BOU BACK ON TOP ON DAY 2 OF USA GP
By TMX Archives on 28th Apr 08
Toni Bou Repsol Montesa HRC returned to the top of the podium today in the second day of competition at the USA grand prix, the fourth scoring day of competition in the FIM 2008 SPEA Trial World Championship. Winner of day one in the USA grand prix, Takahisa Fujinami Repsol Montesa HRC finished in second position with Adam Raga Gas Gas taking third.
Despite the course being virtually unaltered from day one, heavy rainovernight and into this morning made the sections considerably more difficult.Sections which were previously relatively straightforward became very slipperyand treacherous. This was reflected as early as the second section of the daywhere all the championship class riders with the exception of Fujinami and Bouelected to take five marks instead of attempting the section.
Clearlyconfident after yesterday, Fujinami was the rider to beat on the opening lapwith his riding style delighting the assembled spectators. After the first tensections he had a lead of six marks over Bou and ten over Raga, however twofives in sections thirteen and fourteen, both of which he cleaned in the secondlap, narrowed his lead at the end of the first half of the competition to just asingle mark over Bou. It was to be Bou who was to prevail though dropping justten marks on the second lap to Fujinami's sixteen.
Bou still heads thechampionship standings with a seven point margin over Fujinami who has climbedabove Raga after this weekend. Raga is just two points adrift of Fujinami withmuch still to play for.
In the Junior championship, it was to be back toback wins for Loris Gubian Sherco. The young Frenchman repeated his victory ofyesterday and has now closed the gap on championship leader, Alexz Wigg Montesa to just four points. Wigg had to settle for second position today withSam Halsam Gas Gas finishing third.
The Youth championship continues tobe very interesting with Jack Challoner Beta returning to the top of thepodium to repeat his win in Bangor three weeks ago. Young Spaniard, AdrianPastoriza Gas Gas turned in his best performance of the season and his firstpodium place by taking second place. Yesterday's winner and home rider, PatrickSmage Sherco failed to find his winning form and had to settle for thirdplace. Challoner now leads the series by seven points over Smage with FrancescMoret Gas Gas still in third place despite finishing off the podiumtoday.
The 2008 FIM SPEA Trial World Championship now takes a break untillate May, when it will return with the first of two days of competition at theMotegi in Japan.
Day 2 Results: (2 Day event)
World
1: Bou 33
2: Fujinami 38
3: Raga 54
Junior
1: Gubian 56
2: Wigg 59
3: Haslam 67
Youth 125cc
1: Challoner 19
2: Pastoriza 24
3: Smage 26
2008 FIM Riders Championship Current Standings:
World
1: Bou 74
2: Fujinami 67
3: Raga 65
Junior
1: Wigg 68
2: Gubian 64
3: Haslam 55
Youth 125cc
1: Challoner 74
2: Smage 67
3: Moret 55
2008 FIM Manufacturers Championship Current Standings:
1: Montesa 141
2: Gas Gas 105
3: Beta 84
4: Sherco 74
This round: 26/27th April Sequatchie, USA
Nextround: 31st May / 1st June Motegi, Japan