RESULTS

BOU WINS AT A HOT AND TOUGH FRENCH GRAND PRIX

Toni Bou - Repsol Montesa further extended his lead at the top of the 2010 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship after winning at a hot and tough French Grand Prix. In very difficult conditions Bou had to wait for the second lap before he could break clear of the pack and was eventually followed home by his team mate Takahisa Fujinami - Repsol Montesa. The final rostrum place was filled by Jeroni Fajardo - Beta who looked in with a real chance of victory after the initial tour.

Heavy rain late on Saturday afternoon played havoc with the organisers as they were forced to revisit all their hard work and had to change the majority of the sections set on the steep hillside as the dust turned to mud in a matter of hours. As a result of these major alterations the riders were permitted to inspect the sections during the opening lap and were allotted an extra twenty minutes on the interim time limit to allow for this important process.

All the riders looked nervous as they struggled to understand the nature of the terrain as well as the long and technical hazards. This became ever more apparent for sections six through to ten, which were all situated on a steep rock face in front of a packed crowd who were enjoying the action from the grass meadow below. It was here where Bou lost the bulk of his marks on the opening lap, his tally of twenty nine only giving him a two mark lead over Fajardo at this point.

Although everyone was suffering, especially as the day just got hotter as the Trial wore on, it was Adam Raga - Gas Gas who was enduring the biggest nightmare. On sections that required bravery and should have suited him well, Raga looked to lack confidence and could do little to recover from a disappointing first lap to eventually finish in a potentially title-wrecking sixth place.

Bou and Fujinami were by far the best on their second visit to the sections, which remained as difficult as ever. Both Montesa riders posted sub twenty mark scores to close with, which moved them ahead of their main rivals who failed to show any real signs of improvement. Even a big crash in section twelve for Fujinami on the second lap could prevent an important 1- 2 for the mighty Repsol pairing. With Raga's demise, Fujinami now moves up to second in the general standings with three rounds remaining.

With no real contenders in the World Pro class, it was left to Alexandre Ferrer - Sherco in the Junior category to delight the French fans. His victory was both unexpected and convincing as series leader Alfredo Gomez - Montesa never got to grips with the terrain all day. Although twenty marks off the winning score, Gomez did manage to salvage second spot on the day whilst his main title rival Jack Challoner - Beta slumped to sixth place and in doing so lost valuable points towards his campaign.

In the Youth division Jack Sheppard - Beta made it two wins in a row, as the sixteen-year-old followed up the win at his home GP with an important victory in France to further close the gap on Pol Tarres - Gas Gas. Tarres was second on the day, but has had his lead cut to just seven points ahead of the next two rounds which could prove critical in the Youth title race.

Next weekend the championship heads to San Marino for round six of this year's eight stop tour.


HONDA RACING
Weather: Bright Sunshine
Temperature: 32 degrees C
Attendance: 8500

Bou and Fujinami finish 1-2 at French GP

Repsol Montesa HRC riders Toni Bou and Takahisa Fujinami completed an impressive 1- 2 at the French Grand Prix, which marked round five of the 2010 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship. In hot and difficult conditions the four stroke mounted pair showed their class finishing ahead of a rejuvenated Jeroni Fajardo – Beta who was the remaining podium finisher. Thanks to this latest result, Bou moves further ahead in the general standings, with Fujinami having now over taken Adam Raga – Gas Gas to claim second spot in the title race.

The small industrial town of St Michele De Maurienne, which sits close to the Italian border and nearly two hundred kilometres south east of the French city of Lyon has been absent from the calendar since 1995. Whilst the town now boasts a motorway on its outskirts and several changes within the urban areas, the terrain where the sections were located on the hillside overlooking the valley was as fierce as it was when the series last visited here fifteen years ago.

Heavy rain on Saturday afternoon turned dust into mud and forced the organisers to change almost every section ready for Sunday’s competition. As a result of these late alterations the riders were allowed to inspect the hazards during the first lap, which is now normally not permitted under new rules introduced earlier this year. To aid this process the riders were also granted an extra twenty minutes to complete their initial tour. Even with the changes the course proved to be ultra difficult with Bou posting a first lap score of twenty nine marks, which put him just two marks clear of Fajardo at the head of the field with a lap still to play for.

