Raga Rules Day One in France

Just seven days after failing to make it on to the podium at the opening round of the 2011 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship, Adam Raga - Gas Gas bounced back brilliantly with an important win on day one of the French Grand Prix. In hot and dusty conditions Jeroni Fajardo - Ossa also went some way to making amends for his poor form in Germany, as he took the runners up spot today ahead of an off colour Toni Bou - Repsol Montesa, who could only make third spot this time out.

Whilst only five marks separated the top three riders, a tense first day of competition was experienced at the purpose made Trial Park just outside Breal-sous-Montfort. The leading trio had a clear advantage over the other challengers. Like so many riders Albert Cabestany - Sherco suffered several fives for just touching markers, as the new rule really came into play after being of no significance in Gefrees. Cabestany eventually ended up in fourth position and three marks ahead of Takahisa Fujinami - Repsol Montesa, who completed the top five.

British riders James Dabill - Beta and Michael Brown - Gas Gas finished sixth and seventh respectively, leaving French hopeful Loris Gubian - Gas Gas down in eighth spot after he had threatened to do much better during the early stages in front of his home fans. Veteran campaigner Dougie Lampkin - Gas Gas was a noticeable absentee, as the ex multi FIM Trial World champion missed his first GP since 1993, due to his ongoing ankle injury sustained at the recent Scottish Six Days Trial.

Bou and Raga were locked on fifteen marks apiece at the end of the first lap of fifteen dry sections, that were a mixture of natural hazards and man-made affairs. Both riders dropped two fives on their opening tour, Toni recording his second failure in section eleven. The reigning champion was also to start his closing lap with yet another mistake as he added five more marks to his total in only the second hazard, which he had cleaned earlier in the day.

Knowing that he was in with a chance of the victory Raga looked strong during his second lap, until he lost a soft five in the seventh hazard. Thankfully the twenty-nine year old held his nerve to finish two marks in front of Fajardo, as Bou suffered one more disaster in section nine to demote himself to the lower step of the podium. Last week's runner up Cabestany was never really in the running and can perhaps count himself fortunate to have taken fourth spot in the end.

In the Junior class the rostrum was an all Spanish affair, with Alfredo Gomez - Montesa making it two wins from two starts, to take control of the general standings even at this early stage in the season. Gomez's margin of victory today was seven marks, as Pol Tarres - Gas Gas recorded his best result since moving up to this class, by taking the runners up spot ahead of the more experienced Francesc Moret - Montesa.

Jack Sheppard - Beta matched Gomez's 100% feat, as he too took his second win of the series in the Youth category. Sheppard's single mark on the last lap was enough to seal the win from Cedric Tempier - Sherco who made the most of his home advantage. Steven Coquelin - Gas Gas made it two French riders on the podium, as he took third spot just one mark behind his compatriot Tempier.

Info and photos courtesy G2F Media.

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