With the teams and riders having hardly had time
James Dabill to regroup since the opening encounter in Australia ten days ago, the 2014 FIM Trial World Championship swiftly moves on to round two in Motegi, Japan this coming weekend. Not surprisingly Toni Bou – Repsol Honda heads the general standings after the initial two day event and takes a seven point lead with him to the land of the rising sun after his 2 – 1 showing at the first GP of the new season. Beaten by his teammate Takahisa Fujinami – Repsol Honda on day one, Toni typically bounced back on the second day of competition to re-stamp his authority on the championship. However Bou will be only too aware that if last season is anything to go by, he will have to be at his best if he is to be triumphant once again during this, the second year of the re-introduced no-stop rules.
Behind Bou, there are three riders all currently locked on thirty points apiece. Fujinami is the highest placed of the tied trio thanks to his opening day win in Australia, which he failed to follow up and had to endure a disappointing sixth place on day two. 2013 vice champion Adam Raga – Gas Gas will have left round one slightly frustrated, but also buoyed by his second day performance. Raga was kept off the podium on day one in Australia as he lost out on a tie-break to Jeroni Fajardo – Beta, although was back at his best twenty-four hours later as he was the only rider to even look like challenging Bou. Raga will be desperate to secure a win in Japan if he is to seriously challenge Toni to the title, as he did in 2013.
Fajardo is the third and final rider in the three-way split, his two third places in Australia representing a solid and consistent start to his 2014 campaign, although he will need to find something extra if he is to fight with either Bou or Raga on a regular basis for the remainder of the year. Albert Cabestany – Sherco will be hoping for better things in Motegi after he failed to shine down under, his sixth and fourth places over the two days leaves him trailing Bou by fourteen points in the championship table after just one round. James Dabill – Beta was the last of the real front runners after round one, after his best ever finish in the FIM X-Trial World Championship earlier this year, the British rider is widely regarded as being the only competitor who can break into the long established top five come the end of the outdoor campaign.
Matteo PoliMatteo Poli – Ossa will lead the charge in the newly titled FIM Trial World Cup category as the action shifts to Japan. Although currently at the top of the table Poli is actually tied on thirty-seven points with the emerging German rider Franz Kadlec – Beta, who turned heads as he won the opening day in Australia before following his Italian rival home on day two. France’s Steven Coquelin – Gas Gas and Spain’s Jaime Busto – Beta are also locked together and currently hold third and fourth spots respectively in the general rankings, nine points back from the leading duo. Busto made an incredible debut in the series taking his place on the podium on day one before reinforcing that performance with a fourth position on day two. Add last year’s FIM 125 Trial Cup winner Quentin Carles de Caudemberg – Beta to the mix and it is clear to see that this class is wide open and up for the taking.
France’s Gael Chatagno – Sherco scored back to back wins at round one to take control of the FIM 125 Trial Cup division. Currently his closest challenger and compatriot Teo Colairo – Gas Gas, who recorded a pair of runners-up places in Australia, leaving Swiss rider Noe Pretalli – JTG to complete the podium on both days down under. A strong contingent of Japanese riders will swell the nearly fifty strong entry and are sure to make their presence felt amongst the championship regulars in all three classes and are to provide the home supporters with extra reason for cheer.