It was during the closing tour that both Bou and Fujinami really showed the pedigree of the factory Cota 4RT machines, with these being the only two riders to record lap totals of less than twenty marks as conditions remained as tough as ever. Toni’s tally of thirteen made him the clear winner, and deservedly so, but equally Takahisa did a brilliant job to ride himself back into contention. The Japanese rider suffered a nasty crash late on the second lap, which left him with an injured leg, making his achievement even more special. After such a strong team result, both riders will look ahead to the next two GPs over the coming two weekends with great confidence, and holding solid positions in the title standings.

Bou – 1st: “I am very happy with today, especially after not such a good start. The conditions were very difficult this morning and I did not have a good feeling with the bike. The sections were difficult to understand and because of this I made a lot of mistakes. What I am most happy with is the way I recovered for the second lap. I changed my mentality and my riding style and in the end this is an important victory both for me and the team. I want to thank my team again, as now I have good advantage in the championship ahead of the next rounds.”

Fujinami – 2nd: ”To be second after such a difficult day is the best result I can hope for. Riding first in the sections on the first lap was an impossible task, as these were different sections to which we normally know. To understand how the ground was working and how much time you could spend in each place was a big challenge. After the first lap was over I begun to ride well and was riding good in most places until I made a big crash in section twelve. Nothing is broken I hope, but it made the last sections even more difficult for me.”


REPSOL MONTESA HONDA
A complete weekend for Montesa, with the double triumph of Toni Bou and Takahisa Fujinami in addition to Laia Sanz's victory in the women's category

Saint Michel de Maurienne (France). 11.07.2010.- Toni Bou and Takahisa Fujinami (Montesa Cota 4RT) finished first and second respectively, in the eighth event of the World Trial Championship, held this Sunday. This double victory took place the day after Laia Sanz (Montesa Cota 4RT) won the first event of the women's trial world championship in the same scenario. A competition where her goal is to obtain her tenth title. Toni Bou has consolidated his position as leader of the championship and with only three events to go, has 21 points advantage over the second in the classification, a position that has as of today been taken by Takahisa Fujinami. Montesa has taken a giant leap to adding another manufacturer's title to the twelve the company already holds.

Toni Bou finished as leader on his first pass through the 15 zones, which were made even more difficult by the heavy shower of rain that fell yesterday evening. In the second lap, the multi-world champion finished with the best score of the day. Takahisa Fujinami also did very well in this second lap, who despite a fall managed to move up one position and finish second.

In the Junior category, Laia Sanz finished eleventh (96 points, two more than the eight classified) after regaining six positions in the second lap. Alfredo Gómez (Montesa) was second (66 points), widening his advantage as leader of the championship by 10 points. Francesc Moret (Montesa) finished fourth, obtaining a 71-point tie with the third classified, maintaining this same position in the general classification.

Toni Bou: "My first lap was difficult, with little 'feeling'. I know that the score perhaps doesn't show it, but what's true is that it could have been quite worse. It was essential to take advantage of the fact that I wasn't starting first in the zones and by the way I must congratulate Fujinami for his phenomenal performance despite being the first. My advantage in the general classification has increased, but I don't want to think of anything more than the next event and concentrate on not getting less than podium positions. To look any further into the future wouldn't be advisable at this time."

Takahisa Fujinami: "It's been a very tough trial event, but the results make up for all the hard work. I got through the first half of the zones on lap one quite well, before making some small mistakes. On the second lap, the ground was drier and with more adhesion, but it was also hotter and the toughness remained. I fell in zone 12 and hurt my right ankle. I suffered a bit until the end, but I maintained the second position. It's been a fantastic result, both for me and the team."


JACK SHEPPARD
SHEPPARD MAKES IT TWO WINS IN A ROW

Jack Sheppard - Beta picked up from where he left off at his home GP, and completed his second win in a row at the French event that marked round five of the 2010 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship. This completes a hat trick of victories for the sixteen-year-old from Suffolk, who claimed his maiden win at the Japanese Grand Prix earlier this year. In extremely hot conditions, Jack once again fought a day long battle with his arch rival and current series leader Pol Tarres - Gas Gas who finished as runner-up and four marks adrift.

Sheppard made a strong start to his day, a point which has cost him dearly in some rounds, and matched Tarres mark for mark through the opening couple of sections. Conditions out on the course were difficult from the outset, with heavy rain on Saturday afternoon forcing the organisers to make alterations to nearly every section before Sunday's trial got underway. As a result of this the riders were allowed in the sections on the first lap to inspect the changes and were also given twenty minutes extra on their initial tour to allow for this process.

