IN
THE
WIND
P24
BOU WINS 10TH FIM X-TRIAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
R
epsol Honda Team rider Toni
Bou made it 10 titles in a row
at the final round of the 2016
FIM X-Trial World Champion-
ship in Marseille, France, March
26. Bou overcame some initial
nerves during qualification to
then go on to dominate the final
with a totally clean performance.
However, Bou's route to his 10th
straight crown in this series was
anything but easy as the title
fight went to the very last sec-
tion of the night.
Sherco's Albert Cabestany
pushed Bou hard throughout
the evening and was a worthy
runner-up on the night.
Adam Raga (TRS) had to fi-
nally be content with third place
as the Spanish trio finished well
clear of eventual fourth-placed
Takahisa Fujinami (Repsol
Honda). The final order in the
general standings among the
main three protagonists was
confirmed as Bou, Raga and
Cabestany, respectively.
A very relieved Bou, said,
"I am so happy to finally take
this 10th title, it just feels so
incredible and almost difficult
to believe. I felt so much pres-
sure tonight, perhaps more than
when I won my first title and
you saw this with the mistakes
I made early in qualification.
Thankfully I recovered with some
better riding and in the final it
was the perfect way to finish the
championship with a completely
clean lap."
In qualification, wild-card rider
Jaime Busto (Repsol Honda)
stole an initial advantage over
Eddie Karlsson (Montesa) in the
first dual lane race of the night,
as the young pairing opened
qualification that comprised of
five long and technical sections.
Despite having to ride out front,
Karlsson showed great compo-
sure as he lost two marks in the
first hazard. In contrast, Busto
Toni Bou
celebrates
wrapping up
his 10th FIM
X-Trial World
Champion-
ship.
