A mere two points separates the top two riders in the 2013 FIM Trial World Championship as the series heads to Penrith, Great Britain this weekend for the penultimate Grand Prix of the current season. Reigning champion Toni Bou – Repsol Montesa holds the slight upper hand, but will still be raw from the defeat that his fierce rival Adam Raga – Gas Gas inflicted last time out in the Czech Republic. Both riders have recorded four wins apiece and have never been split by more than five points since the 2013 campaign began in Japan back in late April. The sandstone boulders of the Nord Vue venue are sure to provide the perfect stage to continue this intense battle in front of what is expected to be a large British crowd.
Behind this leading duo, another war is raging with three riders intent on claiming at least third spot in the series when it comes to a close in France in early September. Albert Cabestany – Sherco finally nudged ahead of his equally experienced Japanese counterpart as Takahisa Fujinami – Repsol Montesa endured a day from hell at the last GP. Cabestany’s advantage over Fujinami after his third place in the Czech Republic is just a single point, with Jeroni Fajardo – Beta continuing to pose a threat to this established pairing as he sits only six points further back from Takahisa despite a recent dip in form. All riders will want to be on the podium on both days at the British round as an absolute minimum, to keep their respective challenges alive.
One rider with thoughts of crashing their potential party will be home favourite James Dabill – Beta who achieved his career best result at the British GP last year, when he placed third to close out the 2012 season on a real high and much to the delight of his many fans. A fourth spot at the previous round two weeks ago will see Dabill in confident form as he once again looks to book his place on the rostrum in order to give himself any chance of a top five placing in the final standings come the end of the series. Other British hopefuls will include Jack Challoner – Beta and Michael Brown – Gas Gas who will be hoping that some solid home support will put them above the likes of Matteo Grattarola – Gas Gas and Loris Gubian – Gas Gas to mention two of the regular top ten contenders. Spains’ Jorge Casales – Gas Gas will bring a thirteen point lead to Great Britain despite having not won a GP since the round in Andorra. No less than six different riders have tasted the winners champagne in the highly competitive Junior class this season, Maxime Warenghien – Sherco being the latest of these victors in the Czech Republic. Pol Tarres – Sherco moved into second spot in the series ranking after the last Grand Prix, and moved three 
points ahead of Britain’s very own Jack Sheppard – Beta whose recent run of form has been far from impressive. He is sure to relish the opportunity of his home GP to turn things around and to close back in on the two Spanish front runners.
Francesc Moret – Gas Gas remains fourth in the general standings, ten points behind Jack and is another rider whose form has dipped at the last two rounds, although he should still not be counted out of the overall equation in a class where the unexpected is quite usual. French rider Quentin Carles de Caudemberg – Beta will make the relatively short trip across the English channel carrying the knowledge that he can wrap up the Youth title if the results go in his favour over the two days of competition at Nord Vue. He currently enjoys a thirty seven point gap over Italy’s Gabriele Giarba – Beta, with the final championship positions being determined from the best eleven out of a possible thirteen counting days.
Quentin’s compatriot Kenny Thomas – Beta was the winner last time out, although his margin of victory over Carles de Caudemberg and Britain’s Bradley Cox – Beta was only slim. Cox like his compatriots will be hoping that its his national anthem that will be playing at the close of both days in Penrith, as he looks to kick life into his campaign which has failed to shine thus far.