Steven Coquelin – Photo by Mario Candellone
Steven Coquelin (Gas Gas) got his revenge and topped the Europe class, but Gianluca Tournour (Gas Gas) finishing in second place, stretched his advantage in the overall standings.
The third round of the FIM Europe Trial Championship was held on the same place and same loop as the day before, in Luserna San Giovanni, Italy. The heavy showers dropped in the night before made all the sections in the wood more difficult. Moreover one section was also modified by organizers on behalf of a decision taken by the Jury Meeting, to make it harder, as the best riders wished to have. As result in many sections very few riders were able to pass it “clean”.
The winner was the first to start and took a slight advantage because he found the rocks not too dirty by the mud drawn by the previous riders. Thanks to his first loop score of 16 marks, he staked soon a claim on himself as possible winner. The last two riders to start were Tournour and the winner of the day before Francisc Moret (Vertigo) and nevertheless their undeniable virtue, some “five” fell on their heads, above all on Moret.
At the turning point Tournour scored 21, while Moret 31. Between them on provisional podium position, Hakon Pedersen (Ossa) who scored 25. The recover of Tournour in the second lap was not enough to tear away the win from the Frenchman. Moret also gained one position and grasped the rostrum.
In the overall standings, Tournour leads with 270 points, ahead of Moret (255).
Italian Luca Corvi (Scorpa) won the Junior class by one single mark on the previous winner, Pierre Sauvage (Sherco). It has been a very tight battle. At half competition the leader was Julian Bernsten (Gas gas) able to let on the ground only 16 points. Sauvage was behind with 22, while the future winner chased them scoring 23. Thanks to a masterpiece in the second lap (only 12 errors), Corvi climbed the highest step of podium. Bernsten worsening to 27 his score and slid to third place.
Vladimir Kothay is once again the winner in the Over 40 class, but the first four riders were very close: all in just 4 marks. Kothay started very well and earned a consistent lead at the end of first lap: 12 marks against 19 scored by Valter Feltrinelli (Sherco) and German Alois Thoma(Jtg). But with his failing second lap (20), he risked to throw away everything. He was lucky that his rivals did not take this chance, and he kept the leadership by 2 points. Second was Thoma, ahead of John Van Veelen (Ossa). In fourth position Feltrinelli.
Same positions as the day before in the International 1 class, where Andrea Soulier (Sherco) easily topped again the podium. In the International 2 Austrian Alois Senfter (Beta) put all behind him.
The next round will be in Bilstain, Belgium on 16th of August.
Full results on FIM Europe website: http://www.fim-europe.eu/events/97
Luca Corvi – Photo by Mario Candellone
