Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme : FIM Youth Trial Cup 125 cc

It's a women's world in the Czech Republic

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:00:00 +0200

After a long summer break the 2010 FIM Women's Trial World Championship will resume in the Czech Republic this coming weekend, for the second of the three round series. As expected reigning champion Laia Sanz - Repsol Montesa, who is looking to clinch her tenth FIM Women's Trial World title this year, is once again in the driving seat after having dominated the opening Grand Prix in France back in July.

History would say that Sanz is going to be hard to stop, with the twenty-four year old having established a clear advantage over her nearest rivals in more recent seasons. Eighteen year old Joanne Coles - Gas Gas is the rider who is closest to Sanz after the first round, with the teenager having finished a solid second behind the Montesa teamster in France. Even by her own admission, Coles knows that she faces an almost impossible task in overcoming Laia at such an early point in her own career.

Whilst there is no doubting Coles' talent, perhaps it will be a more experienced campaigner who puts the pressure on Sanz as the action shifts to the Czech Republic. Twenty four year old Rebekah Cook - Gas Gas is no stranger to a battle with her Spanish rival, and has twice finished as runner up to Sanz in the general standings over the last two years. Although Cook has pushed hard at times, that initial Grand Prix win still eludes her.

Whilst unable to claim her win in France, Rebekah was part of an all British lock out at St Michele De Maurienne, as three Brits packed the top four places. On this occasion it was Cook who lost out to her two compatriots, as she finished fourth behind Emma Bristow - Gas Gas. This was Bristow's best ever GP result, with fifth place having previously been her highest showing amongst the World's elite.

Germany's Rosita Leotta - Gas Gas completed the top five in France, which was perhaps less than the seasoned campaigner expected, with this being her eighth year on the tour. Leotta, who will turn twenty one years old later this year, has threatened to re-establish herself alongside the leading challengers over more recent years, but has failed to regain the form that put her third in the World back in 2004 and 2005.

Spain's seventeen year old Sandra Gomez - Gas Gas is another rider who is operating on the fringes of better things, and her sixth position at this year's opening GP marked her best result to date. Practising with her brother Alfredo Gomez - Montesa over the winter would appear to have refined her young talent into a more complete package ahead of her 2010 assault.

With two rounds in two weeks, the defining moment in the 2010 FIM Women's Trial World Championship is almost upon us, so for those that are serious about their attack on this year's series will need to make sure that they are at their peak in the coming days.

Czech Republic Trial GP to decide final order

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:01:00 +0200

The small town of Kramolin located one hundred and twenty Kilometres South of the capital city of Prague and close to the Austrian / Czech Republic border holds the responsibility for deciding the final order in the 2010 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship. Only one position is clear at the moment, with Toni Bou - Repsol Montesa having already been declared champion at the penultimate Grand Prix in Italy.

Free of any real pressure Bou will be at his most dangerous for the final round of the 2010 series and just could play his part in deciding the rankings that fall behind him. Unlike other forms of motorsport, team orders are almost impossible in Trial, so Bou's team mate Takahisa Fujinami - Repsol Montesa will have to rely on his own performance if he is to snatch the vice champion's position away from Adam Raga - Gas Gas.

Victories on the second day of the Grand Prix held in Portugal and Great Britain have put Fujinami in with a chance of securing his best finish in the championship since back in 2006. Raga's sole win of the season came on the closing day in Japan, and despite his sixth place at the French GP the double FIM Trial World Champion has kept himself in contention for a top two finish thanks to his consistency throughout the rest of the year. A mere two points separates these two protagonists after a season long battle.

A similar margin, this time three points, is the gap between Albert Cabestany - Sherco and Jeroni Fajardo - Beta who are currently fighting it out for fourth spot in the general standings. Fajardo has enjoyed the stronger run of form over the last three counting days following his disasterous showing at the British round. Seventh in Italy was Cabestany's equal worst result of his campaign, Albert's other black moment coming on day two of the Japanese GP during yet another season when he has failed to realise his true potential.

In the Junior class only eleven points currently splits the top three riders when their best nine results are taken into consideration, the same number of counting days will decide the eventual champion. Britain's Jack Challoner - Beta has ridden his way back to the top of the points table after back to back victories in San Marino and Italy. Spain's Alfredo Gomez - Montesa will need to regain the form that has already netted him two wins this season, if he is to defeat Challoner and to keep Alexandre Ferrer - Sherco at bay.

