07/09/14 - FIM World Champ.: Arnedo, SPA
Bou crowned world champion for the eighth time!
Today Toni Bou – Repsol Honda became the first ever rider to win eight FIM Trial World Championships as he took
the victory once again, this time on the final day of the 2014 series at the Spanish Grand Prix held at Arnedo. Bou
knew that only an absolute disaster would prevent him sealing the title today, but like the true champion he has
become over the last eight seasons Toni created history in style as he claimed his seventh win of the current
campaign. Bou now stands alone with the twenty eight year old now having won eight FIM Trial World Championships
to overtake Jordi Tarres and Dougie Lampkin who both won the series seven times each during their respective
careers. Bou eventually ended the series fifteen points ahead of his nearest rival.
Adam Raga – Gas Gas was runner up on the day to cement his second place in the series, and as has been the case
for most of the year, he was the only rider to seriously challenge the newly crowned champion on the day. Jeroni
Fajardo – Beta completed the eighth all Spanish podium of the 2014 championship, but this was not enough to
overhaul Albert Cabestany – Sherco in the final standings as the Beta rider placed fourth for the year overall.
Cabestany rounded out his 2014 campaign in fourth position today to claim third in the final rankings, this being the
first time that the Sherco teamster has been in the top three since 2006.
Takahisa Fujinami – Repsol Honda saw his assault on a possible top three finish in the series fade away during the
latter GPs as the veteran campaigner began to feel the effect of his long standing knee injury. The Japanese rider
finished in fifth spot both overall and today and will undergo surgery to his knee in the next couple of days. James
Dabill – Beta made some amends for his poor showing yesterday as he claimed sixth spot in the Trial to end his year
ranked sixth overall. Jorge Casales – Gas Gas, Pol Tarres – Sherco, Matteo Grattarola – Gas Gas and Alexandre Ferrer
– Sherco were split by only eight marks as they respectively completed the top ten for the last time in 2014.
To avoid the time issues of yesterday, today section five was removed to reduce the course length and the overall
time limit was extended for the same reason. This, along with a few minor modifications made for a better Trial.
Newly crowned winner of the FIM Trial World Cup Jaime Busto – Beta closed out his campaign with his seventh win
of the year, coming home eight marks ahead of Miquel Gelabert – Sherco who was a surprise runner up after his
previous career best fifth place yesterday. Quentin Carles de Caudemberg – Beta completed the podium for the
second day in a row whilst Franz Kadlec – Beta finished fourth today to reinforce his second spot in the series
overall.
For the second day in a row it was Switzerland’s Noe Pretalli – JTG 2014 who topped the FIM 125 Trial Cup class as
he added his second victory in the series to the maiden win he took yesterday. Like twenty four hours earlier again
his margin of victory was decisive as he was again followed home by France’s Romain Corna – Beta. Italy’s Andrea
Riva – Beta finished off his season with his best ever result as he completed the podium on day two. With the 2014
FIM 125 Trial Cup already won by Gael Chatagno – Sherco earlier in the year, Teo Colairo – Gas Gas and Pretalli
secured second and third positions in the final general standings.
Not surprisingly Montesa once again sealed the manufactures championship thanks to Bou’s and Fujinami’s exploits.
With all classes in the 2014 FIM Trial World Championship now concluded, many of the riders will now head to
Andorra for next weekend’s season closing FIM Trial des Nations.
-------------> FIM Women’s Trial World Championship
Cook wins to keep title fight alive
Britain’s Rebekah Cook – Beta has kept the fight for the 2014 FIM Women’s Trial World Championship very much
alive as she won the second day of the Spanish Grand Prix by a single mark from her compatriot and series leader
Emma Bristow – Sherco. Bristow looked favourite for the victory and to wrap up the series with three wins from
three starts, but will now have to wait until next Friday’s closing event in Andorra to see if she will finally become
the queen of Trial. As in previous years, the 204 FIM Women’s Trial World Championship will be decided on the best
three results from four counting days over three rounds. This was Cook’s second ever GP win, her first being in
Andorra in 2013.
Theresa Bauml – Ossa was today’s final podium finisher as she placed a close third. This was the young German
rider’s third career best result in a row and immediately upstaged the previous best fifth place she recorded
yesterday. A mere five marks separated the top three female riders after three laps of nine sections, which were
once again ridden in hot and dusty conditions. Section five was omitted from today’s Trial in order to reduce the
overall length of the course and the time issues that had played a major part during Saturday’s competition.
With the pressure perhaps resting heavily on Bristow’s shoulders it was Cook and a very surprised Ina Wilde – Gas
who made the early running. The British / German duo both completed their opening lap for the loss of nine marks.
Ina dropped three threes in sections five, six and eight, whilst Rebekah parted with a two, five and one, her final
mark being on the man-made hazard located in the newly built local bull ring. Wilde was unfortunately unable to
repeat her performance over the closing two laps and ended her day down in sixth. At the close of lap one Bristow
found herself down in fifth place on thirteen marks.
Behind the initial leaders Cook and Wilde, next up was Sandra Gomez – Ossa on ten marks, Mireia Conde – Beta on
eleven and Maria Giro – Beta on twelve. With work to do Bristow began to ride herself back into contention as she
posted the equal best second lap score of six along with Cook and Bauml. This set up a dramatic last lap shootout
between the top five female riders with just five marks splitting these five potential winners as they headed out to
ride the closing nine sections. The searing afternoon heat added to the occasion as the rising temperatures and
tension were equal to each other.
Cook was the only one in the front group with any level of comfort having fifteen marks whilst Bristow, Bauml and
Gomez were all tied on nineteen and with Conde just one mark further back on twenty. Rebekah held her nerve well
to deliver another solid lap and despite Emma’s best lap of the Trial when she parted with just three marks, Cook
had done enough to hold on to the victory and more importantly to keep the title fight alive.
Behind Cook, Bristow and Bauml, it was Conde who was to finally snatch fourth position as she demoted her Spanish
compatriot Gomez down into fifth. Wilde and Giro were in contention for a top five placing all day, but eventually
had to settle for sixth and seventh respectively. Elisabet Solera – Gas, Katy Sunter – Gas Gas and France’s Pauline
Masanes – Gas Gas rounded out today’s top ten.
So whilst Bristow leads Cook by ten points heading to next Friday’s deciding round in Andorra, the title fight is
actually closer than it may appear when the best three results process comes into play. Another win for Cook in
Andorra, where she won the opening day next year would see her match Bristow’s best three scores and then the
title would all come down to the best result at the last round, which would then fall in Cook’s favour. So the 2014
FIM Women’s Trial World Championship is very much alive and up for grabs.
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Toni Bou entra nella storia: unico pilota a vincere 8 titoli!
...tutto su MOTOSPRINT in edicola martedi' prox...
CLASSIFICHE/RESULTS:
WORLD PRO-- WORLD CUP -- 125 CUP-- WOMEN--
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CAMPIONATO/OVERALL STANDINGS:
WORLD PRO-- WORLD CUP -- 125 CUP-- WOMEN--
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