What had been dry and dusty banks on Saturday, had become greasy and far from ideal for the 125cc bikes which lack the low down power needed to find grip in these conditions. The real trouble came for Jack in the middle group of sections, from five through to ten where he collected three maximums and added a hefty twenty one marks to his score. Thankfully Sheppard was on form in the other hazards and rounded out his initial tour for the loss of thirty marks to move three clear of Tarres as the sun shone down fiercely overhead.

Despite the physical and demanding nature of the event set on a steep hillside over looking the small and industrial town of St Michele De Maurienne, Jack remained strong and focussed on his second lap as he looked to finish off the good work he had begun in the morning. Sheppard ultimately sealed his victory in the same sections that had caused him so many problems earlier in the day, as this time he escaped the main spectator group with several cheers and the loss of only twelve marks on this visit.

Even two time penalties could not spoil Jack's day as he took an important win in the title race at a decisive moment in the series with two more rounds to ride over the coming two weekends. Thanks to his latest victory Sheppard has now closed within seven points of Tarres in the general standings with everything still to play for.

Wearing a wide smile Jack stated: "To win again feels great, and was a little unexpected as I have not ridden well at times today. I started off well which was important for a change, but during the middle part of the first lap I really struggled on the steep and slippery climbs. The heat made things even tougher and even though I was drinking constantly I still felt dehydrated at times.

"On the second lap I felt a bit more confident and was pleased with the way I rode the sections where the main crowds were, their support was great and really motivated me. Then just when I thought I was going well I then had three fives in a row later in the lap, and I thought I had blown it."

"In terms of the championship this is an important win for me. I just need to do the same in the next two GPs to give myself a real chance of the title. Finally I would like to thank Craig for standing in as my minder today, as he has done a great job in what has been a really tough event," Jack ended.

Sheppard will travel to Italy to his team's base, before heading to San Marino for next weekend's Grand Prix.


DOUGIE LAMPKIN
Dougie Lampkin - Beta took a hard fought fifth place at the French Grand Prix, which marked round five of the 2010 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship. The small and industrial town of St Michele De Maurienne close to the Italian border last hosted a World trial back in 1995, when Dougie also finished fifth. Although fifteen years have passed since the last time Dougie rode at this venue, the challenge of the sheer rock faces had not faded in anyway at all.
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Torrential rain besieged the steep sided valley late on Saturday afternoon to bring the sunshine to an end and to dramatically change conditions out on the course. The downpour lasted for several hours and washed away the dust, leaving mud instead.

With the riders having already deemed the sections difficult, the organisers were forced to make widespread alterations to many of the hazards before Sunday's trial got started. Due to this the riders were allowed to inspect the sections on the first lap, and were allowed an extra twenty minutes to assist with this process.

Undaunted by the severe and sometimes dangerous nature of the sections, despite the changes, Lampkin looked confident and controlled as he rode his way in and amongst the front runners. After the initial four hazards Lampkin and Fujinami headed the field, with neither having dropped a mark, but this was to change quickly as Dougie then racked up no less than five - fives in a row.

Far from being a total disaster, this just confirmed the severity of the main group of sections that were watched by several thousand French fans who had an armchair view from the grass meadow below. Despite this set back Lampkin held fourth place at the end of the opening lap and was within touching distance of a podium spot.

Conditions for the second lap remained as hot and difficult as ever as Dougie found out when he failed at the fourth section this time around. This mistake was offset by some brave riding through the middle part of the lap, which had been so costly for him in the morning. Less fives and more threes saw Lampkin reduce his score by seven on this tour, however despite this improvement it was not enough to prevent Cabestany snatching fourth position at the finish.

Dougie explained: "It's certainly been tough out there today, even the younger riders have struggled with the heat. I was pleased with my fitness and strength today, I think riding the extreme enduros has really helped me in this way.

"Fourth would have been nice, third even better, but overall I am not disappointed with the way I rode today. Yes I have made some mistakes, but I think everyone has today, on the other hand I have also had some really good rides. To beat Raga is no mean feat.”

"I hope I can repeat this kind of form over the next two rounds, as I am now closing in on sixth place in the championship despite having missed two counting days in Japan," Lampkin ended.