Trials Action

FITWC Lisboa - Race Report

Sunday the 26th of February 2006 by jitsie

Albert Cabestany (Sherco) took the victory of the Gran Premio Repsol Cidade de Lisboa, ninth round of the Indoor Trial World Championship, reaching thus his aim of reducing distances with Adam Raga (Gas Gas) in the overall standings of the Championship.

The final was very close until the third section, where Raga was only awarded one penalty point, whereas Cabestany and Fujinami (Montesa) where both penalised with a five apiece. When it seemed that the current World Champion would run away with another win, two Raga failures in sections six and eight left the door open for Sherco’s rider to get the top step in the podium. Meanwhile, Fujinami lost all his chances to obtain second position after sustaining a maximum penalty in the waterfall, the penultimate section of the night.

Cabestany’s win leaves the difference between him and Raga on 15 points, when there are still three rounds remaining and 30 points up to grabs.

Raga was the best man in the qualifying heat, trailed by Cabestany and Fujinami. Four points prevented Toni Bou (Beta) from earning a final slot. Lampkin (Montesa) and Fajardo (Gas Gas) finished with a worse scorecard finding themselves also out of the second lap. Fajardo was forced to take his second bike after section four, due to a problem in the back suspension of his first Gas Gas.

The Montesa rider Laia Sanz also took part in the event, performing an exhibition in front of the 5,000 spectators who have gathered for the Gran Premio in the Pavilhao Atlantico of Lisboa.

A. Cabestany: “I am very happy with my win although my riding has not been at the best level of the current season. The trial resulted quite hard, but I obtained second victory of the year, and this is very important to keep my chances for taking the World Title, although I am aware than Raga still maintain a big advantage over us at the top position of the overall standings”.

A. Raga: “Focusing on the Championship, the result is good as I just lost two points of difference over Cabestany. My competitors are very strong and I gave the best of me, but some mistakes at the end of the final prevented me from taking the win. Anyway, I am very satisfied because I am still leading the overall standings with a big difference over my rivals”.

T. Fujinami: “I am very glad because I was riding at a very high level at all times. It was a pithy my mistake in the waterfall because I could have finished second. Anyway, it is very positive for me and the team to be back on the podium, thus calling a halt to the bad patch I was undergoing”.

FIRST LAP CLASSIFICATION:
1. A. Raga 12 points
2. A. Cabestany 13 points
3. T. Fujinami 14 points
4. T. Bou 18 points
5. D. Lampkin 21 points
6. J. Fajardo 27 points
7. S. Morris 38 points

FINAL CLASSIFICATION:
1. A. Cabestany 13 points
2. A. Raga 15 points
3. T. Fujinami 20 points

Tenth round of the season, the Gran Premio Repsol YPF Cidade de Sao Paulo will be held next Saturday fourth of March, starting at 8 p.m.