The world’s best riders have signed up for the Australian rounds of SPEA FIM Trial World Championship this weekend at Mt Tarrengower, Maldon, Victoria.

The Pro class entry is headed by the current and five-times outdoor Champion Toni Bou from Spain aboard his Montesa 4RT. Bou, who has dominated the championship in recent years, will be made to work for every point by 2 times outdoor Champion and compatriot Adam Raga on his GasGas. Raga beat Bou into first place in the first round of the 2012 Championship but failed to finish on the podium in the second.

Also fighting for the top podium position will be the experienced Spaniard Albert Cabestany and Japanese rider Takahisa Fujinami. Sherco mounted Cabestany has finished both 2012 rounds in third whilst 2 time World Outdoor Champion Montesa mounted Fujinami can never be discounted in the huge granite rock terrain that the Mt Tarrengower event will present to the competitors.

Spaniard Jeroni Fajardo surprised some by his second place on Day 2 of the French round of the Championship showing that he is right at home after his switch to Beta for 2012 and will look to carry this form into the Australian event.

The English pair, and regular visitors to Australia, Michael Brown (Gas Gas) and James Dabill (Beta) are both former World Junior Champions and will be looking to push the more experienced riders off the podium.

Six Australians have entered and will compete in the Junior, Open International and Youth World Championship classes. Victorian rider Tim Coleman (Gas Gas), NSW rider Kyle Middleton (Gas Gas), Tasmanian Chris Bayles (Gas Gas) and Queenslander Boyd Willcocks (Gas Gas) will fight against the World’s best Junior riders.

New Zealand rider Jake Whitaker (Beta) has won the Australian Championship in 2010 and 2011 and is expected to do well in this class.

Heading the Australian contingent in the Youth class aboard their 125cc machines will be NSW rider Jonathan Chellas (Gas Gas) and Victorian Sam King (Beta). New Zealand rider Blake Fox (Gas Gas) (pictured above)  will also be representing Oceania in this class.

The sole Australian Rider in the newly introduced Open International Class will be experienced West Australian rider Neil Price and multiple Australian Champion Kevin Zarczinski.

 

2012 SPEA FIM TRIAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ROUNDS 3 & 4

MT TARRENGOWER, MALDON, VIC – MAY 26 & 27

 

ENTRY LIST

 

PRO CLASS

Tony Bou Spain Montesa

Adam Raga Spain Gas Gas

Takahisa Fujinami Japan Montesa

Albert Cabestany Spain Sherco

Jeroni Fajardo Spain Beta

Michael Brown England Gas Gas

Loris Gubian France Gas Gas

James Dabill England Beta

Jack Challoner England Beta

Matteo Grattarola Italy Gas Gas

Alexz Wigg England Gas Gas

Daniel Oliveras Spain Ossa

Pere Bollellas Spain Gas Gas

 

JUNIOR CLASS

Pol Tarres Spain JTG

Francesc Moret Spain Montesa

Benoit Dagnicourt France Beta

Alexandre Ferrer Spain Sherco

Boyd Willcocks Australia Gas Gas

Tim Coleman Australia Gas Gas

Chris Bayles Australia Gas Gas

Jack Sheppard England Beta

Jake Whitaker New Zealand Beta

Hakon Pedersen Norway Sherco

Jesus Martin Spain Gas Gas

Kyle Middleton Australia Gas Gas

 

OPEN INTERNATIONAL CLASS

Neil Price Australia Beta

Kevin Zarczinski Australia Sherco

 

YOUTH CLASS

Steven Coquelin France Gas Gas

Blake Fox New Zealand Gas Gas

Jonathan Chellas Australia Gas Gas

Ignacio Martin Spain Gas Gas

Sam King Australia Beta

John Haynes New Zealand Beta

Sverre Lundevold Norway Beta

© Photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com