BOU IS FAULTLESS ON FIRST DAY OF PORTUGUESE GP

Toni Bou - Repsol Montesa delivered the ultimate performance earlier today, when he completed the opening day of the second round of the 2010 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship in Portugal without dropping a single mark. Albert Cabestany - Sherco and Adam Raga - Gas Gas filled the remaining podium places respectively in what was a very low scoring event across the board.

At the request of the riders, following Friday afternoon's inspection of the course, the organisers did make some changes to the sections in an attempt to slightly increase the severity of the Trial. With the alterations made, the riders were then permitted to re-visit the hazards early this morning and prior to the start of the competition.

Despite these modifications, the Trial was a tense affair, with each and every rider knowing that one mistake would push them well down the order. Errors were very much the story of the day, with only Bou and his team mate Takahisa Fujinami - Repsol Montesa who ended up in fourth spot come the finish, managing to avoid a five of any kind.

Raga incurred his only maximum of the day as early as section six on the opening lap, but recovered well to take the final podium place after completing his second lap for the loss of just one mark. It was a similar story for Cabestany, who came unstuck in the eleventh hazard on the first lap, before matching Raga during the afternoon session to take the runners' up spot by a margin of two marks.

Britain's James Dabill - Gas Gas completed the top five after he came out top on a day long battle with Dougie Lampkin - Beta. These two compatriots enjoyed contrasting stories, with Dabill starting well before fading, whilst Lampkin fought his way back into contention later in the Trial after a poor opening to his day. Lampkin beat his team mate Jeroni Fajardo - Beta, who finished second in Spain, on yet another time tie break, after the duo matched each other literally mark for mark.

Matching Bou's performance, Spain's Junior rider Alfredo Gomez - Montesa made amends for losing out at his home GP last weekend, by remaining feet up throughout today's Trial. Despite this brilliant display Gomez only took the victory after beating American rider Patrick Smage - Sherco by virtue of a time tie break. Smage lost out by a margin of less than one and a half minutes. Last week's winner Alexandre Ferrer - Sherco was fourth this time out, as Francesc Moret - Montesa took the last podium place.

Spanish rider Pol Tarres - Gas Gas made it two wins from two starts in the Youth class, as he eventually defeated his compatriot Carles Traviesa - Gas Gas by virtue of having completed the trial in a quicker time, as both riders finished on three marks apiece. Jack Sheppard - Beta could count himself slightly unfortunate as he was forced on to the lowest step of the rostrum on this occasion after having dropped four marks and cleaned twenty eight out of the thirty sections.

Tomorrow will see the second day of the Portuguese Grand Prix take place over a course that will be modified overnight to add extra severity ready for the closing day of competition.

2010 SPEA FIM TRIAL
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Round 2
Pacos De Ferreira –Portugal
24 April - 2 Day Event (Day1)

Results:

World
1: Bou 0
2: Cabestany 8
3: Raga 10
4: Fujinami 11
5: Dabill 14

Junior
1: Gomez 0
2: Smage 0
3: Moret 2
4: Ferrer 5
5: Peydro 5

Youth 125cc
1: Tarres 3
2: Traviesa 3
3: Sheppard 5
4: Tempier 6
5: Martin 9

2010 FIM Riders Championship
Current Standings:
World
1: Bou 40
2: Raga 32
3: Cabestany 28
4: Fujinami 26
5: Fajardo 24

Junior
1: Gomez 37
2: Ferrer 33
3: Moret 28
4: Smage 27
5: Challoner 23

Youth 125cc
1: Tarres 40
2: Traviesa 32
3: Sheppard 32
4: Tempier 24
5: Saleri 21

2010 FIM Manufacturers Championship
Current Standings:
1: Montesa 66
2: Gas Gas 53
3: Beta 43
4: Sherco 429

For more infomation please visit
WWW.FIM-LIVE.COM

FWTCPR10-RND2REV-SAT