Raga wins Czech Round

World Trials Champs

www.fullnoise.com.au  Trials News

Adam Raga, riding for Gas Gas, snatched his fourth win of the 2013 FIM Trial World Championship to keep his title hopes very much alive and kicking at the Czech Republic round on Sunday the 14th of July. 

Raga won the low scoring event, but still trails Honda, Montesa's Toni Bou in the general standings, which the reigning champion now leads by two points. Albert Cabestany aboard his Sherco closed out the rostrum in third place. 

The Czech Republic as it is now known has been a part of the FIM Trial World Championship since its inception back in 1975. Hosted in Ricany during the early years, the Czech Trial GP then briefly visited Topol’Cany before moving to Nepomuk from 1991 to 1998. 

Since 2000 the ex-motocross circuit at Kramolin, just a few kilometres away from Nepomuk, has been the home of the Czech Trial GP, which last took place back in 2010. As has been the case in more recent editions, the sections for today’s event were scattered in and around the nearby woodland that surrounds the permanent facility. 

Searing heat in the days before and during the trial created a dry and dusty course, with all twelve sections following a very similar theme and little variation. Bou and Raga could not be split as they progressed around the first of three laps having both only lost a single mark in the fifth hazard, before Toni was to strike disaster. 

Bou’s failure to crest the middle rocky outcrop in section nine would leave him playing catch up for the rest of the day. Despite not being too familiar with chasing rather than leading, Toni used the power of his factory Cota 4RT to good effect and managed to match Raga’s one mark total on lap two. 

Trailing Raga by five marks as the arch rivals headed out on the course for a third and final time, Bou was handed a life line when the Gas Gas rider made an unexpected mistake in section three, putting the two championship contenders dead level with nine hazards remaining. 

Knowing this, Toni then sensed his moment to snatch the win from Raga in the very difficult fifth section and attempted to stay feet up when a single dab would have been a safer approach. His all-out attack for victory would ultimately backfire as he recorded his second five of the day to put Raga back in control, a position Adam would not relinquish as he beat Toni by a mere three marks come the close of the competition. 

“Today I made a very good trial, with only one real mistake." Raga explained after the event. "The five in section three on the last lap was the only error, and even then it was a little unfortunate. 

"I went in the same rut as the other two laps, but on the final time it was a bit deeper and it hit my feet quite hard. I was perhaps lucky not to injure my feet. Anyway I managed to keep my concentration and to finish the job off.” 

“I am really tired now, as the pressure in these type of competitions is very tough on you. I am in the perfect position in the championship and I am really looking forward to the next round in England. 

"I hope it is slippery there, as those conditions should suit me better.” Raga concluded. 

Bou was not overly impressed with the course that was laid out for the World Championship round, or his overall result, though he still maintains confidence in his riding heading in to the final stages of the 2013 championship. 

“I cannot say that today’s competition belonged inside of the World Championship, as it was far too easy." Bou commented. "I was nervous from the start and then I made the mistake in section nine on lap one. 
"From that point I recovered well and managed to match Adam (Raga) on the second lap. Then when he made his mistake on lap three I tried to win the trial by cleaning section five. I was close to achieving this, but in the end I gave him back the opportunity to take the win. 
"I am not happy with the trial or the result, but I am quite happy with my riding, so I am not too concerned before we go to the next round, as there I am sure things will be different.” Bou concluded. 
Round 6 Event Results:
1. Adam Raga 9 SPA GAS GAS 
2. Toni Bou 12 ESP HONDA Montesa
3. Albert Cabestany 17 SPA SHERCO 
4. James Dabill 32 GBR BETA 
5. Jeroni Fajardo 35 SPA BETA 
6. Takahisa Fujinami 40 JPN HONDA Montesa 
7. Alexandre Ferrer 46 FRA SHERCO 
8. Daniel Oliveras 64 SPA OSSA 
9. Matteo Grattarola 64 ITA GAS GAS 
10. Michael Brown 65 GBR GAS GAS 
11. Loris Gubain 69 FRA GAS GAS 
12. Jack Challoner 77 GBR BETA 
13. Pere Borrellas 100 ESP GAS GAS 
14. Eddie Karlsson 101 SWE GAS GAS 

Current Championship Standings 1. Toni Bou 163 pts 
2. Adam Raga 161 pts 
3. Albert Cabestany 120 pts 
4. Takahisa Fujinami 119 pts 
5. Jeroni Fajardo 113 pts 
6. James Dabill 92 pts 
7. Matteo Grattarola 64 pts 
8. Loris Gubain 51 pts 
9. Alexandre Ferrer 48 pts 
10. Jack Challoner 47 pts

Top Image: Adam Raga celebrates winning round six of the Trials World Championship