VOLUME 57 ISSUE 3 JANUARY 21, 2020 P47
Bou Wins Budapest Showdown
R
epsol Honda Team rider
Toni Bou burst back onto
the 2020 trials scene, snatching
a 65th career win in the indoor
discipline, in the third points-
scoring round of the X-Trial
World Championship held in the
Hungarian capital of Budapest,
January 18.
Budapest played host to
round three of the FIM X-Trial
World Championship where the
spectators in the Laszlo Papp
Arena were treated to a thrilling
display from Bou.
Bou cruised through the
opening qualifying round to claim
a spot in the second knockout
phase. The champion scored
better than the other seven rid-
ers over the five-section prelimi-
nary phase.
Subsequently in the knockout
phase, Bou again fared better
than adversaries Gabriel Marcelli
and Jaime Busto, earning him-
self a place in the Grand Final
against Adam Raga.
Bou and Raga, both display-
ing top-level riding skills, faced
off in the final over six sections,
only to finish tied on points. The
"run-off section failed to decide
the winner, with both riders fiving
the section. Eventually the victor
was adjudicated to be Bou on
merit of a count-back, the reign-
ing champion having scored
better in the second round.
It was thrilling conclusion to a
highly-intense affair. The triumph
at X-Trial in Budapest marks
a 65th career victory for the
Repsol Honda Team ace, further
consolidating Bou's grip at the
top of the overall rankings. Bou
now boasts a 15-point advantage
over Adam Raga.
"It was a really, really tough
trial," Bou said. "Adam rode re-
ally well today. We were able to
win the first round and also the
second which proved decisive
for the final run-off. I gave it
everything in the final, but I
wasn't experiencing very good
sensations, and I couldn't find
my balance, but I had enough
aggression to keep fighting until
the end, where I cleaned the two
final sections while there was
everything still to play for, so it all
turned out fine in the end. I want
to congratulate Adam because
it will be really tough to beat him
this year." CN
It was close, but Toni Bou
captured his 65th career indoor
X-Trial victory in Budapest.
