Challoner continues good form in second X-Trial performance - Trials UK

Challoner continues good form in second X-Trial performance

• 24th January 2011
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Marseille, France

Image credit: Trials UK Media

Last night, the French city of Marseille played host to the second round of the X-Trial Indoor World Championships following a long break since the first round of the Championships which took place in Genoa (Italy) in November.
The round, held in a large arena in the heart of France's second largest city, was the first real chance for the European fans and teams to see their riders on their new bikes at World Championship level.

The evening was eventually won by four-time Indoor Champion, Toni Bou (SPA - Montesa), who seemed to dominate the night from start to finish, despite increased pressure from fellow countrymen Adam Raga (SPA - Gas Gas) and Albert Cabastany (SPA - Sherco) who completed the podium second and third respectively.

Jack Challoner proved his exceptional rides at the International Sheffield Arena Trial and Chambery Indoor the weeks prior to this event were no fluke. The Miton Top Trial Team front-man beat his factory Beta counterpart, James Dabill, in what was a nail-biting qualification lap. The XQ (qualification) lap was made up of six sections and saw Jack Challoner take a early lead over local favorite Loris Gubian (FRA - Gas Gas).

Challoner finished the very technical qualification lap with a score of 17, beating the new Beta front-man and close friend James Dabill who suffered from two disappointing fives and two further time penalties that put him well out of the running with a final score of 21. Between the two Yorkshire men sat the young Frenchman Gubian, on 20 marks, also out of the running after the opening lap at his home event.

Jack was left to fight his 2007 Beta team-mate, Michael Brown (GBR - Gas Gas) in a dramatic head-to-head race to make the semi-final. Challoner lost the race by the closest of margins, leaving him the best non-qualifier of the event and out of the competition. Michael faced tough competition from the debut Ossa rider, Jeroni Fajardo who eventually finished the trial in fifth behind Takahisha Fujinami (JPN - Montesa) who suffered from a major crash in a head to head race with team-mate Toni Bou.

Challoner will now go to the popular Barcelona round at the start of February just one championship point behind James Dabill and lying eighth in the world. He will be looking to continue his form, and make the semi-final over the remaining four rounds of this exciting championship.