IN
THE
WIND
P56
BOU STILL STRONG IN TRIALGP
T
oni Bou, aboard his Repsol
Honda, moved another step
closer to an incredible 11th-
consecutive outdoor title with a
commanding performance at the
TrialGP of Great Britain, round
five of the 2017 FIM Trial World
Championship, July 9.
Cheered on by thousands of
fans, many of whom had taken
advantage of a free admission
deal for ACU members, the
30-year-old Spanish superstar
claimed a record-breaking fif-
teenth TrialGP Great Britain win
and extended his championship
advantage to 18 points with three
rounds remaining.
"I had a very good first lap, but
made mistakes on the second
lap, but I stayed clean in the final
two sections for the victory,"
says Bou. "It's a very important
weekend for me. I've extended
my lead and will now go the USA
with more confidence and will try
to win again."
Looking totally at home on the
mainly natural sections comprised
of imposing rock slabs, huge logs
and treacherous tree roots, Bou
recorded an opening-lap score of
just eight marks to lead home hero
James Dabill—GasGas by eight at
the halfway stage.
Jeroni Fajardo (Vertigo) held
third at 17, three marks ahead
of fellow Spaniard Adam Raga
(TRRS) and five clear of Takahisa
Fujinami (Repsol Honda).
Under a blistering hot sun Bou
controlled the Trial from the back
of the field, and despite posting a
second-lap total of thirteen includ-
ing two maximums, it was still
good enough for a clear-cut win.
Behind him, a battle raged for
the remaining podium positions
between Dabill, Raga and Fujinami
with the final order looking too
close to call before the Japanese
star was able to break clear with a
sensational second lap of just six
marks for a total of 28.
Dabill's hopes of a home
podium evaporated in the fierce
heat and three maximums on the
final lap dropped him to a frustrat-
ing fourth, just two marks behind
Raga.
Fajardo matched Dabill's score
of 32, but lost out on a tiebreaker
as Spanish teenager Jaime Busto
(Repsol Honda) failed to take his
third podium in a row, ending the
day a further eight marks adrift in
sixth.
The TrialGP series now takes a
short break before heading over
the Atlantic to the USA for round
six later this month. CN
Toni Bou (pictured)
and Takahisa Fujinami
made it a 1-2 for Repsol
Honda at the TrialGP of
Great Britain.
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
HONDA
HRC
