the following is from Repsol Honda reagrding Toni Bou’s victory in a highly-complicated Spanish TrialGP:
Repsol Honda Team rider Toni Bou started the Trial Outdoor World Championship in the best way possible with a convincing triumph and a notable display in Camprodón this weekend.
The weather turned out to be one of the main protagonists in today’s trial. After a fine start yesterday during the qualifying round, conditions took a turn for the worst later with storms blowing up after the initial phase had finished. Riders awoke today to a splendid sunny day, before a radical change took hold, with torrential downpours and even hail. The result was fifteen sectors now far harder than had been previously expected.
Toni Bou rose to the occasion, clinching a 90th world championship outdoor win. The tougher the hazards, the better the Repsol Honda Team ace performed to finish the day with a considerable advantage over closest rival Adam Raga. Bou finished with a twelve point gap, which lowered his first lap score by ten marks over the nearest second place rival. The champion, aboard the Montesa Cota 4RT, becomes the first leader in the new season.
“The first trial of the year was a complicated one with a lot of nerves and pressure,” Bou said. “This place is a paradise for trial, but it’s not really the type that suits me best, as I find it tough with all the mud. But I think I got through it pretty well. It was a hard event, and I think the rain made it more difficult, but I’m very pleased about the victory as it has been a great way to start the season. Adam is pushing as hard as always–he’s a really tough rival, and I think that it will be a hard season for all of us.
Japanese rider Takahisa Fujinami was able to make amends for yesterday’s qualifying position by producing a solid performance that had him jostling for a final podium place. Fujinami placed fifth on the day, a single point off fourth spot.
Meanwhile, young Jaime Busto was suffering in the sections with the worsening conditions. After rubbing shoulders with the big guns in the earlier part of the trial, Busto began to burden the scorecard with an excess of penalty points in the latter and had to settle for seventh overall place.
Toni Bou’s triumph brings valuable points for Montesa in the constructor’s championship. An important win for Trial2 rider Gabriel Marcelli also adds to the brand’s score.
2017 FIM Trial World Championship
TrialGP Spain
Camprodon, Spain
Results: May 14, 2018 (Round 1 of 8)
Overall
1. Toni Bou (SPA)-Mon/46 (28/18)
2. Adam Raga (SPA)-TRS/58 (29/29)
3. Albert Cabestany (SPA)-She/72 (27/45)
4. Jeroni Fajardo (SPA) Ver-/44 (40/44)
5. Takahisa Fujinami (JPM)-Mon/85 (42/42)