Isola revisited

It is two years since the FIM Trial World Championship visited the venue at Isola 2000, when once again it was the final round of the series. The French GP will be very much a case of déjà vu when it kicks off tomorrow with Adam Raga – Gas Gas desperately trying to stop Toni Bou – Repsol Montesa winning the title just like it was back in 2011. Back then Raga did a great job of applying the pressure on the eventual champion and made Bou wait until the final day to get the job done.
 
Back in 2000, rain on the first day played havoc with the smooth boulders and totally changed the severity of the sections. Raga gambled on the weather forecast and made a dash for it and was almost home and dry when the heavens opened, his total of eleven marks giving him a fifteen mark winning margin over a dismayed Bou.
 
Twenty four hours later normal service was resumed as Bou turned the tables on his arch rival in more balanced conditions to claim an important win and with it seal his fifth successive FIM Trial World Championship much to his relief. This epic battle is sure to play in the minds of both these riders as they return to the same ground tomorrow.