BOU BACK ON TOP AT JAPANESE TRIAL GRAND PRIX

Having failed to make the podium at the last round of the 2010 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship in Portugal, Toni Bou - Repsol Montesa sought to address his uncharacteristic slip by winning day one of the Japanese Grand Prix. This he did, and convincingly so. Behind a determined Bou at the Twin Ring Circuit in Motegi was an in-form Jeroni Fajardo - Beta, ahead of third placed Adam Raga - Gas Gas.

Heavy rain the night before the trial added to the severity of many sections, particularly the steep woodland ascents, where the earth was soft and offered little traction. The lack of grip failed to deter Bou, though, who eased to victory, eventually finishing thirteen marks clear of Fajardo. While Bou was effortlessly predictable, Fajardo’s performance was no less impressive. The Spaniard looked composed as he protected an early lead to end the trial twelve marks clear of Raga.

Perhaps the biggest shock of the day was Takahisa Fujinami’s - Repsol Montesa absence from the podium. The Japanese rider, who won the last round in Portugal was narrowly edged out of third place by Raga, courtesy of a nail-biting tiebreak. Both were equal on fifty-six marks and twelve cleans apiece after two laps. However, much to the disappointment of his home fans, Fujinami scored two less ‘ones’ than Raga and was relegated to fourth. It is the first time he has failed to make the podium in Japan since 2006.

While Fujinami was bitterly disappointed, his countryman and wildcard rider Kenichi Kuroyama – Yamaha was rightfully content with his performance on home soil. Kuroyama, who has won multiple Japanese national championships, proved his credentials with a confident fifth place finish ahead of Great Britain’s James Dabill - Gas Gas.

Having lost its championship leader, homesick American Patrick Smage - Sherco, Jack Challoner - Beta beat favourite and the new Junior Championship front-runner Alfredo Gomez - Montesa to the top step of the podium by a single mark. Francesc Moret - Montesa was third. With Smage now out of the hunt, Challoner trails Gomez by ten points in the overall standings and will want to close that gap further with a repeat performance tomorrow.

In the Youth division Jack Sheppard - Beta scored his first ever Grand Prix victory. The plucky sixteen-year-old, whose best result to date was a second in Spain, demoted series leader Pol Tarres - Gas Gas to second place after a tiebreak that was not dissimilar to that of Raga and Fujimani. Sheppard won courtesy of one more ‘one’ after they both recorded eleven cleans. Carles Traviesa - Gas Gas completed the podium. Only seven points now separate the top three in this class.

More rain is forecast overnight as day two looks set to be every inch as unpredictable. If Bou is to score a remarkable double win, he must first fend off advances from Fajardo and Raga, not to mention his now even more determined team-mate Fujinami.

22010 SPEA FIM TRIAL
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Round 3
Motegi – Japan
05 June - 2 Day Event (Day1)

Results:

World
1: Bou 31
2: Fajardo 44
3: Raga 56
4: Fujinami 56
5: Kuroyama 72

Junior
1: Challoner 46
2: Gomez 47
3: Moret 50
4: Ferrer 50
5: Borrellas 67

Youth 125cc
1: Sheppard 44
2: Tarres 44
3: Traviesa 58
4: Saleri 73
5: Martin 76

2010 FIM Riders Championship
Current Standings:
World
1: Bou 73
2: Raga 62
3: Fujinami 59
4: Cabestany 54
5: Fajardo 51

Junior
1: Gomez 63
2: Challoner 53
3: Ferrer 52
4: Moret 51
5: Smage 47

Youth 125cc
1: Tarres 70
2: Traviesa 567
3: Sheppard 63
4: Saleri 44
5: Catalin 41

2010 FIM Manufacturers Championship
Current Standings:
1: Montesa 132
2: Gas Gas 102
3: Beta 87
4: Sherco 81 19

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