With Pol Tarres - Gas Gas having wrapped up the Youth title with room to spare, it is now down to Jack Sheppard - Beta and Carles Traviesa - Gas Gas to scrap it out for second place in this class. Sheppard holds the upper hand as they head to the Czech Republic, but will not under estimate his young Spanish rival with Traviesa having beaten him on a number of previous occasions throughout the year.

All in all round eight of the 2010 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship is shaping up to be an interesting and exciting finale to a six month campaign that started at the Spanish GP back in April. Since then the riders have visited no less than seven different countries, including the long trip to Japan, before heading to Kramolin this weekend to complete the eleventh and final counting day of the series.

Joanne Coles - The new girl on the block

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 10:35:00 +0200

Having just turned eighteen years old towards the end of June, Joanne Coles - Gas Gas enjoyed a belated birthday celebration when she recorded her best ever result at the opening round of the 2010 FIM Women's Trial World Championship. Her clear second place behind Laia Sanz - Repsol Montesa at the French Grand Prix immediately elevated Coles as the new threat to the reigning champion's supremacy.

Joanne's result at St Michel De Maurienne, was far more than just a one off performance, with the teenager having already placed third and second respectively at the first two rounds of the Women's Euro series ahead of kicking off her World campaign. Originating from Derby, Great Britain - Coles was originally introduced to the sport by her father, who himself had once been a rider during his earlier days. Nowadays her father's role has shifted to supporting his daughter as she takes on the World's finest.

Joanne made an instant impact on the World scene by finishing fourth on her debut in Andorra back in 2008. The following year she returned to the same venue to claim her first ever podium placing at this level. "Finishing second to Laia at the first round this year is more than I could have ever hoped for. My goal was to try to be on the podium, so to have gone one better already is a great start." Joanne explained.

Ace Trial Team member Coles continued. "Yes I want to get some good results this season, but also I am focussed on trying to get closer to Laia next year, as this year I know it will be impossible for me to beat her unless the trial is very easy. The Euro rounds have been a good warm up for me, especially in terms of getting used to the time limit in each section as we don't have that in Women's trials in Britain yet."

"Also the observing seems to be far stricter in Europe than it is back at home, so again it has been good to have at least a couple of test events before we headed to France."

"I have worked hard over the winter, and tried to ride nearly every day. Normally I just practice with my dad or some local riders, but sometimes I get the chance to ride with Becky (Cook) and Emma (Bristow) which is good."

"There is a great relationship between the British girls, and the friendly rivalry is good for all of us. To have three British girls in the top four in France shows the strength we have back in the UK."

"I know Laia has publicly said she sees me as her main threat this year, luckily I don't feel any pressure because of that. My aim is to beat her in a couple of years, I just hope that she does not retire before I get the chance to really go head to head with her."

"Having finished second in France, I now want to do the same at the second round in the Czech Republic. I know I will have to ride well to make that happen, so we will just have to see how things go on the day." Joanne ended.

Coles will resume her battle with Sanz and the other female riders this coming weekend, as the second round of the 2010 FIM Women's Trial World Championship takes place at Kramolin in the Czech Republic.

Thirty five years later - Bou is the 2010 Champion

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:31:00 +0200

The 2010 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship will come to a close in Kramolin, Czech Republic this weekend and in doing so will bring the curtain down on the thirty fifth edition of the series. Three and a half decades have passed since the first FIM Trial World Championship started proper back in 1975, with Toni Bou - Repsol Montesa being the latest FIM Trial World Champion to join the thirteen other riders who have previously won the title over its long history.

Britain's Martin Lampkin - Bultaco was the first person to collect this prestigious crown in the mid seventies and continues to be a part of the current championship acting as a minder to his son Dougie who was later to follow in his father's tyre marks. Martin's reign was important, but only brief as Yjro Vesterinen - Bultaco begun his three year domination. The Finnish rider was to take the title in 1976, 1977 and 1978 as the series and riders begun a new era of professionalism.

