Adam Raga was victorious in the French Grand Prix Trial Championship in the ski resort of La Mongie, at the foot of the Pic du Midi, over two thousand meters above sea level this weekend. The Gas Gas rider has now closed the gap between himself and Toni Bou to just seven points after a narrow victory in the penultimate Grand Prix of the season.
Raga completed a perfect first lap without penalty, riding clean some sections where many other riders committed errors and failures. an important factor in the final computation of the results. Two dabs in the second lap and again none in the third allowed Raga to close the day with only two points, the same as his main rival in the fight for the title. The best overall time went to Raga, who had completed the sections three minutes faster than Bou which decided the tie in favour of the Gas Gas rider, winner of the GP of France. Thanks to this victory and the last two rounds remaining with the GP of Spain to be held on the 6th and 7th of September in Arnedo (León), the Ulldecona rider closes the gap and is situated just seven points behind the leader in the World Pro Championship.
Meanwhile, Jorge Casales completed a solid performance in France. The young Galician rider finished fifth with 34 points, ahead of more experienced World riders and showed an upward trend in his results, an improvement that the rider, who continues to accumulate experience in the World Championship, had already shown a week before in the Great Britain Grand Prix. Casales, one of the talents formed in the Gas Gas School of Champions maintains his seventh place in the overall standings.
In the World Cup, Arnau Farré scored his first victory. The young rider from the School of Champions, only 16, has debuted as a winner in only his third World Championship race, having previously participated only in the GP of Belgium and Great Britain. A valuable prize for the talented Ilerdense rider in his first year of World Championship competition.
Finally, the young Teo Colairo was victorious in the 125 Cup. The triumph for the French Gas Gas rider, closed a spectacular weekend for the Girona based company, placing three of their bikes at the top of the podium in the three World Championship categories: World Pro, World Cup and 125.
Adam Raga: “I am very happy with this victory today as it was very important to close the gap with Toni Bou to continue our fight for the World Championship. It was a fantastic and very severe test, more than two thousand meters, with some spectacular walls. I want to thank the team for their work throughout thedevelopment of the bike, at this altitude we all lose some power. We've done our job! Now, to win the WorldChampionship we have to win the last two races and hope that Toni makes a third, we know it's hard, but things are always under pressure making it more complicated for everyone and anything can happen.”
Jorge Casales: “I am satisfied with my fifth place in France, this is a good result. I made a good first lap, but in the second we were passed. Then in the third lap we have improved. I need more training and time on the bike to gain experience in the World Championship. I appreciate the work of the team because the set-up here, so many meters in altitude, has not been easy."
Arnau Farré: “From the first section I was very comfortable. I finished the first lap with five points and in the second I've only taken one dab, then in the last lap I suffered a bit because the differences with my rivals were minimal. In the end I managed to win and I am very happy with this victory, a victory that motivates me to keep going, working, and also shows that we can win. I want to thank the Gas Gas team and Marc, myminder for all his work, without them it would not have been possible. Now I will continue training and keep working to improve.”