Laia Sanz - Repsol Montesa clinched her tenth FIM Women's Trial World Championship when she won the Grand Prix of the Czech Republic, but her victory came in the most dramatic fashion. A single failure on the second lap left Sanz with a nervous wait for over an hour as she paused for her nearest challenger Rebekah Cook - Sherco to return to the finish. Whilst both riders were tied on five marks apiece as the results were posted, Laia eventually won the Trial and took the title by virtue of a most cleans tie break.

With only three more cleans than Cook, Sanz had done just enough to secure the 2010 FIM Women's Trial World Championship, with the best two out of three round counting towards the title. Again it was the British riders who gave the Spanish champion the most problems, with eighteen year old Joanne Coles - Gas Gas joining Sanz and Cook on the podium. This now sets up a tight climax between the two compatriots to decide who will be vice World champion when the series comes to a close in Poland next Friday.

Heavy and prolonged rain had besieged the venue in the weeks before the event, leaving conditions in the wooded areas surrounding the ex Grand Prix motocross circuit damp and slippery. Important modifications were made to the sections by the FIM team before the Trial to ensure that the correct level of competition was created for the twenty nine female riders who started round two of the series. In the eased hazards Sanz once again showed her supremacy by completing her first lap without any loss of marks in the fourteen sections.

Although Laia was already out in front, Cook was not far behind losing just a single dab in section eight on her visit, which meant Sanz was not going to have it easy on her closing lap. Coles was also very much in contention right up to the penultimate section on the opening lap, but a five here where she failed to crest the initial series of rock steps dropped her off the winning pace. Sandra Gomez - Gas Gas, eager to better her sixth place at the opening round, held fourth spot at the mid point and maintained this position at the finish. Emma Bristow - Gas Gas completed the top five on the day.

Just when it looked like Laia had it all under control she suffered a disputed five in section seven on the second lap when she was deemed to have dislodged a wooden marker, which she believed had been partially broken already. Despite this set back Sanz then rode clean to the finish where she had to endure a long and agonishing wait as news about Cook's performance slowly filtered back to the podium area. In some contrast Cook was unware that she was now leading the event, and only discovered her potential winning situation with two sections to go.

For the second time in her career Cook lost out on the win to Sanz due to a tie break. The experienced British rider was obviously gutted, but was amongst the first to congratulate Laia, as she began to celebrate an incredible tenth ladies title in the eleven year history of the FIM Women's Trial World Championship. The Montesa teamster will now be able to relax ahead of the final round of the 2010 series in Poland next Friday, where her rivals will continue to fight to secure their respective position in the final standings.

2010 SPEA FIM WOMEN'S TRIAL
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Round 1
Kramolin – Czech Republic
04 September - 1 Day Event (Day1)

Results:

Women
1: Sanz 5
2: Cook 5
3: Coles 10
4: Gomez 13
5: Bristow 18
6: Wilde 23
7: Leotta 25
8: Juffet 26
9: Journet 31
10: Villegas 34

2010 FIM Riders Championship
Current Standings:
Women
1: Sanz 40
2: Coles 32
3: Cook 30
4: Bristow 26
5: Gomez 23
6: Leotta 20
7: Wilde 18
8: Juffet 17
9: Journet 14
10: Villegas 11

2010 SPEA FIM WOMEN'S TRIAL
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Round 1
St Michel De Maurienne – France
10 July - 1 Day Event

> Round 2
Kramolin – Czech Republic
04 September - 1 Day Event

Round 3
Myslenice – Poland
10 September - 1 Day Event

2010 FIM TRIAL DES NATIONS

Myslenice – Poland
11 September - Women's
12 September - Men's

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