Phill, where was ya with your access all areas pass, gutted for you man
my first indoor trial it was a blast. I'm glad I went because first and foremost it was Dougie Lampkin's last time competing at Sheffield.
It started off very impressively, riders entering the arena on the concourse level and circulating the whole arena, pulling stunts, before dropping down to the main floor. Not sure who it was, but one of the riders' stunts included a Superman bar grab whilst riding around the concourse, I've never seen that done before. I was really happy with my seat, but in hindsight I could have done with being a few rows further back for a better view. The height of some of the obstacles was slightly unnerving and it was a good job there was a rail on the double waterfall, I say double because they had to go up one side and down the other side, u-turn and back up to the top. Toni Bou (that's now three different ways I have heard his surname pronounced) was on fire and I'd say everybody was in awe of him at times. On the prelim round he even left one section by doing a 180° mid air turn! I don't think he picked up many points in the prelim, but in the finals he was clear right upto the final section. All the other competitors were picking up points all the way through. There was one section on the final reverse lap where nobody got beyond the highest point directly from the start because the incline was that steep. Bou took a stab at it, got the pegs on the first possible landing point but couldn't get get his balance so he bounced the bike to the floor and went at it again and cleaned it! He only got a dab plus a time penalty on the very final waterfall section, massive points gap to second place.
The 'half time' show was very entertaining as well, it was a Lampkin Vs R.o.W. race over a short obstacle course. Neil Hodgson and James Whitham were involved and they ended up having a race against each other which was hilarious. Whit rolled down the start ramp and promptly crashed at the very first obstacle, Neil was a little better. I tried to leave before the prizes ceremony to catch the tram, it was 11PM by that stage, but I hung around a little longer because it was Ian Hutchinson doing the honours. I'm happy to say that he is finally off his crutches, not sure if he was still using them when he raced at Macau in November.
Results
1. Toni Bou - 2
2. Adam Raga - 15
3. Jeroni Fajardo - 15
4. Takahisa Fujinami - 18
5. James Dabill - 25
6. Dougie Lampkin - 27
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mlr1n2r_uE[/media] (sadly not my viewing point)
my first indoor trial it was a blast. I'm glad I went because first and foremost it was Dougie Lampkin's last time competing at Sheffield.
It started off very impressively, riders entering the arena on the concourse level and circulating the whole arena, pulling stunts, before dropping down to the main floor. Not sure who it was, but one of the riders' stunts included a Superman bar grab whilst riding around the concourse, I've never seen that done before. I was really happy with my seat, but in hindsight I could have done with being a few rows further back for a better view. The height of some of the obstacles was slightly unnerving and it was a good job there was a rail on the double waterfall, I say double because they had to go up one side and down the other side, u-turn and back up to the top. Toni Bou (that's now three different ways I have heard his surname pronounced) was on fire and I'd say everybody was in awe of him at times. On the prelim round he even left one section by doing a 180° mid air turn! I don't think he picked up many points in the prelim, but in the finals he was clear right upto the final section. All the other competitors were picking up points all the way through. There was one section on the final reverse lap where nobody got beyond the highest point directly from the start because the incline was that steep. Bou took a stab at it, got the pegs on the first possible landing point but couldn't get get his balance so he bounced the bike to the floor and went at it again and cleaned it! He only got a dab plus a time penalty on the very final waterfall section, massive points gap to second place.
The 'half time' show was very entertaining as well, it was a Lampkin Vs R.o.W. race over a short obstacle course. Neil Hodgson and James Whitham were involved and they ended up having a race against each other which was hilarious. Whit rolled down the start ramp and promptly crashed at the very first obstacle, Neil was a little better. I tried to leave before the prizes ceremony to catch the tram, it was 11PM by that stage, but I hung around a little longer because it was Ian Hutchinson doing the honours. I'm happy to say that he is finally off his crutches, not sure if he was still using them when he raced at Macau in November.
Results
1. Toni Bou - 2
2. Adam Raga - 15
3. Jeroni Fajardo - 15
4. Takahisa Fujinami - 18
5. James Dabill - 25
6. Dougie Lampkin - 27
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mlr1n2r_uE[/media] (sadly not my viewing point)
