Toni Bou – Repsol Honda took victory on both days of competition in Andorra last weekend, with the nine times FIM Trial World Champion extending his winning run to five consecutive counting days and in doing so stretched his lead over arch rival Adam Raga – TRS to seventeen points as the 2016 FIM Trial World Championship heads to Lourdes, France for round five this coming weekend.
For Raga it was a disappointing fifth consecutive second place and if he is to stop Bou racing away to a record extending tenth consecutive crown he desperately needs a high points-scoring weekend in France.
Although the series visits Lourdes for the first time, Raga has a very good record in the French GP events having ten wins to his credit already, which is just one behind the most successful rider Dougie Lampkin and six more than fellow Catalan Bou.
Last year, when the Trial GP was staged at La Mongie, the battling duo took a win and a second place apiece with neither rider gaining an advantage. A repeat of this result would clearly suit Bou this weekend coming. Like Andorra, Lourdes is also in the Pyrenees, so the title chasers will have remained in the region to train and practice.
Jeroni Fajardo – Vertigo achieved his very first podium of the year on day two in Andorra and will be keen to carry that form forward and is actually only eight championship points behind Albert Cabestany – Sherco and only twelve behind third placed veteran Takahisa Fujinami – Repsol Honda who in turn is only a single point ahead of his teenage teammate Jaime Busto – Repsol Honda.
Home French hopes are pinned on Loris Gubian – Beta and Alexandre Ferrer – Sherco, despite Ferrer having performed nowhere near his 2015 form so far this year.
In the Trial2 class Spanish rider Arnau Farre – Gas Gas bounced back from several below par rides to take victory on day two in Andorra, bringing Britain’s Gas Gas mounted Jack Price’s three event winning run to an end, although Price finished second and maintains a healthy Championship lead. Pierre Sauvage – Sherco was on the podium twice in Andorra and along with Gael Chatagno –Sherco represents the best chance of home success in this class when the series lands in Lourdes.
Britain’s Jack Peace – Gas Gas maintains a commanding lead in the Trial125 class despite his German rival, Max Faude – Beta finally beating his season-long rival in Andorra and taking a well-earned win. This young duo will continue battle at the French GP this coming weekend.