo Saleri ITA FMI Beta 101
3 Steven Coquelin FRA FFM Gas Gas 81
4 Cedric Tempier FRA FFM Sherco 74
5 Eddie Karlsson SWE SVEMO Gas Gas 54

Over 40 UEM Cup
Total
1 Andrea Buschi ITA FMI Ossa 100
2 Philippe Bontemps FRA FFM Gas Gas 84
3 Staffan Floessel FIN SML Sherco 69
4 John van Veelen NED KNMV Ossa 49
5 Karel Veyr CZE ACCR Beta 30