Jitsie factory Beta rider Jack Sheppard bounced back from a poor performance at the Spanish round of the 2012 FIM Trial World Championship last weekend by recording a morale boosting fifth position after just missing out on a podium place today at the first of two days of competition in the fifth round of the series, held in the mountains above the small town of Sant Julià de Lòria in the small principality of Andorra which lies between France and Spain.
Sheppard's day got off to the perfect start when he cleaned the opening five sections of the trial, putting him in a comfortable third position behind championship leader and winner of today's event, Alexandre Ferrer – Sherco and Jorge Casales – Gas Gas. However, scores of two in the seventh section, a single dab in the eleventh and a further three in the twelfth were to see the Suffolk teenager end the first half of the competition in fourth position, tied on marks with Casales.
Jack's second lap also started perfectly with the first six sections all ridden clean, but a careless five in the seventh, which he had ridden clean on his first visit, was to see his chances of a podium position slip away. Two further dabs in the eleventh and twelfth sections were to see Jack finish on an overall score of thirteen, tied on marks with Pol Tarres – Jotagas. However with Tarres having ridden twenty five sections clean to Jack's twenty four, it was to be the Spaniard who claimed fourth position with Jack having to accept fifth place.
Sheppard now sits in fifth position in the overall championship standings, twenty six points behind Benoit Dagnicourt – Beta who equalled his best result of the season to finish in third position today.
Tomorrow will see Jack compete in the second day of competition in Andorra with the organisers looking to make some slight changes to the course overnight and, plus with weather conditions and temperature tomorrow expected to be similar to today, the youngster will continue to strive for his first podium position of the season.
Commenting on his day, Jack said "The day really couldn't have started better for me after I rode the first five sections clean, but two marks in the sixth section and a further three in the twelfth were mistakes that shouldn't have happened."
"As for my careless five on section seven on my second lap, I can't blame anyone for that except myself" continued Jack "The heat and high altitude haven't had any obvious affect, my injuries from my crash in Spain aren't causing me any problems and my wrist is holding out well, though I could feel it during the pretty long ride between the first and second groups of sections today. Hopefully I can put things together tomorrow."