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Toni Bou - Repsol Montesa HRC for the second round in a row recorded back-to-back wins, with the reigning champion securing a narrow victory over his team-mate Takahisa Fujinami - Repsol Montesa HRC on the second day of the Japanese Grand Prix. Adam Raga - Gas Gas was once again off the pace and had to rely on a most cleans tie-break to take the final step of the rostrum.

Bou also had to count on a single clean to claim his victory over Fujinami as the Repsol duo battled it out in much drier conditions compared to just twenty-four hours earlier. The forecasted sunshine arrived and with it came some high temperatures which dried the ground and rocks considerably. The organisers tried to counter this by increasing the severity of five sections overnight, which overall kept the scores about on par with yesterday.

It was Fujinami who made the early running, with only a late five on the second lap costing him the win in front of his home crowd. Dougie Lampkin - Beta completed a great weekend for the veteran campaigner, with yet another fourth place as he lost out by a single clean to Raga for his chance to climb on to the podium for the second time this season. Bou's latest victory now puts him nineteen points clear of Raga with four rounds to go.

For the second day running it was the British duo of Alexz Wigg - Beta and Jack Challoner - Beta who occupied the top two places respectively in the Junior class. Matteo Grattarola - Sherco once again filled third spot, as Alfredo Gomez - Montesa missed out on a rostrum placing for second time in a row. Wigg has now taken command of the overall standings and heads Gomez by a mighty twenty-five points. Challoner's two runners up spots now moves him within touching distance of the top three in the championship table.

Continuing a similar theme Jonathan Richardson - Sherco made it back-to-back wins in the Youth category to further stamp his authority in this division. Maxime Warenghien - Sherco from Belgium enjoyed his best result of the season to follow Richardson home, as yesterday's runner up Tanguy Mottin - Gas Gas was demoted to third position today. With just four counting days remaining Richardson now has a hefty thirty-five point lead over Mottin.

Dougie Lampkin's report

Dougie Lampkin was cruelly denied a podium place after losing out by a single clean tie break on the second day of the Japanese Grand Prix to finish in fourth spot for the second day in a row. The thirty-three year old ex multi World champion produced two consistent laps to put himself in and amongst the front-runners during a hot and dry final day of the fourth round of the 2009 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship.

With warmer and drier weather predicted, the organiser made changes to five sections overnight in an attempt to preserve some level of severity. Lampkin began well by cleaning the opening three sections before needing two dabs to push himself clear in the deep and muddy rut at the top of the fourth hazard. Dougie incurred his first failure of the day two sections later as he fell back off the uncut step that had ben changed at the end of section six.

Despite this setback the veteran campaigner still held third spot at the halfway point, a single dab better than Adam Raga. Dougie battled on superbly and made amends for his earlier five at section six by dropping just one mark on his second attempt. However the twelfth hazard was to prove Lampkin's downfall, here he notched up two fives as he twice failed to crest the double step, where Raga exited for a single dab on both occasions.

"It's been another tough day, although the sections were not just as slippery, the changes and extreme heat have still taken their toll. Fourth place is another good result, but I am frustrated on having missed out on finishing on the podium. My two excellent rides on section eleven where I recorded one of the three cleans here all day, were immediately cancelled out by two fives in section twelve. I am not going to complain, as the marks have been close all weekend, so I will take the points and will now look to taking this kind of form into the next round in Italy later this month."

Bou makes it 5 wins in a row on first day in Japan

SPEA FIM Trial World Championship (Outdoor) Motegi, Japan Round 4 Day 1 Saturday (2 day event) 06/06/09

Toni Bou - Repsol Montesa HRC made it five wins in a row when he sealed an outstanding victory during the first day of the Japanese Grand Prix. Bou came home fifteen marks clear of his team-mate Takahisa Fujinami -Repsol Montesa HRC on the opening day of round four of the 2009 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship. Adam Raga - Gas Gas looked off form all day and can count himself lucky to have taken the last podium place.

Heavy rain over night brought some much needed severity to the sections, many of which were hidden in the wooded areas that surround the circuit. Greasy rocks and steep slippery climbs were very much the order of the day, with the exception of the two arena type hazards that opened and closed each lap.

Bou was simply in a class of his own, dropping just two marks on his first lap, and a mere four more over the closing fifteen sections. His victory was never in doubt, leaving the rest to scrap it out. Fujinami recorded two consistent scores to take a worthy runners up position, whilst Raga had to produce a better afternoon performance to overtake Dougie Lampkin - Beta, who held third spot at the halfway point.

In the Junior class it was a British 1-2, with Alexz Wigg - Beta and Jack Challoner - Beta filling the top two spots on the podium. Wigg's fifth win of the campaign to date now takes him eighteen points clear of his nearest challenger Alfredo Gomez - Montesa, who could only manage fourth position today. Italian rider Matteo Grattarola - Sherco completed the podium, with Matteo holding the same place in the series standings.

Jonathan Richardson - Sherco making his maiden trip to the Japanese Grand Prix recorded his fourth win of the season in the Youth category, to make his long journey east very worthwhile. Tanguy Mottin - Gas Gas who took back-to-back victories at the previous round in the UK finished as runner up today. Whilst Luca Cotone - Beta achieved his best ever placing to secure the last podium place. Richardson now leads this division by a healthy thirty points.

Tomorrow will bring the second and final day of the 2009 Japanese Grand Prix at Twin Ring, Motegi.

Dougie Lampkin's report

Dougie Lampkin maintained his good run of form at the 2009 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship with a close fourth place on the opening day of the Japanese Grand Prix. Only a soft five on the first section of the second lap kept Lampkin off the podium, as six marks separated third to sixth positions.

Heavy rain throughout the night meant that the fifteen hazards scattered around the outskirts of the tarmac circuit were a lot more difficult than had been predicted during Friday's section inspection. The majority of the hazards featured slippery boulders and greasy climbs, both due to the recent rainfall.

Dougie started strongly with two cleans in the opening pair of sections, before he came to an abrupt halt at the uphill double step at the end of the third hazard, which caught out many of the top riders. Lampkin recovered well and kept his losses to a minimum for the remainder of the lap to hold third place come the mid point.

However Dougie's run of form was to come to an end as he failed to make the final step in section one on his second visit. Two further fives at sections eight and nine, both of which were perhaps amongst the most difficult hazards in the trial meant his second lap tally was higher than his first, and ultimately would keep him off the rostrum.

Dougie explained. "Fourth place is a good result, but I know that it could have been better. Three fives on the second lap was too many, although some of the sections were a little hit or miss. The mistake on section one on the second lap was a really bad one, and one that has stopped me being on the podium which is slightly disappointing. On the other hand you can see how close it has been, so I have to be thankful that it did not cost me any more positions. Hopefully I can ride as well tomorrow, just without the errors."