2011 FIM SPEA Trial World Championship Round10-11

ISOLA 2000, France - 3-4/9/2011

Off the Podium to Finish up the Season

photoFujinami cancelled his appearance at the stadium trial event in France a week after the Japanese Grand Prix to spent a short break nursing his injury he suffered in Motegi before traveling to France for the final rounds. His object was to end the 2011 season in a high note with some good results.

Saturday

It was dry in the morning, but everybody expected it to be rain sometime very soon. Starting first, Raga rode the section1 normally but suddenly picked up the pace when he was around the section2. Fujinami found Raga was waiting his turn in a line of junior riders. There were about four riders between him and the Spaniard. Fujinami knew the sudden move of Raga was the sign of the change of the weather. Fujinami tried to follow Raga, but the Spaniard was very good at passing the junior riders, which was the technic Fujinami along with Bou could not imitate. Raga was no longer in sight when Fujinami arrived at the section6.

To speed things up, Fujinami omitted pre-inspection of the sections until the section10, but Raga was too fast to catch. Fujinami made some mistakes such as an end over end crash at the section7 along the way, but those were the mistakes might have been avoided by taking it slower and with inspection of the sections. Fujinami also became virtually the first starter by losing the leader, and he continued his riding discussing the riding lines with the team-mate. Fujinami finished Lap1 with 24 points, including three full mark errors. Too many points and lost the chance to be in the battle for the victory.

photoThe rain started to fall when Fujinami was at the section2 of Lap2. It became pouring rain when he arrived at the next section. Fortunately, there were river sections from the section3 to 5, so the rain did not affect a lot. The rocky sections followed from the section6, where the water made a situation difficult with the moss grown surface became very slippery. At the section9, Fujinami asked the observer Raga's score of the section. It was clean. The Spaniard must have ridden there before the rain fall, as it seemed impossible to ride without dropping any point.

Fujinami by the way was not in a top condition on Saturday. The engine setting did not match for the low atmospheric pressure of the venue. He also had a clutch problem of engaging violently. It could have been a less problem when riding in dry, but he had to fight with the tire slipping a lot in a wet condition.

Fujinami finished the day at fifth, one point worse than Fajardo. It was a relief for the Japanese that he could have finished a lot worse considering the way he rode.

Sunday

photoSky was dull as if it would rain at any moment in the morning on Sunday. Many riders were puzzled to see Raga was spending time not to start at the section1. Fujinami did not know what was in Raga's mind as if he was waiting for something. It was Brown who could not stand wasting the time and started first. Raga then started his ride, and the rest of the riders all followed. When Fujinami was in the middle of his riding at the section1 hard rain started to fall. He could not adjust in a sudden change of the condition to five at the section. He though bounced back for the rest of the sections, dropping no five but making small mistakes only.

It was Bou showed an outstanding ride to finish with a single point, followed by Raga with 12 points. Fujinami was nine point worse than the Gas Gas rider to finish third with 21 points with Cabestany chasing closely with a point down at fourth.

Fujinami started Lap2 with another five at the section1. He went on with a single point ride at the section2 and 3. He looked strong marking seven cleans from the section4 to 10, but then situation got worse for the Japanese rider.

photoHe made two consecutive full mark errors at the section11 and 12. The former five was due to the rider's fault, but the latter was due to the clutch suddenly engaging as he raised the rpm, and the front end raised up in the air. Clearly the clutch had some problems, but Fujinami opted not to change the whole clutch as it would upset the feel of the bike for the rider. He continued to ride the bike as was and made some adjustments along the way.

Fujinami marked clean at the section13 followed by a five at the section14. He then marked clean at the final section to end his ride in 2011. He finished fifth at Day1 then fourth at Day2 to miss the podium appearance at the final Grand Prix. But he accumulated 155 points to secure the third position in the championship. Weren't bad results in France considering the injured knee. Overall, he should be pleased with the season.

Quote from Fujigas:

Things did not go nicely in France at all. I managed to finish third in the championship, but I could not finish it solidly. The knee that I suffered injury at Motegi is getting better, although it is still painful and I don't have the strength with twisting force. I am not blaming my injury for my mistakes, because none of my five was related with the injury. Talking about the season, I had a very strong chance to win at Day2 of Motegi. That was my regret. It's been very tough for me in 2011, and I appreciate so much all the support for me throughout the season. Thank you very much.

2011 FIM SPEA Trial WorldChampionship
Round10,11 - ISOLA 2000, France
Saturday
1 Adam Raga Gas Gas 11
2 Toni Bou Repsol Montesa Honda 26
3 Albert Cabestany Sherco 50
4 Jeroni Fajardo Ossa 58
5 Takahisa Fujinami Repsol Montesa Honda 59
6 Jack Challoner Beta 87
7 Michael Brown Gas Gas 87
7 Loris Gubian Gas Gas 91
Sunday
1 Toni Bou Repsol Montesa Honda 8
2 Adam Raga Gas Gas 14
3 Albert Cabestany Sherco 34
4 Takahisa Fujinami Repsol Montesa Honda 43
5 James Dabil Beta 51
6 Michael Brown Gas Gas 67
7 Alfredo Gomez Montesa 74
8 Jack Challoner Beta 88
PointStandings
1 Toni Bou Repsol Montesa Honda 204
2 Adam Raga Gas Gas 191
3 Takahisa Fujinami Repsol Montesa Honda 155
4 Albert Cabestany Sherco 129
5 Jeroni Fajardo Ossa 115
6 Michael Brown Gas Gas 90
7 Loris Gubian Gas Gas 88
8 James Dabill Beta 86