Jitsie factory Beta rider Jack Sheppard had a day to forget on the second day of competition at round four of the 2012 FIM Trial World Championship in Spain. The eighteen-year-old from Suffolk admitted to making too many mistakes, as he slipped to thirteenth overall in the mountains above the city of Penarroya Pueblonuevo, located in the province of Cordova.
Having fallen heavily on Saturday, Jack could have been forgiven for feeling less than confident come Sunday morning. However, the gritty teenager refused to make excuses for his performance, claiming that the injuries he sustained just twenty-four hours earlier did not affect his riding on day two of what proved a gruelling double-header.
Instead, a refreshingly honest Sheppard blamed a lack of bike time and poor concentration during his appraisal of a trial that, sadly, was far from memorable for the 2011 FIM Youth Trial World Champion. “In truth, I didn’t feel too bad after the crash yesterday, so I am disappointed with my result today,” confirmed Sheppard, who fortunately still remains in the top five of the overall standings in the Junior division.
“It is disappointing because I was riding okay, and I didn’t have a bad first lap. I dropped two really slack fives, and a couple of dabs, but take the fives out of the equation and I was riding okay. That’s what is so frustrating, I am not riding that badly, but when it comes down to it I keep slipping up and it’s costing me a good result.”
“On lap two I started well, but then I started making mistakes and it all went downhill,” continued Jack. “Again, I felt I was riding okay, but I was making errors towards the end of each section and they cost me dearly. I think I scored six fives today, and you can’t afford do that in this championship, the competition is just too fierce.”
“I think lack of bike time is really hindering me at the moment. I just need a bit more time on the bike, so I can get bike fit. If I can get out and practice a bit more I am confident I will be able to perform a bit better towards the end of the season. I feel okay physically, I just need more time on the bike.”
Jack has just one week to dust himself down and prepare for round five of the 2012 World Trial Championship, as it heads to Andorra this weekend. “Hopefully I can get a couple of days practicing before we go to Andorra for round five,” said Jack. “It’s another two day event in Andorra so fingers crossed I have a bit more luck there next weekend. As it’s another double-header there are forty points up for grabs, so I have an opportunity to improve, secure some valuable points and keep my position in the standings.”