Raga Looks Unbeatable for 2004 Indoor Crown
Adam Raga gave yesterday in Pesaro reasons enough to put him as the main candidate to clinch the title a Indoor Series. The Spaniard achieved his fourth win championship, the third in a row, and proved that at this moment is the best fit rider in competition. Raga increased the cushion in leadership to 14 points, a long way for Dougie Lampkin, who will have to fight harder in this countdown if the Briton wants to avoid Raga´s victory. Fujinami achieved second place after a surprised end when the Japanese played head to head for this position with his teammate Lampkin.
Raga showed in qualification lap his consistence and incredible confidence have been increasing in last weeks. Albert Cabestany, who suffered a nightmare full of mechanic problems, and Graham Jarvis, lost a lot of chances to get into the final after fiving two of six observed sections.
Freixa had to wait for the result of his Montesa teammates, who did a very similar circuit, with only one penalty in first five hazards and adding a five in waterfall last section to avoid adding any point by exceeded time. Although Freixa and Fujinai arrived drawed with eight marks after high jump and double lane race, the less time invested to complete the circuit gave the key to the final to Fujinami.
Sections were attempted in reverse order in the final, making the circuit more difficult and selective. Raga took first provisional position in first sections, but a big mistake in fourth because of risk too much put Lampkin in advantage The Briton return the present in coming hazard with a five, almost giving the win to Raga But the Spaniard wanted that exciting and nervous went on and fived in waterfall, drawing to 13 penalties with Lampkin before the jump and race, with Fujinami waiting with two points more.
Adam Raga: It was clear after the opening lap that I was the favourite for the final, but victory was far away after my five in section four of the final lap. Only because Lampkin made a bad five at the of the lap, I could take victory again. My riding was really well, but I made a bad five because I maybe was a bit too confident. It is very clear that in these short trials with only six sections, making up mistakes is very dificult. I'm very glad with this victory, although maybe I was lucky because it probably would have been Dougie's victory".
The Briton committed a big mistake falling two bares in high jump, and not only put in a clear situation to Raga, but also gave to Fujinami a great opportunity to be second.
