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World Trials series tightens in Tennessee

Repsol Montesa HRC’s Toni Bou

Story and photos by Shan Moore

Repsol Montesa HRC teammates Takahisa Fujinami (right) and Toni Bou traded wins at the U.S. rounds of the Spea World Trials Championship held this weekend at the Trials Training Center in Sequatchie, Tennessee.

It was a critical weekend for the world championship. Although Bou dominated last year’s series, winning nine of the 11 rounds en route to the title, this year Fujinami and Gas Gas rider Adam Raga, a former series champ, have been on equal terms with Bou. With four rounds in the books through Tennessee, the series has now had three different winners.

Fujinami has been successful (and popular with the American fans) at the U.S. GP and he didn’t disappoint the estimated 1,500 spectators on hand by turning in a nearly flawless performance during Saturday’s opening lap.

Bou followed closely with four points while Raga sat in fourth place with 22 points behind Sherco rider Albert Cabestany, who lost 14 for the lap.

Lap two saw the scores of the top three riders balloon to double digits as loose dirt on the rocks made finding traction in some situations nearly impossible. However, Fujinami maintained his composure and after turning in an 11-point lap, claimed his first win on the world circuit since 2006 with a total of 12 marks.

Bou had one point more than Fujinami for the lap to end the day with 16 points and second place, while Cabestany held off Raga’s late charge to claim the final podium spot, beating Raga 28 points to 30.

On Saturday night, heavy rains moved into the area, turning the dry sections into slippery ones. Bou adapted to the conditions best in the next day's competition, finishing Sunday’s event with five points fewer than Fujinami to take the win and claim the lead in the series standings.
Cabestany dropped all the way to seventh on Sunday, with Beta’s Jeroni Fajardo beating Marc Freixa out for fourth on cleans. Meanwhile, Great Britain’s James Dabill finished sixth on a TRW Future Trial Montesa.

The series now moves to Japan for the Japanese GP on June 9-10.