Adam Raga Closes In
FIM Trial World Champs
Adam Raga (above) closes in on an injured Toni Bou in Japan
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Gas Gas rider Adam Raga came from being behind on the first lap today to record his second win of the weekend at the Japanese Grand Prix held at Twin Ring, Motegi.
Back to back wins for Raga at the second round of the 2014 FIM Trial World Championship sees the Spanish rider move within a single point of series leader Toni Bou, who had to be content with the runners-up spot for the second day in a row. The injured Repsol Honda rider led Raga by four marks after today’s initial tour, but his performance faded as his pain killing injection wore off.
"I knew that it would be tough today, but I really suffered. My ribs gave me a lot of trouble all day in spite of pain-killers," Bou said.
"At the beginning of the second lap the effects had practically worn off, and the hold-up affected me a lot, and it was hard to pick up the pace again. I was completely without strength by the end of the race. Taking all of this into consideration, the result is an excellent one, as I never expected to get onto the podium".
Fourth yesterday, Albert Cabestany – Sherco moved up into a podium position today, his first of the 2014 campaign.Takahisa Fujinami – Repsol Honda failed to repeat his top three placing of twenty-four hours earlier as he struggled with the effects of his twisted knee sustained during Saturday’s competition.
Beta's Jeroni Fajardo matched the fifth position he recorded on day one on the second day of the Japanese event, but will not be satisfied with his weekend’s work after he twice placed on the podium in Australia. Japan’s Tomoyuki Ogawawas the sensation of the day as the Honda rider took several scalps when he finished in a lofty sixth spot much to the delight of the large home crowd that had turned out in force on both days of the GP.
Jorge Casales – Gas Gas recorded his best ever result since moving up to the World Pro class at the start of this season, he took seventh spot well ahead of eighth placed Alexandre Ferrer – Sherco who equalled his opening day position. Yamaha mounted Fumitaka Nozaki made it three home riders in the top ten as he beat a very off form James Dabill by a single mark to claim ninth place in front of the detuned British challenger.
Pol Tarres – Sherco, Eddie Karlsson – Montesa, Kenichi Kuroyama – Yamaha, Jack Sheppard – Beta and Tsuyoshi Ogawa – Beta were the last of the points scorers and rounded out the top fifteen on what proved to be a tough day of competition. This was much due to another day of sweltering heat and the fact that sections three, seven, eight and nine were all heavily modified for all three classes ahead of today’s Trial which brought increased severity in all cases and was directly reflected in the riders’ scores.
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RESULTS JAPANESE GP 26/4/14. DAY 1
1: Adam Raga (Gas Gas-ESP) 26;
2: Toni Bou (Repsol Honda-ESP) 42;
3: Takahisa Fujinami (Repsol Honda-JPN) 45;
4: Albert Cabestany (Sherco-ESP) 56;
5: Jeroni Fajardo (Beta-ESP) 62;
6: James Dabill (Beta-GBR) 82;
7: Jorge Casales (Gas Gas-ESP) 84;
8: Alexandre Ferrer (Sherco-FRA) 102;
9: Kenichi Kuroyama (Yamaha-JPN) 108;
10: Pol Tarres (Sherco-ESP) 109.
RESULTS JAPANESE GP 27/4/14. DAY 2
1: Adam Raga (Gas Gas-ESP) 40;
2: Toni Bou (Repsol Honda-ESP) 47;
3: Albert Cabestany (Sherco-ESP) 53;
4: Takahisa Fujinami (Repsol Honda-JPN) 63;
5: Jeroni Fajardo (Beta-ESP) 66;
6: Tomoyuki Ogawa (Honda-JPN) 81;
7: Jorge Casales (Gas Gas-ESP) 89;
8: Alexandre Ferrer (Sherco-FRA) 108;
9: Nozaki Fumitaka (Yamaha-JPN) 110;
10: James Dabill (Beta-GBR) 111.
World Championship
1: Toni Bou (Repsol Honda-ESP) 71;
2: Adam Raga (Gas Gas-ESP) 70;
3: Takahisa Fujinami (Repsol Honda-JPN) 58;
4: Jeroni Fajardo (Beta-ESP) 52;
5: Albert Cabestany (Sherco-ESP) 51;
6: James Dabill (Beta-GBR) 38;
7: Jorge Casales (Gas Gas-ESP) 34;
8: Alexandre Ferrer (Sherco-FRA) 30;
9: Pol Tarres (Sherco-ESP) 27;
10: Eddie Karlsson (Montesa-SWE) 18.