WTC: The story so far
By TMX Archives on 26th May 11
With the opening two rounds of the 2012 SPEA FIM World Trials Championship, comprising three trials, one in Germany and two in France last weekend, we already have a good idea as to how the season is panning-out, not just in the Championship class but in the Junior and Youth classes also.
The good news for Britain is the form of Beta's Jack Sheppard in the Youth class. Runner-up to Catalan ace Pol Tarres last year, with Pol moving up to the Junior category Jack was obviously one of the favourites to lift the Youth title - and with three wins from three starts he is looking every inch the champ in waiting. The Youth class is not just about pure riding skill, with the sections set for the 125 class most contests are tightly fought and it is the ability to concentrate, not make mistakes and handle the constant pressure that counts in many events and so far Jack has been exemplary. If Jack lifts the Youth trophy at the end of the year it is odds-on that he will be our only FIM World Champion!
In the Junior class the Spanish youngsters are reigning supreme and actually filled the podium on both days in France, despite a strong showing by some of the French riders who have been making something of a resurgence under the quiet watching brief of former World Champion Thierry Michaud, a man well respected in the International paddock and one who many would like to see play a major role in the development of World Championship trials.
Jonathan Richardson is Britain's only challenger in the Junior class and while Jonathan has been picking-off top 10 placings the Sherco rider has not yet managed a ride that shows his true ability. There's plenty of season still to go yet though.
It is the Championship class that everyone looks to though and while we all expect the phenomenal Toni Bou to dominate once again there were hopes that at least one or more of the Brits would be able to at least knock on the door of the top five.
The fantastic five are of course Bou, Adam Raga, Albert Cabestany, Jeroni Fajardo and Takahisa Fujinami. And so far it has all gone almost disturbingly according to plan with Bou almost always having the edge, despite the new rules seeing him tackle the sections first, with the remaining four tripping over themselves for the podium places.
Unfortunately, Dougie Lampkin - who used to be part of a ‘super six' dominant group has started the season injured courtesy of an unfortunate incident in a section at the Scottish Six Days Trial, so we have no idea of his true form on the factory Gas Gas, while unfortunately James Dabill, despite his Scottish win, has so far fallen well short of bridging the gap between the lower half of the top 10 and mixing it with the established five. It is hoped that James, who is the number one rider for the Beta factory, can raise his game and hopefully bring along fellow Brits Michael Brown, Jack Challoner and Alexz Wigg with him.
With just 12 riders in the Championship class in France many trials insiders are rightly worried about the long-term future of World Championship trials. This year there is of course the prospect of an exciting year at the top, with at least four riders able to challenge Bou on a regular basis and the British round in Fort William remains a must-see event with Dougie, Dibs and co sure to raise their game for the occasion.
But for the series to have a long term future there surely needs to be a real shake-up. The sport can and does benefit from a healthy World Trials Championship and this needs to become top priority for the sport's governing body!
