World Champion British Emma Bristow (Sherco, photo 1) and Norwegian Mats Nilsson (Sherco, photo 2) are the winners respectively in the Women and Youth class of the second round of FIM Europe Trial Championship, held in Liepaja, Latvia. New country for this evergreen European championship, arrived for the first time on the banks of Baltic Sea.
In the Women class, the favorite Emma Bristow had a hard work to keep her concentration higher than ever – due to not very difficult sections, the top female riders had more or less the same chances. At the turning point Emma was only in second place even if she made only one mistake. She was behind Norwegian Ingveig Hakonsen (Beta) able to clean the whole loop. In third position German Theresa Bauml (Beta), whose score was 7. In the second lap there was probably too much pressure on the young Norwegian rider, who was tasting the possibility to beat the world champion, which caused her to drop 6 marks and to yield the leadership to Emma, who this time was able to clean the loop. Slight progresses for Theresa, 5 points lost, which gave her the third step of podium.
In the championship Emma Bristow is leading with 200 points. Tied behind her Ingveig Hakonsen and Theresa Bauml with 155.
Also in the Youth class the fight was very close. Mats Nilsson gained a soon a smooth lead on French Ugo Defrese (Gas Gas): 18 marks against 21 after the 14 sections of the first lap. The same little gap was maintained by Nilsson in the second lap: their penalties were respectively 11 and 14 marks. In third position Swedish Linus Almthen (Scorpa) quite distant from the first two, because he had a difficult first part, losing 30 marks. On the contrary his second loop was the best of the whole competition, with 10 points of penalty.
In the Women International class the winner was Dutch Chantal De Raaf with two laps at constant score: 5 each, which allowed her to beat French Lienna Volpe (7+6), both riding Sherco.
Among the riders of the Youth International class, Swedish Linus Sandberg (Gas Gas) built his victory in the first lap, then managed his lead on French Ezio Rossi (Scorpa).
Tomorrow on the same sections, the third round will be held.
Photos @Phototrial.it
