30/05/15 - FIM World Champ.: Sokolov, CZE

Bou got his third but suffering!

Toni Bou – Repsol Honda continued his unbeaten run in the 2015 FIM Trial World Championship to date as he notched up win number three in a row on the opening day of the Czech Republic Grand Prix held at the new venue of Sokolov. Bou had to come from behind this time as he trailed surprise lap one leader James Dabill – Vertigo who himself remained in close contention until the last lap before eventually slipping to fifth spot. In contrast it was Adam Raga – Gas Gas and Albert Cabestany – Sherco who had to hold and climb the order respectively to take second and third positions come the finish. Bou now leads the general standings by fifteen points over Raga.

The twelve sections, all which were located in a heavily wooded area near to the picturesque lake area that formed the paddock received a soaking overnight as rain fell throughout the hours of darkness and through to morning. There was little variety on offer with steep loose climbs which were infested with slippery boulders and exposed tree roots in places, with the changing conditions forcing the organisers to effect late changes to the course to offset just how slippery the going had become due to the rain.

Bou’s nervous dab in the opening section of the day set the scene for a first lap that included three fives and two time penalties to put him three marks behind Dabill after the initial tour of three, which all took place under dry skies. Cabestany slotted into third spot another three marks back, whilst Raga could count himself unlucky to be back in fifth at that stage behind eventual fourth place finisher, Jaime Busto – Repsol Honda, after he was cruelly awarded a five in section five after what was deemed a momentary stop.

Toni was back in front by lap two as he completed his second tour for just seven. This amazing performance put him eight clear of Dabill at this stage as the British rider looked good for a podium finish at least. However Raga, Cabestany and Busto were to all overhaul the Vertigo come the finish as Dabill suffered a hellish last lap. With the eventual podium packed with familiar faces, again it was seventeen-year-old Busto who was one of the main talking points as he claimed a career best fourth position at only his second GP in the World Pro class.

France’s Quentin Carles de Caudemberg – Beta recorded his first win of the year in the FIM World Cup class as he came home well clear of second placed Billy Bolt – Scorpa who also enjoyed his best result of the season to date on board his new machine. Jack Price – Gas Gas stole the final podium place in this category by virtue of a most cleans tiebreak to make it two British riders on the rostrum. Carles de Caudemberg’s victory was sealed by an outstanding first lap, a score that was less than half of any of his rivals. Quentin moves up to second in the general standings in this division as double winner in Japan and series leader Benoit Bincaz – Scorpa could only manage seventh today.

Marco Fioletti – Beta from Italy made it three wins from three starts in the FIM 125 Cup category to move further clear at the top of the points table after his current closest rival in the title race Maxime Varin – Scorpa finished off the podium and in fourth spot today. Germany’s Jarmo Robrahn - Beta made an impressive debut to the series as he claimed the runner’s up spot on his first attempt. Gabriel Giro – Beta took the last rostrum place in this class on day one.

Tomorrow will see the second and final day of the event at Sokolov take place over a similar course for all three men’s classes, but with some potential changes to the sections subject to the ongoing weather conditions.

-----------------------------------------------> WOMEN

Rebekah Cook – Jgas claimed first blood in the 2015 FIM Women’s Trial World Championship as she won on the opening day of the series at Sokolov, Czech Republic. Cook finally claimed what is only her third ever victory after a day long fight with reigning FIM Women’s Trial World Champion and compatriot Emma Bristow – Sherco who had to settle for second spot on this occasion. Sandra Gomez – Scorpa rounded out today’s top three, although the Spanish rider was off the pace of the leading duo in conditions that would have been more to the British competitor’s likings.

Heavy rain overnight and into the early part of the morning forced the organisers to make several changes to the twelve sections that were to be ridden three times, with them all located in a dense wooded area close to the lakeside paddock area. Steep loose climbs with slippery rocks and tree roots were very much the order of the day and proved to be a tough challenge for most of the entry.

Not riding at her best by her own admission and perhaps feeling the pressure of riding as a defending champion for the first time, Bristow looked tense on her initial lap and was to surrender the interim lead to Cook as she fived section eleven at her first attempt. Rebekah needed two dabs in same hazard to close out a solid opening performance that saw her head the lap one results on nine marks, two better than the scored recorded by Emma. Gomez was very much in contention at this stage, just one mark further back on twelve whilst Donna Fox – Sherco who was also making her return to the series ended the first tour in fourth spot on thirteen marks.

Despite incurring her second five of the day, this time on the very difficult eighth section, Bristow rode herself back into the lead come the end of lap two as she posted a tally of just eight marks compared to the eleven dropped by Cook on the same lap. With a slender one dab advantage the Sherco rider headed out one final time in hope of holding on for the win. By this point Gomez and the others had began to slip out of contention for the victory as they were unable to match the level of the leading British pairing.

A five in the sixth hazard on her last visit was to cost Bristow dearly and would see her chances of an opening triumph disappear as she eventually came home six marks behind Cook who waited until lap three to produce her best lap of the Trial and in doing so clinch a well deserved win. Gomez also improved slightly on her final tour to secure third spot just in front of Fox, as Germany’s Theresa Bauml – Ossa completed the top five on day one.

Spain’s Berta Abellan – Sherco recorded her highest ever placing in the FIM Women’s Trial World Championship as she finished in sixth and only just one mark of a top five placing. Fresh from her debut at the recent Scottish Six Days Trial, Ina Wilde – Gas Gas from Germany ended the day in seventh position as she improved significantly as the Trial wore on. Wilde’s total score was three marks better than Mireia Conde – Beta who occupied eighth spot come the close of play, whilst her compatriots Maria Giro – Beta and Elisabet Solera – Ossa finished ninth and tenth respectively to make it five Spanish riders in the top ten.

With the weather expected to play its part again, further modifications will be made to the sections ahead of tomorrow’s second and final day for the girls at the Czech Republic GP.

news and photos by FIM Press
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Bou vince la sua terza, ma soffrendo

Toni Bou – Repsol Honda si guadagna la vittoria nel finale su Adam Raga – Gas Gas, piu' forte dei problemi in casa Gas Gas. Terzo Albert Cabestany - Sherco . Ma al primo giro in testa c'era James Dabill - Vertigo ed anche dopo due giri si trovava al secondo posto, non lontano da Bou,che lo aveva scavalcato. Un brutto terzo giro lo ha relegato al quinto posto, dietro il giovane Jaime Busto'- Repsol Montesa

...grande Marco Fioletti, dominatore della 125cc, terzo successo su tre prove!

...articolo su Motospint prossimamente...