Trials: Bou Takes Points Lead at GP of Spain

Reigning World Champion Toni Bou battles injury at the FIM Trials World Championship opener to take the series points lead.

Repsol Honda’s Toni Bou of Spain finished the two-leg opening round of the FIM Trials World Championship in Spain with a win in the second leg yesterday, and that put the reigning World Trials Champion atop the series points standings.

Bou came into the event held at Olvan and Cal Rosal with a shoulder injury, but that didn’t seem to hamper him. Sherco Factory rider Albert Cabestany, also of Spain, scored a clean win in the first leg on Saturday with Bou hanging on to finish second, but on Sunday Bou carded less than half the points of his closest competitor, fellow Spaniard Adam Raga, to score a win and take over the series points lead; Raga finished third during Saturday’s leg.

“It’s been a really complicated weekend, but today the pain let up a bit and was more bearable,” Bou said. “I don’t know how, but today I was able to compete with Adam at the highest level. The changes to the four sections turned out to be a good thing especially in section six, which I was able to get over three times and not Adam. I was able to battle on in spite of the injury, and I’m really pleased with the final result as I wasn’t expecting to be the leader in the world championship 10 days ago.”

Cabestany struggled in the second leg, dropping well down in the order before landing in seventh place. Cabestany was effectively done-in on loop three where he carded 22 points to Bou’s two points and Raga’s eight points. However, he can take comfort in the fact that the round points he earned will keep him in the championship chase as the series heads to Twin Ring Motegi for another two-leg round in two weeks’ time.

2016 FIM Trials World Championship Series Points Standings (after 1 of 8 rounds)
1. Toni Bou (ESP)-Mon/37/1 win
2. Adam Raga (ESP)-TRS/32
3. Albert Cabestany (ESP)She/29/1 win
4. Jaime Busto (ESP)-Mon/26
5. James Dabill (GBR)-Ver/22
6. Jeroni Fajardo (ESP)-Ver/22
7. Takahisa Fujinami (JPN)-Mon/20
8. Jorge Casales (ESP)-Bet/17
9. Loris Gubian (FRA)-Bet/11
10. Matteo Grattarola (ITA)-Gas/11