FRENCH GRAND PRIX TO DECIDE THE 2009 CHAMPION
Round 8 - Isola 2000 - France

Nearly six months after the 2009 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship began, the series will reach its climax this weekend after having travelled to eight different countries and enjoyed eleven exciting days of competition during this period. The trips to Ireland, Great Britain and Japan were all very significant, with these three destinations each hosting a two-day GP.

Twenty-two year old Toni Bou - Repsol Montesa is poised to become a part of trials history, with the reigning champion only needing a single point this Sunday to clinch his third successive outdoor title. Baring an absolute disaster Bou will join an elite group of riders, who also have won three World trials crowns. The list is limited to a few and only includes Yrjo Vesterinen, Eddy Lejeune, Thierry Michaud, Jordi Tarres and Dougie Lampkin.

Only Adam Raga - Gas Gas can prevent Toni joining this exclusive club, but he would need to win the final round in France and see his arch rival score no points if that is going to happen. As well as fighting Bou for the title, Raga has his own battle, with the twenty seven year old struggling to regain his best form following a recent operation on his knee to cure an injury that was sustained at the very first round in Ireland back in early April.

This problem has meant that Adam has not been able to practice during the season, which has done little to boost his championship hopes. Despite this setback the Gas Gas teamster is the only rider other than Bou who has recorded victories during the season. His wins on the first day in Ireland and the Italian Grand Prix have helped him become vice champion at least for the third year in a row.

Takahisa Fujinami - Repsol Montesa HRC currently holds a nine point lead over Jeroni Fajardo - Beta going into the final encounter and will hope this is enough for him to retain his number three bib. The margin between Fajardo and Albert Cabestany - Sherco is much closer, with Cabestany having a real chance of snatching back the fourth place ranking he lost to his younger counterpart late last season.

Dougie Lampkin - Beta will arrive in France still suffering the effects of his injured wrist and will adopt a similar survival approach in an attempt to claim a few championship points in order to hold on to sixth in the series. Lampkin finished eleventh last weekend in Spain in similar circumstances, with this being the first time the ex multi World champion has finished outside the top ten since 1995.

With Alexz Wigg - Beta having already taken the 2009 Junior title and now moved up to the World Pro class, Alfredo Gomez - Montesa has become the clear favourite for top honours in this division for the final outing of the season. Gomez recorded a narrow, but popular win at his home GP last Sunday over Matteo Grattarola - Sherco, with this young pairing having been locked in battle all year long.

Completing a trio of Spanish winners on home soil, Pere Borrellas - Gas Gas waited until he had the full support of his home crowd before recording his first ever victory in the Youth class and will hope to repeat a similar result this weekend in France. His plight will not be an easy one with championship rookie Jack Sheppard - Beta having made an incredible debut in Spain, taking the runners up spot at his very first attempt, and looking to go one better this time out.

Set high in the mountains, the venue at Isola 2000 will host the second round of the FIM Women's Trial World Championship the day before the closing chapter of the men's series.

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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 187
2: Raga 168
3: Fujinami 130
4: Fajardo 121
5: Cabestany 117

Junior
1: Wigg 163 - Champion
2: Gomez 154
3: Grattarola 146
4: Challoner 115
5: Ferrer 90

Youth 125cc
1: Richardson 162 - Champion
2: Warenghein 132
3: Traviesa 123
4: Mottin 123
5: Borrellas 114

2009 FIM Manufacturers Championship Current Standings:
1: Montesa 317
2: Gas Gas 270
3: Beta 228
4: Sherco 175
5: Yamaha 23

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

FWTCPR09-RND8PRE