Vesterinen still remains amongst an elite group of riders who have won the championship on more than one occasion. The trophy was to change rapidly over the coming years as Bernie Schreiber - Bultaco claimed yet another title for the Spanish manufacturer in 1979 before losing out to Ulf Karlson - Montesa from Sweden a year later. Frenchman Giles Burgat - SWM made it three different winners in three years as he snatched the title in 1981.

The eighties were dominated by two riders, with Belgium's Eddy Lejeune - Honda HRC recording three championships in a row - 1982, 1983 and 1984 - to equal Vesterinen's feat. His arch rival Thierry Michaud - Fantic was eventually to get his turn at the top of the table as he won three titles for the Italian factory during 1985, 1986 and 1988 to become the first rider ever to reclaim his crown after having lost it.

One of the championship's best ever riders was to emerge during the later part of the same decade, with the young Spanish hotshot Jordi Tarres - Beta bringing a new style of riding to the series. Over the next nine years Tarres would be only interrupted twice, once by Michaud and another time by Tommi Ahvala - Aprilia 1992 - as he notched up an incredible seven titles to firmly put himself in the history books.

Marc Colomer - Montesa was the man to bring Tarres' reign to a close in 1996 as he collected his team's second only title after a long sixteen year wait. Unfortunately for Colomer, he was to be sandwiched between two greats as Dougie Lampkin - Beta begun to show his true potential. Twenty two years after his father's victory, Dougie began his unequalled run of seven wins in a row to match and beat Tarres' record all in one go. With this dominance Dougie rightly became the new legend of Trial.

Lampkin's then team mate Takahisa Fujinami - Montesa was the man to take over at the top in 2004, as he became Japan's second only ever off road FIM World Champion. Adam Raga - Gas Gas then secured back to back titles in 2005 and 2006 before being over shadowed by the new force of modern Trial, his name being Toni Bou - Repsol Montesa.

2010 saw Bou claim his fourth successive SPEA FIM Trial World Championship, this year's crown coming with one round to spare. With age on his side, the twenty three year old supremo now looks a real threat to the records set by Tarres and Lampkin. Whilst his latest title is already in the bag, Bou will arrive in the Czech Republic looking to close the season in style by taking his eighth win of the campaign.

Interview with Toni Bou

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 17:02:00 +0200

“In Portugal I was fourth and the other riders caught up on points but we had faith in the team and in ourselves." said Toni Bou

Toni Bou was yesterday crowned 2010 FIM Outdoor Trial World Champion for the fourth consecutive season, a prize which adds to his four Indoor World Champion titles won over the same period. Since in 2007 this 20 year-old from Barcelona was signed up by the Repsol Montesa Honda team, his command over the world of balance on two wheels has been incredible.

Q: Seven wins out of the ten events contested, an overwhelming percentage. Can the bar be raised any higher?
Toni Bou: “It´s very difficult, even more so with the new regulation. The truth is that it’s very hard to maintain this consistency because winning means you have to ride the zones first at the next event which makes it more difficult to win again but, we’ve had a really good season.

Q: Has there been any time when you thought your dominance might be in danger?
T.B.: Yes because, as I said, the fact of winning and knowing that you have to go out first at the next race adds a lot of pressure. Most of all in Portugal where I finished fourth, and could have ended up further back. The other riders caught up on points but we stayed confident without doubting the team or ourselves and we managed a great season.

Q: Fourth consecutive World Championship, eighth if we include the Indoor World Championships. Where’s the ceiling for Toni Bou?
T.B.: I don’t know because we are working really hard, putting in a lot of effort every year and we all want to keep winning. I’m really happy with the team, with the bike and the intention is to keep up the standard of work year after year.

Q: Do you feel you are strong enough to reach Lampkin’s seven consecutive title record?
T.B.: The truth is that it’s still some way off for us. To win four titles in a row is a lot and we are very happy to have achieved that. They are two very different times and we have to be proud of what we are doing. Obviously we would like more but we have to look year to year, race to race and keep working hard every day.

Q: What did you think of the standard of your rivals?
T.B.: They are of a very high standard, doing really good work and, although it’s true that I have managed to win a lot of events, many times it’s been by very few points. The truth is that with my team, we’re very strong and we’ve had some good races but the others are very close and we can’t sit back and relax.

