BOU LOOKS TO CLINCH TITLE EARLY AND ON HOME SOIL
Round 7 - Tona - Spain

A slight dip in form prior to the 2009 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship’s traditional summer break meant the usually consistent Toni Bou - Repsol Montesa HRC failed to capitalise on his series-leading position, giving Adam Raga - Gas Gas the opportunity to close the gap at the top of the table to just twelve points with two rounds remaining. The first of which – round seven in Tona, Spain – kicks off this coming weekend.

After winning the indoor title Bou started his outdoor campaign in fine form, notching up an impressive run of six straight wins until Raga unsettled his rhythm and claimed victory at round five in Italy. Bou could have secured the outdoor crown a week later in Andorra, however once again his confidence wavered and the young Spaniard lost his nerve – and balance – when it mattered most.

His third place finish behind surprise winner Jeroni Fajardo - Beta and runner-up Raga did nothing to settle his butterflies, and although he will start this weekend as favourite to claim his third successive outdoor championship, a small question mark still hangs over the twenty-two year-old’s ability to wrap up the title at this, the penultimate round.

Bou’s plight could be made slightly easier by Raga’s knee injury though, which has been a thorn in his side since round one in Northern Ireland back in April. Although uncomfortable, Raga will ride through the pain in Spain and hope that Bou slips up once again allowing him to take the championship fight all the way to the final battleground in France the following weekend.

One rider who will be hoping both Bou and Raga stumble in Tona is Fajardo, who deservedly bagged a shock win in Andorra prior to the championship’s two-month summer break. While any hope of challenging the leaders has long since past, another good result in Spain could see the twenty-five year-old leapfrog Takahisa Fujinami - Repsol Montesa HRC to take third place in the World Pro class standings. Not that it will be easy, especially with both Albert Cabestany - Sherco and Dougie Lampkin – Beta eyeing the exact same podium spot; just two points separate these three riders.

While we will have to wait at least a few days to find out who will be victorious in the World Pro ranks, both the Junior and Youth classes were wrapped up at round six in Andorra, with Alexz Wigg - Beta claiming the Junior crown while Jonathan Richardson - Sherco took overall honours in the Youth division. Both riders will be looking forward to a fresh challenge as they move up a category this weekend.

Tona will host a round of the European championship the day before the main World championship competition on Sunday.

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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 – 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 –Andorra
28 June – 1 Day Event

Round 7 – Tona – Spain
06 September – 1 Day Event

Round 8 – Isola 2000 – France 13 September – 1 Day Event

2009 FIM Riders Championship
Current Standings:
World
1: Bou 167
2: Raga 155
3: Fujinami 113
4: Cabestany 106
5: Fajardo 106

Junior
1: Wigg 163 - Champion
2: Gomez 147
3: Grattarola 142
4: Challoner 115
5: Ferrer 81

Youth 125cc
1: Richardson 162 - Champion
2: Warenghein 125
3: Traviesa 118
4: Mottin 115
5: Cotone 99

2009 FIM Manufacturers Championship Current Standings:
1: Montesa 280
2: Gas Gas 247
3: Beta 207
4: Sherco 160
5: Yamaha 23

For more infomation please visit
www.fim-live.com

FWTCPR09-RND7PRE