Toni Bou å_ Repsol Montesa HRC opened his 2007 FIM SPEA Trial World Championship campaign with a hard fought victory at his home Grand Prix.
Bou, the reigning World Indoor Champion, was joined on the podium by his team mate Dougie Lampkin, also riding a Cota 4RT, in what proved to be an ultra tough start to the series. Reigning Champion Adam Raga å_ Gas Gas finished as runner up, as the Repsol squad boasted three riders in the top four, with Takahisa Fujinami Repsol Montesa HRC taking fourth position after he lost out on a tie break to Lampkin.
"Again I am happy, it has been a great start to the year, by first winning the indoor championship and then the opening two rounds of the Spanish series, so I came here with a lot of confidence," Bou said. "The rain created a very difficult trial, where each section was a real test. On the first lap I made some mistakes, but on my second visit to the sections I felt much happier, and that made a big difference. It is a good start, but I know it is going to be a long and tough championship, so it is a case of taking each race at a time."
Lampkin looked the strongest of the riders, aboard his factory Cota, through the opening few sections, although in truth there was little to separate thefront running group for as quick as an advantage was gained it was lost as the true severity of the course became apparent. Such was the level of the sections, that only the first nine riders managed to record a clean of any kind during their two lap battle. Raga held a slim one mark lead at the mid point, because although Bou had gone better on observation than his Spanish rival, the Repsol rider incurred two time penalties to add to his tally.Only two marks further back, Lampkin was very much in touch at this stage, as was Albert Cabestany å_ Sherco and Fujinami, with a mere seven marks separating this chasing trio.
The later stages of the trial were all about Bou, as the youngster once again highlighted the progress he has made since switching to the factory four stroke at the start of the year. His closing lap was incredible, considering the worsening conditions, and proved to be a step too far for anyone to match. Raga managed to hold on to second position as Lampkin‰Ûªs challenge faded, this allowed his team mate Fujinami to close in, but the British rider still grabbed the final podium place by virtue of winning a most cleans tie break.
RESULTS:
1. Toni Bou (E-Montesa), 60
2. Adam Raga (E-Gas Gas), 65
3. Dougie Lampkin (GB-Montesa), 77 (8x0)
4. Takahisa Fujinami (JPN-Montesa), 77 (6x0)
5. Albert Cabestany (E-Sherco), 84
6. James Dabill (GB-Montesa), 108
7. Jeroni Fajardo (E-Beta), 111
8. Marc Freixa (E-Scorpa), 112
9. Jerome Bethune (FRA-Beta), 122
10. Jordi Pascuet (E-Beta), 125
11. Shaun Morris (GB-Gas Gas), 128
12. Tadeusz Blazusiak (POL-Beta), 129
13. Daniel Oliveras (E-Sherco), 130
14. Xavier Leon (E-Gas Gas), 135
15. Christophe Bruand (FRA-Sherco), 137
World Championship positions after 1 round;
1. Bou, 20
2. Raga, 17
3. Lampkin, 15
4. Fujinami, 13
5. Cabestany, 11
6. Dabill, 10
7. Fajardo, 9
8. Freixa, 8
9. Bethune, 7
10. Pascuet, 6
11. Morris, 5
12. Blazusiak, 4
13. Oliveras, 3
14. Leon, 2
15. Bruand, 1
Next event: 2nd round at La Antigua (Guatemala) on 21/22 April
