BOU IS CHAMPION AGAIN AFTER WINNING ITALIAN GP

Toni Bou - Repsol Montesa is the 2010 SPEA FIM Trial World Champion after winning the Italian Grand Prix held at Foppolo. In front of a huge Italian crowd Bou sealed his fourth successive outdoor title thanks to an almost perfect closing lap. Adam Raga - Gas Gas did his best to spoil Bou's party with a good early showing, but in the end had to settle for second place as Toni turned up the heat. Bou has now won a total of eight FIM Trial World titles, four indoors and four outdoors, and all since signing for Montesa back in 2007.

Whilst it will be Bou who will rightly fill all the headlines by claiming his latest title with one round of the series still remaining, the fight for second position in the championship is a story that is yet to be completed. Takahisa Fujinami - Repsol Montesa kept this battle very much alive by joining Raga on the podium despite not enjoying the best of days in the Italian mountains. Just two points separates Raga and Fujinami, with the Japanese rider knowing that he must beat his Spanish rival in the Czech Republic if he is to become vice World champion.

The top three riders finished well clear of the field, as a mere six marks then separated the next four places. Jeroni Fajardo - Beta claimed a valuable fourth spot to close in on Albert Cabestany - Sherco in the general standings, but only after he beat James Dabill - Gas Gas on a most cleans tie decider. Dougie Lampkin - Beta who was the winner in Foppolo when the series last visited back in 2001 took sixth place just one mark behind Dabill, leaving Cabestany down in seventh position.

Torrential rain on Friday evening had threatened to wreck the course, but a warm and windy day on Saturday meant conditions had eased somewhat ahead of Sunday's Trial. The course which circulated the small ski resort contained a good mixture of sections, with some set in boulder strewn streams with the others using the surrounding steep grass bankings.

Bou cleaned the first eight sections on the opening lap before coming unstuck in section nine. Raga was the only clean where Toni had failed, but he needed an instant recovery after dropping a soft five in section eight. After the initial fifteen sections, Bou held a one mark lead over Raga, with Fujinami a further six marks back. Whilst by now it was obvious that Bou would be champion by the end of the day, he was in no mood to allow Raga to take the shine off the moment. Toni's loss of just a single dab on the second lap was the perfect way to seal the championship.

In the Junior class it was also an exciting day with Jack Challoner - Beta recording his fifth win of the series to take control of the general standings as Alfredo Gomez - Montesa slumped to fifth place at the Italian GP. French rider Alexandre Ferrer - Sherco finished as runner up to set up a tense three way battle at the final round for the top three places in the championship.

Pol Tarres - Gas Gas mirrored Bou's achievement by wrapping up the Youth championship with one round still remaining. Tarres was simply brilliant on the day, recording two clean laps to collect his first ever FIM Trial World Championship, as he follows in the tyremarks of his famous uncle and minder Jordi Tarres. Season long rival Jack Sheppard - Beta was once again second, and looks likely to become vice champion unless he experiences a disaster at the last round.

The championship now takes its annual summer break before resuming in early September for the final round of the series in the Czech Republic.

Click here to view [1] [2] [3]

High resolution copyright free images available
on request for media / editorial use only

2010 SPEA FIM TRIAL
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Round 7
Foppolo – Italy
25 July - 1 Day Event (Day1)

Results:

World
1: Bou 12
2: Raga 18
3: Fujinami 26
4: Fajardo 43
5: Dabill 43

Junior
1: Challoner 8
2: Ferrer 12
3: Moret 13
4: Richardson 14
5: Gomez 15

Youth 125cc
1: Tarres 0
2: Sheppard 5
3: Traviesa 8
4: Saleri 9
5: Catalin 14

2010 FIM Riders Championship
Current Standings:
World
1: Bou 185 - FIM World Champion
2: Raga 152
3: Fujimami 150
4: Cabestany 129
5: Fajardo 126

Junior
1: Challoner 152
2: Gomez 147
3: Ferrer 141
4: Moret 121
5: Dagnicourt 98

Youth 125cc
1: Tarres 171 - FIM World Champion
2: Sheppard 156
3: Traviesa 142
4: Saleri 109
5: Catalin 98

2010 FIM Manufacturers Championship
Current Standings:
1: Montesa 335
2: Gas Gas 251
3: Beta 226
4: Sherco 202 9

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

FWTCPR10-RND7REV