Italy - Bou leads the way

With four rounds already completed, this coming weekend sees the 2011 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship arrive in the small town of Montecrestese for the fifth stop of the tour. Situated in northern Italy only one hundred and forty kilometres northeast of Turin, this is the first time this mountain venue has featured on the series calendar.
 
Having taken four from a possible five victories, reigning World champion Toni Bou – Repsol Montesa sits comfortably at the top of the general standings with a fifteen point margin over second placed Adam Raga – Gas Gas. Italy should rekindle fond memories for Bou as it was at last year’s Italian Grand Prix that he took his fourth SPEA FIM Trial World Championship.
 
Whilst Bou has broken free at the top of the general standings, Raga remains under pressure from Albert Cabestany – Sherco who is now only five points behind him in third. Despite producing a determined win during the first day of the French World round, Raga has been unable to carry his good form into the rest of the season and must record a strong result in Italy if he is going to keep Cabestany at bay.
 
Japan’s Takahisa Fujinami  – Repsol Montesa currently sits fourth in the series, with him trailing Cabestany by six points. Having only visited the podium twice so far this season, Fujinami has lacked the consistency to break inside the top three overall, something that he will look to resolve in Italy.
 
One man who will be in search of improved results is Spain’s Jeroni Fajardo – Ossa. Struggling to find his form for most of the season, the twenty-six year old has only managed to reach the rostrum once during the 2011 campaign. Currently placed fifth in the championship, Jeroni must record a good result in Italy if he is to challenge for a top four finish come the end of the season.
 
Having recorded his best result of the season in Andorra where he placed fifth, James Dabill – Beta will be looking for a repeat performance in Italy this weekend. Currently sixth in the championship standings, Dabill will need to fight hard to close the twelve point gap between Fajardo and himself over the closing rounds.
 
Further down the World Pro class Loris Gubian – Gas Gas, Michael Brown – Gas Gas and Jack Challoner – Beta are positioned seventh, eighth and ninth respectively. With only four points separating these three young riders, there is still everything to play for heading into this weekend’s GP.
 
In the Junior category, Spain reigns supreme with a trio of riders claiming the top three positions. Alfredo Gomez – Montesa continues to dominate the class, holding a twenty-four point advantage over Francesc Moret – Montesa. Having taken four from a possible five wins Gomez could only manage second in Andorra, providing his rivals with a glimmer of hope. Pol Tarres – Gas Gas rounds out the top three only five points behind Moret.
 
The highly competitive Youth class continues to be dominated by Jack Sheppard – Beta, who has recorded four victories from five starts. With a thirteen-point lead over second placed Cedric Tempier – Sherco, Sheppard has the 2011 SPEA FIM Youth Trial World Championship in his sights despite having sustained a serious wrist injury earlier in the year.