03/03/12 - Raga keeps Bou true in Madrid !

Toni Bou - Repsol Montesa recorded his fourth straight win at round four of the 2012 FIM XTrial World Championship held at the impressive Palacio de Deportes de la Comunidad de Madrid, Spain. However for the first time this season he was pushed all the way as Adam Raga - Gas Gas produced his best ride of the campaign to date to keep the fight alive right until the final section of the night. Once again Albert Cabestany - Sherco made it an all Spanish podium by taking third spot in front of his home fans.

The evening begun in a sombre mood, as the riders led a minute’s silence in honour and memory of ex FIM Trial Vice World Champion Diego Bosis who sadly passed away unexpectedly last month. Amongst the bystanders who stood silent were FIM MotoGP World Champion Casey Stoner and his Repsol Montesa team mate Dani Pedrosa, who remained interested spectators throughout the competition.

Qualification consisted of five sections that had to be completed within the healthy allowance of nine minutes. Wild card entrant Pol Tarres – Jotagas got the action underway, but not in convincing fashion as he failed in each and every zone. It was very much the same story for Alfredo Gomez – Montesa, who was next out, as he also collected a maximum score and lost out to Tarres on the tie-break to finish dead last. Loris Gubian - Gas Gas was the best of the non-qualifiers his score of twenty-two marks ruling him out of the main event for the first time this season.

In contrast Michael Brown - Gas Gas finally made it through to the semi-final, having missed out in the three previous rounds. He was demoted to sixth spot in qualification after losing his tie-break against Jeroni Fajardo - Beta, who looked far from his best during the initial five hazards. Takahisa Fujinami - Repsol Montesa finished three marks clear of Fajardo to claim fourth position and to book his place in the Trial itself.

It was the usual suspects who occupied the top three spots after the initial selection process, again Toni Bou - Repsol Montesa was simply in a class of his own, his single dab loss coming in the ultra difficult third section. Albert Cabestany - Sherco came through in second position on nine marks, which included a soft five in the opening hazard. Adam Raga - Gas Gas produced a lap that was very hit and miss, which left him trailing his arch-rival Cabestany by two marks at this stage.

news and photos by Jake Miller (FIM Press)
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Raga tiene in scacco Bou fino all'ultimo!

Toni Bou - Repsol Montesa incamera la quarta vittoria su altrettante prove del mondiale FIM XTrial disputato nel Palazzo dello Sport di Madrid gremito di appassionati. Ma stavolta per la prima volta nella stagione ha sentito il fiato sul collo di Adam Raga - Gas Gas che ha tenuto incerto il risultato fino all'ultima zona della serata. Ancora una volta Albert Cabestany - Sherco ha completato un podio tutto spagnolo.

Ad inizio gara i piloti hanno osservato un minuto di silenzio in memoria del nostro grande DIEGO BOSIS Tra questi piloti il campione del mondo di motogp Casey Stoner ed il suo compagno di marca Repsol Montesa Dani Pedrosa, entrambi poi spettatori incuriositi della gara.

Prossimo appuntamento sabato 10 a Palma di Maiorca.