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Bou to begin in Baiona as the clear title favourite

Twenty-three year old Toni Bou - Repsol Montesa, fresh from his domination of the recent 2010 SPEA FIM Indoor Trial World Championship, will begin the defence of his outdoor title as the clear favourite when the new series starts in Baiona, Spain this coming Sunday. On current form Bou is the champion elect before a wheel has even been turned in the fight to secure the 2010 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship.

Ironically Toni's biggest threat will come from within, with fellow Spanish riders Albert Cabestany - Sherco, Adam Raga - Gas Gas and Jeroni Fajardo - Beta looking to be Bou's main rivals. All three challengers will be eager to take first blood at their home and opening Grand Prix, in an attempt to put the Montesa team leader on the back foot and slightly off balance at this early point in the title hunt.

Far from having it all their own way, whilst the home riders are sure to draw the support of an expected large and patriotic crowd, the overseas competitors will also be looking to strike early. Bou's Japanese team mate and fans favourite Takahisa Fujinami - Repsol Montesa will be looking to make instant amends for his poor showing indoors, whilst in some contrast Britain's James Dabill – Gas Gas will hope to maintain the momentum that saw him narrowly miss out on a bronze medal in the same championship.

Other riders of note in the World Pro catergory include veteran campaigner and twelve times FIM Trial World champion Dougie Lampkin - Beta, Alexz Wigg - Beta who made an exciting debut to this class at the end of 2009 after having wrapped up the World Junior Championship early and France's emerging talent in the form of Loris Gubian - Gas Gas who will have benefitted from being a permanent rider on the recent indoor tour.

Through in the Junior class, Alfredo Gomez - Montesa will be going all out to make the most of his home advantage, as the 2009 vice champion in this division sets his sights on going one place better this time around. On paper Jack Challoner - Beta and the 2009 Youth champion Jonathan Richardson - Sherco, both from Great Britain appear to have the right credentials and early season form to keep Gomez true in this title fight.

The Youth catergory looks to be a far more uncertain affair, with a whole host of hot and emerging Trial talent looking to make their mark on the World stage. Jack Sheppard - Beta who made a brief appearance in the series at the end of last season with a certain amount of immediate impact, has again got the tongues wagging following his recent win in this class at the opening round of the 2010 European championship. Giacomo Saleri - Beta and Pol Tarres - Gas Gas completed the podium respectively in Italy and are just two more names that need to be noted.

The second round of the Euro series will take place on the day before the opening Grand Prix of the 2010 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship, which fittingly is just a year older than Trial legend Dougie Lampkin who celebrated his thirty fourth birthday last month.