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 Bou draws first blood in Luxembourg
Reigning World indoor and outdoor champion Toni Bou – Repsol Montesa HRC started the new outdoor series as he finished the 2007 season with a win at the opening round of the FIM 2008 SPEA Trial World Championship. His Spanish rival and runner-up in the 2007 series, Adam Raga – Gas Gas was second with Japanese rider Takahisa Fujinami – Repsol Montesa HRC in third place.
The small town of Ettelbruck to the north of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg played host to the opening round of the 2008 championship with a challenging course, which was made considerably harder by recent rain and this was reflected by the high scores.
Reigning champion Bou got off to a nervous start with two uncharacteristic fives in the opening lap. This, along with a single mark for failing to complete the lap in the allocated time meant there was a three way tie at the top of the scoreboard at the end of the first half of the competition. This was between Bou, Fujinami and a rejuvenated Dougie Lampkin – Beta, all of whom were on twenty-five marks apiece. Raga was a further five marks behind at this stage on a score of thirty.
On the second lap, Raga attempted one of his trademark comebacks, dropping just fourteen marks for his second tour of the fifteen slippery sections. However despite his best efforts it wasn’t to be quite enough with Bou dropping eighteen marks on the same lap. This proved sufficient to secure him the win over Raga by a single dab.
As a result, Bou tops the initial 2008 championship table with a three point lead over Raga and five points over Fujinami.
In the Junior championship, last year’s runner-up, Alexz Wigg – Montesa won by a clear ten mark margin over second place Alfredo Gomez – Montesa with Matteo Grattarola – Sherco taking the remaining podium position. Although nervous about his first World championship event since switching to the four-stroke Montesa, four cleans in the opening four sections clearly settled any fears Wigg had.
The Youth championship was much closer with Francesco Moret – Gas Gas taking his first World championship win by a single mark over Jack Challoner – Beta. Young Amercian rider, Patrick Smage – Sherco had to settle for third position after collecting three time penalties on the second lap, which put him out of contention for the top podium place.
The 2008 SPEA Trial World Championship moves swiftly on with round two being held in the seaside town of Bangor, Northern Ireland on the 6th of April, which happens to be next weekend. This event will also incorporate the opening round of the UEM Trial European Championship on Saturday, ahead of Sunday’s main competition.
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HONDA RACING INFORMATION
Weather: Sunny at times
Temperature: 20 degrees C
Attendance: 3,000
Bou wins opening Grand Prix
Toni Bou – Repsol Montesa HRC began the defence of his World outdoor title with a dramatic, but slim win at the opening Grand Prix of the 2008 FIM SPEA Trial World Championship held in Luxembourg. Bou was joined on the podium by his Japanese team mate Takahisa Fujinami – Repsol Montesa HRC who took third position on his four stroke factory Cota 4RT to open his account. The Montesa pairing were split by Adam Raga – Gas Gas who mounted a late fight back to come within one mark of the win.
The small town of Ettelbruck last hosted a World trial back in 2003, when again a Montesa rider also won the competition. This time around the riders found the mainly man made course both wet and slippery after prolonged rain during the days prior to the trial. Thankfully the forecasted rain on the day never materialised, instead the sun shone at times and created drying conditions that created a tight and testing battle between the top five riders.
No less than three riders shared the lead after the first lap of fifteen sections, with Bou being the best on observation, however a single time penalty left him tied with both Fujinami and Dougie Lampkin – Beta at the halfway stage. Raga was five marks adrift at this point with Albert Cabestany a further six marks back. The long and technical hazards set on the surrounding hillside took their toll on the riders, with the leading group all needing their full allocation of three and a half hours to complete their initial tour.
Although the warm weather helped to dry the ground, the once slippery mud was replaced with equally slippery dust as the second lap played out in front of the local audience that had gathered. Although improving his performance during the afternoon session, Raga really applied the pressure with the Gas Gas rider producing the best lap of the trial to finish within one mark of Toni. Bou looked to be relatively comfortable until he fived section ten where he only lost one mark on his first visit.
Bou - 1st : “It has been a difficult competition today, in both laps the sections were extremely slippery making it very easy to make a mistake. I made an error in section eight on the first lap, and just one more five in section thirteen where only Raga managed to pass. I knew that the scores were very close for nearly the whole trial, first with Lampkin and Fujinami and then later on with Raga. This has not been my best ride, but it is still an important victory.”