Q: What did you think of the rule change which makes the winner of one event go out first at the next?
T.B.: It’s interesting and difficult to evaluate because sometimes it’s been good and other times not so good. I’ve been the only one able to win events consecutively, going out first, but it’s true that in races like Portugal, it was much more difficult. On the other hand, when I went out first, my rivals were quite far behind and I was able to make up a lot more points, so in some ways it’s also been a positive thing.

Q: Sometimes you have said that the level of difficulty of the trials is very low. How would you raise it?
T.B.: It’s complicated because it’s true that there are races which, at first, seem to be a difficult trial, like here in Italy, but then we are able to run it without incurring many penalty points. We are all riding at such a high level that it makes things very difficult for the organisers.

Q: Your next goal?
T.B.: First I’m going on holiday. We’ve had a really good season, working a lot and now it’s time to have a good rest because straight afterwards we’ll be back at work to try to renew the Spanish Championship titles.

Photos Repsol YPF

Bou - The Champion talks

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 20:32:00 +0200

The Italian Trial Grand Prix was a typically busy and noisy affair, and was the perfect setting for the all conquering Toni Bou – Repsol Montesa to wrap up his fourth consecutive outdoor title, as he continues his domination of the modern era of the sport. Although always present with a smile on his face, Toni could never be described as extrovert or of exploiting his supremacy in an over powering manner. Despite the young Spanish rider’s success at such an early age, he still shows no sign of his status going to his head. In his own quiet fashion Bou explained about his latest achievement.

“Sometimes in these situations you can really feel the pressure, but today that was not the case. I had a difficult job today, as riding first when the sections were at there most slippery was a real test. Anyway I was riding well and had a really good feeling on the bike. The only mistakes were in sections nine and fourteen on the first lap, which allowed Raga to be close to me. On the second lap I made a really good job, and it was a great way to seal the title. Now I can enjoy the summer break with a small holiday, before preparing for the final round.”

Bou is champion again

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 20:43:00 +0200

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.

Foppolo awaits the champion elect

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 17:40:00 +0200

The Italian ski resort of Foppolo set high in the mountains and north of the city of Bergamo, today prepared itself for what could be an important moment in the 2010 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship when the action starts tomorrow morning. Already the motorsport mad Italian fans have began to arrive in anticipation of witnessing Toni Bou – Repsol Montesa collect his fourth successive outdoor title. The mountain-based paddock is typically alive and filled with Italian atmosphere.

It is nine years since the series last visited the beautiful and scenic venue, and the terrain remains as challenging as ever with a heavy storm on Friday evening adding extra severity to the sections. The course that winds it way around the hills that surround the centre of Foppolo includes a mixture of stream based hazards plus several sections set on steep and grassy bankings. The latter of these being most affected by the wet weather, although sunshine and wind has begun to dry the ground very quickly.

As well as cheering Bou to his deserved World crown, the home fans will also be looking to support their own hero Daniele Maurino – Gas Gas who recorded his best ever result, eighth place, in San Marino last weekend.

Italian Trial Grand Prix could see Bou crowned

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 17:48:00 +0200

The Italian Grand Prix is always an important stop on the SPEA FIM Trial World Championship calendar, and this year it maybe even more significant as Toni Bou - Repsol Montesa looks favourite to claim his fourth outdoor title in Foppolo this Sunday. Bou who was victorious both in France and San Marino over the last two weekends heads to the Italian mountains above Bergamo with a thirty point cushion.

In reality only an absolute disaster will prevent the twenty-three year old from becoming FIM Trial World Champion on Sunday, as Toni continues to dominate the current era of the sport, a position he has held since joining Montesa back in 2007. Bou's team mate Takahisa Fujinami - Repsol Montesa will be looking for a good result in Italy following his fifth place in San Marino, as he looks to secure a Repsol Montesa 1 - 2 in the championship and move clear of Adam Raga - Gas Gas with whom he is currently tied with in the general standings.

Raga's second place last weekend was a welcomed return of form for the Gas Gas teamster after poor results in Great Britain and France which saw his title hopes fade in a matter of two rounds. Adam appeared to have Bou under pressure following his win on the second day in Japan, with just eight points separating the young Spanish duo after the opening three rounds. Realistically the best Raga can hope for now, is to overcome Fujinami in the fight to become vice champion as he was last year.

