SHEPPARD SECOND AT ITALIAN EURO ROUND

Round 5 - 2010 UEM Trial European Championship
Foppolo - Italy - 24/07/10

Jack Sheppard - Beta battled back brilliantly on the second lap of the Italian round of the 2010 UEM Trial European Championship to claim an important runners up place as the series heads towards its climax. Sheppard was on the back foot almost from the start as he was awarded a controversial five in the second section of the day, as the observed deemed his handlebar to have touched the ground.

Jack explained. "Sometimes you know if it is a fifty / fifty decision, but in this case there was absolutely no way it was a five. Yes I was in trouble, but I just put my knee on the ground and that was all. In my mind it was just a one, so I feel that I have been robbed, as that one decision has cost me the win."

Obviously upset by his harsh treatment, Jack who turned seventeen earlier this week tried to put this behind him as he tackled the other sections, most of which had been eased due to the torrential rain that had turned the paddock into a river on Friday evening. These modifications meant the riders faced a tense and nervous passage, with another low scoring trial on the cards.

Sheppard progressed without further loss until section seven where he parted with an untidy three in what was a tricky, but not too difficult hazard. This would take his tally to eight for the lap and put him in third place, as his arch-rival Tarres emerged as the early leader on a score of only three marks.

Knowing he had work to do, Jack raised his game on the second lap and looked far more comfortable and confident in all the sections on his closing visit. With Tarres out in front, all Sheppard could do was to apply the pressure, and that's exactly what he did as he went totally clean on his final lap.

Unfortunately, despite his strong closing performance, this was still not enough for Jack to claim the top position on the podium, leaving the teenager from Suffolk to take second place this time out. This latest result that Jack now trails Tarres by just a single point with only one round remaining.

This sets up an exciting climax for the last round in the Czech Republic at the end of August, when whoever finishes highest out of Sheppard and Tarres will claim the title in classic winner takes all situation. Before this Jack will turn his attentions to the SPEA FIM Youth Trial World Championship, when he looks to close the gap on Tarres at tomorrow's Italian GP at the same venue as today's Euro round.

Jack ended. "Today is done with, I am obviously very disappointed, but the title is still within my control so I can go to the last round with a do or die attitude. More importantly in the short tem I will be looking for revenge tomorrow."

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