Twenty-two year old Emma Bristow – Sherco will head to the hills of Andorra this weekend for the opening round of the 2013 FIM Women’s Trial World Championship carrying the extra pressure of starting the new season as the favourite to lift the title this time around. With reigning champion Laia Sanz absent from the entry list, the British rider who finished as runner-up in the series for the last two years has now been presented with her best opportunity to realise her life long dream. However with this being Emma’s eighth season of riding at the top level, she will be only too aware that her fellow female competitors will also have a taste for gold now that Sanz is currently out of the picture.
Bristow continues to grow in confidence and stature each year and has already started 2013 strongly by being the highest placed female rider in the World famous and ultra tough Scottish Six Days Trial in May, a result that saw her record a top fifty finish overall. Emma followed this up by also taking a dominant win at the first round of the 2013 UEM Women’s Trial European Championship in the Czech Republic. The Sherco rider is yet to win a Grand Prix, but was second on three occasions last season and will see this coming weekend as her best opportunity of taking her place on the top step of the podium.
Speaking ahead of her first real test of 2013 Bristow said. “I am feeling really confident at the moment and I feel that I am riding the best I have ever ridden. I am very confident with my new bike and the new team and have got some great people around me, which all helps to go into the first round as strong as possible. Like everyone else, I am not too sure what is happening with Laia, but all I can do is concentrate on what I am doing.”
“If Laia is out of the championship, then that does put some extra pressure on me, but you have got to deal with that in a positive way. I know that I have worked hard again this winter and that the change of bike and team has helped me take another step forward. I am going to Andorra to do my own thing and to ride as I normally do without taking too much notice of what the other riders will be doing.”
“Riding well in Scotland was a big boost, as it was the first time that I had ridden so well with the no-stop rules, as really it is not normally a way of riding that suits me. Anyway they are the rules and you have just got to get on with it as it they are the same for everyone. It will interesting to see how the new rules play out in Andorra. As a venue I like Andorra, as its dry and grippy, but it is also very steep which can catch you out at times.”
“The first round of the championship is always a case of the unknown, as it will be the first time all the riders have come together, so you are never too sure what level the other girls are at after the off season. Becky (Rebekah) Cook was not at the first Euro round so it will be interesting to see her back in action and I also know that Sandra Gomez will be strong as Andorra is almost a home round for her.”
“From my own point of view I feel that I am improving each year and that I am going into the first round of the 2013 FIM Women’s Trial World Championship in the best possible form, so I am really looking forward to this weekend.”