In 2011 Jack Challoner was a permanent wild card rider in the re-branded FIM X-Trial World Championships and finished 6th after the end of the Indoor series. This year, after not making the permanent fixture list he was selected to ride in the Geneva leg of the 2011 FIM X-Trial Championships. Unfortunately Jack narrowly missed out in the final after a tough battle with fellow British rider Michael Brown. Jack finished the event in 8th place and Michael 7th, both riders finished the qualification lap on 16 marks so it was down to a difficult timed section between the Yorkshire pair to decide the winner.
At the top of the podium a familiar figure, Toni Bou (SPA - Montesa) took his second win out of two, with Albert Cabestany (SPA - Sherco) in second and Takahisha Fujinami (JPN - Honda) concluding the podium in third place. But it wasn't plain sailing for the dominant Spanish rider as it was Adam Raga (SPA - Gas Gas) who gave Bou a run for him money finishing the qualification lap on clean.
Challoner, 21, was selected to ride the Geneva X-Trial round over the winter, probably down to his incredibly strong ride at the same Palexpo arena the year before where Jack finished in 6th and the best of the Brits. Jack talks about the nights events; "Riding the FIM X-Trial, whether your a permanent rider or a wild-card is always a great honour. I'm disappointed with how I rode tonight as I really wanted to impress in front of what turned out to be an exceptionally passionate audience.
"If truth be told I wasn't on top form today, it's being a while since I've ridden the X-Trial sections and it took me a couple of sections to adjust, which in this game you can't do - you need to be comfortable on the bike from the first section and I wasn't".
Jack, whose home residence is in Halifax, England, was disappointed with his effort, which still saw him battle for 7th place with Michael Brown in a timed section after they both finished the qualification lap with the same score. "I was unlucky in that I was selected to ride all the sections first, it's always nice to be able to watch other riders through the hazards as you learn from their lines and how the obstacles ride. It was especially tough having to ride the timed section first as you don't know what time you have to beat. I went flat out throughout the section and got to the last rock in just 15 second, unfortunately I had a big crash as I tried to get out of the section quickly."
Challoner, in stead of packing up the van, lendded his hand to to George Tidmarch (@George_Tidmarch) for the live television programme on Motors TV. "Commentating was really run actually, I really enjoyed it. At first I was nervous but George is a true professional and pointed me in the right direction. It's great that the coverage is out on Motors TV and on FIM-TV live, I highly recommend tuning in."
Jack will now head to Barcelona with Michael Brown for three weeks of intense practicing before in preparation for what promises to be an incredible 2012 season for Jack Challoner.
Jack would like to thank Miton Top Trial Team, Relentless Energy and all fans and family for their continued support.