Bou will defend his outdoor title in Ireland
By G2F on 1st Apr 09
Toni Bou Repsol Montesa HRC fresh from his Indoor success will begin the defence of his Outdoor title when the 2009 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship kicks off in Ireland on the 4/5th April. The twenty-two year old starts the series as the clear favourite having destroyed his nearest rivals during his Indoor campaign, and looks set to claim his third successive Outdoor crown unless the other riders can take the fight to him.
Adam Raga – Gas Gas is sure to lead the chasing bunch, and will be desperate to gain revenge over his arch rival, especially after he lost out on the battle to become vice Indoor champion. It was another Spanish rider in the form of Albert Cabestany – Sherco who stole second place away from Raga during a final round show down. Whilst Cabestany so obviously has the talent to mount his own title challenge, he must first rid himself of the inconsistency he has suffered over more recent years if he is to be a serious threat to Bou in 2009.
Raga
The other main challengers are a mixed range of nationalities and age groups. Jeroni Fajardo – Beta will celebrate his twenty-fourth birthday on the second day of the forthcoming Irish event, and heads the new era of talent that will eventually replace the more established riders such as Takahisa Fujinami – Repsol Montesa HRC and Dougie Lampkin – Beta. A strong close to last year's Outdoor campaign saw Jeroni jump into the World's top four, whilst Fujinami was one of just three riders to win a round in 2008. Also Lampkin should never be discounted as he continues to search for his 100th Grand Prix win.
Fujinami
In the Junior category, with reigning champion Loris Gubian – Sherco having moved up to the World Pro class, Alexz Wigg – Beta and Alfredo Gomez – Montesa begin the season as the new favourites. However they will need to be at their best if they are going to keep the 2008 World Youth champion Jack Challoner – Beta at bay, who has joined the category this year. With the top three finishers in the 2008 Youth division absent from the entry list for Ireland, the class for the sixteen to eighteen year old riders appears to be wide open with a good assortment of competitors from a number of different countries. A total of fifty-five riders from no less than thirteen different countries across the three classes are entered for what looks set to be a fierce opening encounter.
2009 SPEA FIM TRIAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Round 1 – Newcastle – Ireland, 04-05 April – 2 Day Event
Round 2 – Chaves - Portugal, 26 April – 1 Day Event
Round 3 – Carlisle – Great Britain, 16-17 May – 2 Day Event
Round 4 – Motegi – Japan, 06-07 June – 2 Day Event
Round 5 – Barzio – Italy, 21 June – 1 Day Event
Round 6 – La Rabassa – Andorram, 28 June - 1 Day Event
Round 7 – Tona – Spain, 06 September - 1 Day Event
Round 8 – Isola 2000 – France, 13 September - 1 Day Event
2008 Final FIM championship standings:
1: Bou 225, 2: Raga 208,
3: Fujinami 183, 4: Fajardo 142,
5: Cabestany 133, 6: Lampkin 130,
7: Freixa 104, 8: Dabill 98, 9: Brown 72,
10: Oliveras 65
For more information please visit
www.fim-live.com