Luxembourg is set for The New Championship Fight

Published: 24th March 2008

Author: FIM SPEA Trial World Championship 2007 - G2F

This coming weekend will see the opening round of the 2008 FIM SPEA Trial World Championship take place in the small northern European country of Luxembourg. The town of Ettelbruck last hosted the series back in 2003 when Marc Freixa was the surprise winner on both days of the competition.

Five years later and the face of World trials has changed dramatically with the Dougie Lampkin period of domination now over, and the fresh image of Toni Bou – Repsol Montesa threatening to create his own piece  of history. Having only been defeated twice on route to his first outdoor crown last season, few would bet against the young Spanish rider repeating his success during 2008.

However the fight to be King will be anything but easy with the 2008 FIM SPEA Trial World Championship visiting no less than ten different countries over the next six months before the title will be decided. Luxembourg is the first of two European destinations, before the series heads west to America before globe hopping to Japan a month later. The second part of the calendar is the most intense, and will prove to be the most decisive, as the battle makes six stops in Europe in fairly quick succession.

Adam Raga – Gas Gas once again looks set to be Bou’s strongest challenger, having been the only rider to topple his compatriot during the 2007 campaign. The four stroke pairing of Takahisa Fujinami – Repsol Montesa and Albert Cabestany – Sherco also promise to play their part in the mix, and may have to contend with a rejuvenated Dougie Lampkin – Beta following his return to his more favoured Italian two stroke machine.

With 2007 FIM World Junior Champion Michael Brown – Beta having moved up to the World Pro class, Alexz Wigg – Montesa as runner up from last year, starts 2008 as the hot favourite for top honours. Wigg will have strong opposition in the form of Sam Haslam – Gas Gas, Ross Danby – Gas Gas, Loris Gubian – Sherco and 2007 Youth Champion Alfredo Gomez – Montesa.

The Youth category is perhaps the most difficult to predict, with many of the top runners having now moved up a class for the forth coming campaign. However with two wins during his brief visit to the series last year, American rider Patrick Smage – Sherco just could be the new champion in waiting. Although Jack Challoner – Beta could also be worth an outside bet.

Saturday will see the opening round of the Women’s World Championship take place at the same venue, ahead of Sunday’s main competition when the great fight will begin once again.

Past winners –
GP Luxembourg
1988 - Thierry Michaud
1989 - Jordi Tarres
1991 – Jordi Tarres
1993 -  Marc Colomer
1995 - Tommi Ahvala
1997 - Dougie Lampkin
2003 – Marc Freixa

2007 FIM Riders Championship
Final Standings:
World
1: Bou 214 - Champion
2: Raga 191
3: Fujinami 155
Junior
1: Brown 189 - Champion
2: Wigg 152
3: Gontard 134
125cc
1: Gomez 190 - Champion
2: Danby 162
3: Cervantes 150

2007 FIM Manufacturers Championship
Final Standings:
1: Montesa 377 - Champion
2: Gas Gas 210
3: Sherco 194
4: Beta 160
5: Scorpa 100

This round: 30th March Ettelbruck, Luxembourg

Next event: 6th April, Bangor, Ireland