We left for France early Friday morning and arrived at the site around 2pm that day. I was feeling pretty good on the bike in practice on Saturday and really liking the grippy rocks.
That afternoon we had a look at all the sections and all 15 of them didn’t look easy with almost every section having a big step or jump in it. I started Sunday off feeling confident and fairly relaxed on the bike cleaning the first section and a one on the second on top of a big step to help pull me up.
I had quite a few fives through out the first lap and found a lot of the sections either a five or a clean. Second lap was slightly better getting through a few more sections but still struggling on the bigger steps.
I finished the day of in 11th place which out of 31 riders wasn’t to bad of an effort and still in 9th place overall in the Championship.
Now I’m back in Italy preparing for the next World round here in Italy this weekend.
A big thanks to Mum and Dad for their help and support and also the Clark family, Karl for minding for me and also the team at Future.
Catch ya later
Jake
Karl and I before we started
Paddock set up
Hi Guys
Well I rode in the 5th round of the Italian Championship on Sunday in the senior grade against guys on bigger cc bikes.
My first lap was really good and after section 15 I was leading the trial by four points. My second lap started off much the same but half way through I had a really stupid five that on the first lap I got through for a two. This was very frustrating but made me fight even harder on the last few sections. I was able to clean most of them and after the last section I knew I was on the podium but didn’t know what position until my biggest competition for the day came in. After we had seen his score we found out that I would be standing on the top step of the podium for the first time. Second spot went to Fisto an ex top Italian rider who rode for Italy Trials De-Nation a few years back, felt good to bet someone with this experience and more bike cc.
This has been a big confidence boost for me and I’m good about things going into this weekends World Round in France.
A big thanks to everyones support back home, Mum and Dad and the rest of the family. All the team at Future Trial and of course Karl and Debbie Clark for being over here and doing an amazing job.
Cheers
Jakey
Rock Step on Section 12, going for the clean
Me on the podium #1
Hi all
Just a quick note to say that this week I have been training on the bike and doing fitness this week. We have our next Italian round on Sunday so we are off on Friday afternoon. After this weekend we will be heading off to France on Friday morning for the next World Championship which I am really looking forward to so that I can carry on my performance from Japan.
Will let you all know how I got on this weekend early in the week.
Cheers
Jake
Me in action in Japan
We arrived in Tokyo on Wednesday morning and had around a two hour drive to the TWIN Ring Motegi Race Track where the trial was going to be held.
When we got there we had a good look around the place and that took the rest of the day up because the place was massive. There was a museum there that had former World Champion bikes on display so it was a awesome experience to get up and close with them.
Then on Thursday morning we headed down to the paddock and got all the bikes out of the boxes and made sure everything was ok for the following day.
Friday morning we signed in and got the techincal inspection done on the bike then we headed out for a practice in the afternoon. The practice area was really muddy and difficult ro ride so I new it wasnt going to be an easy weekend. Later that afternoon we took a look at all the sections and they looked really tuff and what made it worse was there was rain expected over night 
Saturday norming I looked out the window to find a heavy rain storm so that was a kick in b*ulls. But was still very keen to get out there and do my best. After the first lap I was pretty disapointed looking at my card seeing that I had only got through three or four sections. But it was the same for everyone else which was the good thing. So I went into the last lap trying to get through as many sections for a three as possible and taking the odd five on the impossinle ones to save on time. I was able to get through a couple more sections on the second lap and had two cleans which made all the difference to the final result. I ended up in fourth place so I was stoked to be in the top five and so was the rest of the team so my confidence was alot better for the second day.
The next day a few of the sections had been changed to make them a little bit more possible. I still didnt get through them all and scored were pretty simalair to the day before but I had improved a little bit but just not as much as some of the other riders and dispite my best effort I wasnt able to get any better than seventh place but again I wasnt dissapointed with that and neither were the team.
That night I went to bed really tired as it would have to be one of the most physical trials I have ridden. I have never had to push my bike through sections as much as this weekend and also for a good ride being a three and a clean ride just being incrediable.
A BIG thanks to Karl Clark for minding over the weekend, another awesome job done as always. Also not forgetting the rest of the Clark family that is over here, Deb and the two boys Braxton and Jake, thanks for all the support.
Also thanks to the team, Future Trial, for the backing and support at the events and everyone back home for the incourgagment and the Japanese fan club I now have that followed me around all weekend, thanks to all the boys at Non-Stop.
Last of all thanks Mum and Dad for working so hard to make it possible for me to compete over here this year.
Cheers
Jakey
Fuji 2004 winning bike
“The pits”