Fujinami – 3rd : “I think I should be pleased to be on the podium, as we knew that both Bou and Raga were going to be very strong. I did not start that well, but I recovered quite well with some good riding during the middle part of the first lap. I was quite surprised to be a joint leader at the end of the first lap, and so I really thought I could challenge for the victory. In the end, although I am happy with third place, my second lap was not the way I was hoping to finish.”
Laia Sanz – Repsol Montesa HRC enjoyed a mixed weekend, with an emphatic victory in the opening round of the FIM Women’s World Championship on Saturday at the same venue, followed by a disappointing showing in the World Junior class on Sunday. The difficult conditions took their toll on Sanz who could only manage a lowly thirteenth spot. “Today I have been terrible, it is as simple as that. My day began badly and continued in the same way throughout the trial. After yesterday, I really thought I could be strong, but that was not the case.”
 Dougie Lampkin
Dougie Lampkin put the disappointment of the indoor season firmly behind him with a rejuvenated performance at the opening round of the 2008 FIM SPEA Trial World Championship held in Luxembourg. Lampkin’s eventual fourth place was a welcomed result, but was a poor reward for his opening lap showing.
The slippery man made sections saw Dougie back at his best, with the thirty two year old looking very much at home on his Italian two stroke machine in the more traditional surroundings. Lampkin began the day by sharing the initial lead with Bou, despite a soft five at section six, Dougie kept his ex team mate very much in touch.
At the end of the first lap Lampkin was one of three riders who held a share of the lead, with Bou, Fujinami and Dougie all locked on twenty-five marks apiece. This put them five clear of Raga, and eleven marks in front of Cabestany, with the ground drying fast as the sun shone overhead.
With the smell of victory within his reach Lampkin started the second lap in similar form and maintained his challenge for that exclusive 100th Grand Prix win. However Ettelbruck was not to be the venue for this historic moment, as a series of late errors saw him fall from an almost certain podium finish.
Lampkin spoke about his day. “ This is a good result for both me and the team, and has given us all the confidence we have been looking for. Whilst one part of me is happy, obviously I am also disappointed not to have finished on the podium.”
“ The first lap went really well and showed what both the bike and I am capable of. Unfortunately it was a different story on the second lap, where three simple mistakes ended up as three fives. Despite that I am now looking forward to going to Bangor.”
 James Dabill
James Dabill made a disappointing start to his 2008 FIM SPEA Trial World Championship campaign, with an eighth place at the opening round of the series held in the small town of Ettelbruck, Luxembourg. Dabill who has recently won the first two rounds of the Italian domestic championship, looked strong in the official practice sessions over the two days prior to the trial, but failed to repeat this form in the competition itself.
Rain sodden ground made conditions very slippery on a course that was almost entirely made up of man made sections. The wet soil dragged on to the carefully positioned and imported boulders to create a stiff challenge for the World’s best riders. This reflected in James’ first lap score of forty-six marks that included no less than eight maximums.
The large season opening entry on the compact course brought its problems with the Youth riders tangling with James and Co. early on the first lap, as the youngsters came round for their second visit to the sections. Knowing that time would be an issue Dabill opted to ride ahead of his rivals, without the benefit of being able to watch his peers.
Despite a torrid first lap, Dabill found himself only two marks off sixth spot and just ten marks behind Cabestany in fifth at the halfway point. The warm and sometimes bright weather brought a rapid change in conditions, as the mud turned to dust in a matter of a few hours.
Although the soil was now mainly dry, it still offered little grip, especially for James who struggled even more as the competition wore on. Lap two saw Dabill fail to improve, with nine failures to add to his tally this time around, to leave him with a hefty lap score of fifty five marks.
Thankfully despite this poor closing performance, James managed to hold onto eighth position, and in doing so finished just ahead of his compatriot and friend Michael Brown.
Gutted by his riding on the day, Dabill spoke of his disappointment. “This is a massive kicking after having ridden so well at the opening rounds of the Italian championship. I felt good in practice, and thought that the British-like conditions were going to suit me well.”
“ All day I have struggled to find grip, and never got enough speed up on the approaches to the steps. The second lap was a real disaster, with one five after another. I need to do some more training in the wet, so that I can be better equipped for Bangor next weekend.”
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