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RAGA, CABESTANY AND CO SEEK TO STOP BOU

Barcelona’s impressive Palau Sant Jordi stadium is all set to host round three of the 2011 SPEA FIM X-Trial World Championship this Sunday afternoon. The series continues to gather momentum, with all eyes being on Adam Raga - Gas Gas and Albert Cabestany - Sherco as they bid to overhaul Toni Bou - Repsol Montesa, who is currently unbeaten in the new campaign. Adding spice to an already exciting line-up is the addition of the FIM Indoor Enduro World Championship to the billing, in what will be the second double-header of the season.

If Bou’s performance in Barcelona last year is anything to go by Raga and Cabestany’s task will not be an easy one. Twelve months ago an in-form Bou was in a class of his own beneath the lights of the Olympic stadium, dropping just six marks on route to one of his most convincing victories in 2010. Cabestany, who was ten marks adrift, was the best of the rest on a night where Bou’s supremacy really shone.

An unforgiving trial with big sections, huge steps and little room for error, Barcelona could easily deliver an unexpected result. Raga will be in a confident mood following a solid performance at round two in Marseille a fortnight ago. The four-time Indoor World Champion will certainly want to make amends for last year’s display, when he failed to qualify in front of his home fans and finished seventh. With that disappointment still fresh in his mind the Catalan will feel he has a point to prove this time around.

After crashing out of rounds one and two Takahisa Fujinami’s - Repsol Montesa goals may be less ambitious than those of Raga and Cabestany. The entertaining Japanese rider will simply want a safe and solid outing with no repeat of the nasty falls that dashed his hopes in Italy and France. While Fujinami searches for consistency, Jeroni Fajardo - Ossa will focus on making his first visit to the podium this season aboard his new European steed. He finished fifth on his Ossa debut in Marseille, and will want to better that result on home soil.

Another man looking to bounce back in Barcelona is James Dabill - Beta. The Brit endured a nightmare in France, falling at the first hurdle and failing to progress through the initial qualifying process. Having finished on the podium at round three in 2010, a similar result would get Dabill’s season back on track. Fellow Brit Michael Brown - Gas Gas demonstrated improvement in Marseille and he, along with compatriot Jack Challoner - Beta, will have their eyes on a top six finish.

The six-round SPEA FIM X-Trial World Championship reaches its midpoint in Barcelona, a critical stage in any series. With this in mind, fans are guaranteed a thrilling spectacle as the World’s top riders go head-to-head in a bid to consolidate and improve their championship positions.