Although Toni Bou - Repsol Montesa will arrive at the final stop of the 2012 FIM Trial World Championship having already taking this year’s crown, there is still much to fight for as the series reaches its climax at Penrith, Great Britain this coming weekend. British fans can expect to find Bou in a relaxed mood and perhaps at his dynamic best as he will be able to ride free of pressure, but still with his normal determination, as he looks to close out the current campaign with two more victories to add to the nine he has recorded so far this season.
The fight behind Bou promises to deliver a fierce end to the 2012 series. Just five points separates three riders ahead of two days of competition that will ultimately decide who will become vice World champion. Albert Cabestany – Sherco has been the strongest of three Spanish chasers over the last two rounds, with a long overdue win in Andorra and a third place in Italy to bring him level on points with Jeroni Fajardo – Beta. Fajardo has been the stand out rider this season, with the exception of his sixth position last time out and will hope that he has overcome the injury he picked up at the Italian GP to out point Cabestany and to keep Adam Raga – Gas Gas at bay in order to record his highest ever place finish in the FIM Trial World Championship.
Previously Jeroni’s best ranking was fourth in the final standings, a position he claimed in 2008, 2009 and 2010 before falling back to fifth last year. Raga will need to rid himself of the inconsistency that has plagued him all season if he is to finish as runner-up to Bou in the points race and equal his performance of the last five seasons.
British riders in the form of James Dabill – Beta, Michael Brown – Gas Gas, Jack Challoner – Beta and Alexz Wigg – Gas Gas will all look to make the most of their home advantage and play their part amongst the front runners in what will be two days of decisive action for all concerned. Dabill achieved his best ever GP result at Nord Vue back in 2009, and will want to go one better this time out and swap fourth spot for his place on the podium at his home round.
A similar story is waiting to unfold in the Junior championship, with Alexandre Ferrer – Sherco having already taken the title and moved on to the World Pro class for the closing events. Behind him, Spanish compatriots Pol Tarres – JTG and Francesc Moret – Montesa are tied on one hundred and forty seven points apiece before heading to Penrith to do battle over the two days to decide who will become vice World champion in this class. France’s Benoit Dagnicourt – Beta sits only eight points off this pairing and could prove to be the spoiler with forty points still up for grabs. Britain’s Jack Sheppard – Beta will need two strong rides on home soil if he is to prevent Jorge Casales – Gas Gas overtaking him for fifth place in the series.
With Steven Coquelin – Gas Gas having wrapped up the Youth title in Italy, it will be down to Bradley Cox – Beta to make the most of his first ever home Grand Prix as he looks to fend off Norway’s Sverre Lundevold – Beta and claim second spot in the final standings come Sunday afternoon. So come rain or shine, there is still much to fight for at Penrith.