The battle for fourth place in the general standings remains a fierce contest between two more Spanish riders, with Albert Cabestany - Sherco curently holding a seven point advantage over Jeroni Fajardo - Beta as the series heads to Italy. Fajardo missed a great opportunity to close the gap further on his more experienced rival, when a five in the very last section in San Marino dropped him from second to fourth and allowed Cabestany to take the final podium place.

Further down the order exists another tussle between two competitors from the same country, with the younger rider holding the upper hand on this ocassion. James Dabill - Gas Gas recent poor run of form has allowed veteran campaigner Dougie Lampkin to close in on him with just two rounds remaining. Whilst it will be difficult for Lampkin to overcome the ten point deficit, history would tell us that Dougie will not give up on the chance to claim sixth spot in the series until the final section has been ridden.

Although Bou will travel to Foppolo knowing he has a good level of comfort in his title fight, his younger compatriot Alfredo Gomez - Montesa will not have that level of luxury. A mere five points is all that splits Gomez from Jack Challoner - Beta going into the penultimate round as the British rider looks to add the FIM World Junior title to the Youth crown he claimed back in 2008.

In the Youth category it is again Spain versus Great Britain, with Pol Tarres - Gas Gas having taken control of this title race thanks to his fifth win of the year in San Marino. Although Jack Sheppard - Beta trails Tarres by fourteen points going to Italy, the situation is actualy much closer and more complicated due to both the Youth and Junior championships being determined from the best nine of eleven counting days.

The small town of Foppolo that sits approximately sixty kilometres north of Bergamo will host the fifth round of the 2010 UEM Trial European Championship the day before the almost seventy strong entry take part in the main World event.

Lampkin talks about the Italian GP and his future

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 16:34:00 +0200

At thirty-four years old Dougie Lampkin - Beta is by far the oldest rider in the 2010 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship, but despite his senior status amongst his younger rivals the ex multi FIM Trial World Champion continues to look to the future. The Italian Grand Prix this coming weekend will bring to an end a three week trip down memory lane for Dougie, with him being the only rider on the current tour who has competed in GP's at all three of the recent venues.

Despite missing the Japanese Grand Prix, to compete in an extreme enduro event at the request of Red Bull, Lampkin still holds seventh spot in the general standings and is in with a good chance of reclaiming the sixth position he earned last season. Alongside the British round the Italian GP remains a special occasion for the veteran campaigner, especially since he rejoined Beta a few seasons ago.

Dougie explained. "Italy is one of my favourite countries and is also normally one of the best rounds of the year. I love the Italian food and also the people, they have a real passion for Trial and this creates an incredible atmosphere. Even as a British rider the Italian fans have always given me great support, it obviously helps when you are riding an Italian bike too."

"Each year I hear stories about me retiring from the SPEA FIM Trial World Championship, but each time they are not true. At the moment I am actually really enjoying my riding, as I have much less pressure than when I was champion for all those years. I know I do not have the same level as I used to, but somehow I seem to be able to stay in touch with the younger riders and still get some respectable results."

"I am sure once I stop enjoying riding my bike I will stop competing as then it would be very hard to find the motivation after all those years of travelling. It is good to be back with Beta as it is where I started my career and my intention is to stay as part of the family until I decide to hang up my boots."

"Hopefully I will be able to continue in 2011 as I have done this year, by riding the SPEA FIM Trial World Championship again, plus some selected indoor and extreme enduro events. Trial has been a part of my life for a long time, so it will be something I am sure I will miss when I finally stop."

"Bou is riding at an incredible level, so whilst I continue to dream about winning my 100th Grand Prix I also know it will be very difficult to reach this final goal. My last GP victory was back in 2006, however after being second to Toni in Fort William I continue to hope that with the right conditions and some good luck I can still win just one more GP, and that might be in Foppolo this weekend as I have good memories of this place."

"When I stop riding perhaps I will not stop being part of the paddock, as I would like to continue to work in Trial in the future. Maybe I can help some riders or maybe help to develop and improve the championship in some way, as I still feel I have a lot to give to the sport. However for the moment, my only focus is to ride well in Italy this weekend after riding badly in San Marino, as it is an important round for Beta and for all those Italian fans who have supported me throughout my career."