COMPETITION
FIM X-Trial - Sheffield
The opening round of this year’s FIM X-Trial World Championship would once again bring the house down as the enthusiastic crowd made some noise in appreciation of the impressive display of motorcycle trials talent from the best riders in the world on display at Sheffield, England. Toni Bou is acknowledged as the ‘Master’ and the Spanish rider was made very welcome by the home crowd as he once again pushed the boundaries of his immense ability with a superb riding display. Since 1996 the event has been run in the capable hands of Neil Crosswaite and Martín Lampkin from Avondale Management, who, with the support of the Yeadon and Guiseley Motorcycle Club and an army of helpers aim to bring you an evening of fantastic entertainment. With the commentary in the capable hands of Neil’s son, Martin and the jovial Wayne Kershaw to keep the crowd entertained,
it can still quite proudly call itself the best Indoor trials event in the world.
Current FIM X-Trial World Champion, Toni Bou, on the fourstroke Montesa takes no prisoners and that’s exactly what he achieved in a low scoring event which went all the way to the final section in a duel with fellow Spanish rider, Albert Cabestany. In fact it was an all-Spanish podium as Bou and Cabestany were joined by Beta mounted Jeroni Fajardo as Bou’s Montesa teammate from Japan, Takahisa Fujinami, failed the final hazard.
For the second year running Gas Gas rider Adam Raga, who was the last title holder before Bou started his reign as far back as 2007, failed to progress from the semi-final stage of the nights proceedings to qualify for the final, giving him the same result as in 2013.
HEAD TO HEAD
The newly introduced head-to-head races produced some very interesting outcomes during the qualification process but it was ‘Fujigas’ who booked the first ticket through to the semi-final when he out pointed the young Jorge Casales on the Gas Gas over the hazards. Casales is the current Junior World Trials Champion and was making his debut in the X-Trial Indoor series as he chases the sport’s top honours.
The two Beta factory riders, James Dabill and Fajardo, went out against one another with the Spaniard edging in front leaving Dabill to watch the opposition take their turns before he took his place in the ‘semis’. By strange coincidence the two Gas Gas riders, Raga and Britain’s Michael Brown, were also paired together but once again it was a Spanish win.
From France the likeable Loris Gubian was out for the first time in competition on the new Ossa which he will be riding in 2014 but up against the power of Bou he never stood a chance.
The Spanish brand Ossa also has young British Championship rider, Jack Challoner, on its machines for 2014 but a heavy impact crash on landing from the sleepers section left him with a broken throttle hand that will put him out of action for a while. This allowed Albert Cabestany an easier passage into the semi-final at the unfortunate expense of Challoner who would take no further part in the event.
Adam Raga (Gas Gas-ESP)
Adam Raga (Gas Gas-ESP) James Dabill (Beta-GBR): “I have not had the best of results tonight but you must remember these guys we compete against are the best in the world, this is the Formula 1 of trials. As always, I would like to thank the fans for the home support, much appreciated – thank you”.
UP A GEAR
This is where the event went up a gear in the entertainment stakes as each pairing in the semi-final started with a dual lane race to decide their running order for the final.
Britain’s James Dabill was now facing a tough battle to gain the advantage on his team-mate to qualify as he initially lost out in the dual lane race and had to attempt the four reverse direction hazards first, giving away the advantage all the time to Fajardo, whose score of six to Dabill’s seven, put him through to the final. Fajardo’s score was also matched by Cabestany, Fujinami and Raga who did not seem to be able to find the form he needed to win.
Bou was simply stunning and remained ‘feet-up’ with a commanding display to show his challengers and the crowd why he is the best.
It was once again a disappointed Raga who was to take no further part in the event as he missed out on a place in the final due to him finishing with the slowest time in the last section of the semi-final.
GRAND FINALE
It would be another series of dual lane races which would determine the riding order of the four qualifiers for the four hazards to be attempted in the final encounter of the evening.
With Bou out last he would first have Fajardo, Fujinami and then Cabestany to watch through the hazards, could anyone beat Bou?
Any rider who competes in trials knows that you can give away an advantage when attempting a hazard first and that is what Fajardo was up against as he pioneered the way through the remaining four hazards, which were new and unridden, as they were attempted once again in the reverse direction for the final. He knew he was up against it from the word go and despite his best efforts he knew he had it all to do. His third position over Fujinami was just reward for his efforts.
On the other hand his Japanese rival was beginning to suffer as he was carrying a knee injury which in reality requires surgery but the Montesa mounted star used his ‘do or die’ efforts to come home in fourth position, missing the podium after taking a five point penalty in the last hazard of the evening.
Bou knew that Cabestany could sense the chance to win as the two traded blows similar to last year at Sheffield. Cabestany pushed Bou all the way throughout the final with very little to separate these two top riders. Bou had a slight advantage but when ‘Cabers’ cleaned the final hazard of the evening the pressure was back on his rival.
Toni Bou is a machine under pressure and he did not disappoint, taking a solid ‘clean’ ride through the hazard to secure his first well deserved win of 2014. The huge crowd went wild and put their hands together to applaud what they had just witnessed – an athlete at the top of his game!