Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/956070
IN THE WIND P48 BOU MAKES IT 12-TIME CHAMP T oni Bou has been declared the 2018 X-Trial World Cham- pionship. The Repsol Honda Team rider added a 12th indoor title to his trophy cabinet after the cancel- lation of an event whose points would have counted toward the title. Bou thus mathematically guarantees the championship title even without participating. As a result of the cancellation of what would have been the sixth round of the championship in Seville, Spain, March 8, which the FIM (International Motorcy- cling Federation) finally didn't substitute, Bou has secured the overall world title, which was still up for grabs. His title tally now stands at an impressive 23 total titles, including 12 indoor and 11 outdoor. The dominance of Bou has been absolute so far this season, with five victories out of the five events disputed (Vendée, Mont- pellier, Toulouse, Strasbourg and Barcelona). These triumphs had given Toni Bou a 31-point advan- tage over second-placed Adam Raga even before the Paris trial got underway. This year's new rules allow each rider to discard their worst result. This effectively means that, without having to wait for the next event, the Repsol Honda Team rider can automati- cally claim a 12th consecutive title of the FIM X-Trial World Championship (Indoor), the 23rd of his career. Bou, in his 80 indoor trials, has achieved a total of 59 victo- ries, which means the Spaniard has won 70.9% of all the events he has participated in. "I'm really pleased to have achieved this 12th title," Bou said from Paris. "It's a dream to have arrived here. This season has been fantastic. I had a great start to the season that gave me an advantage that has let me win the championship with two dates still to go in the X-trial calendar. I believe that I have ridden really well and have won all five of the five events that we've disputed. This has been what has marked the great difference and that's what I feel proudest about." Spain's Jaime Busto (GasGas Factory Team) ended up winning the latest round of the champion- ship, which took place in Paris, France, March 17. Adam Raga (TRS Factory Team) and Taka- hisa Fujinami (Repsol Honda Team) completed the podium. Bou, who is still recovering from a back injury at the previous round, was fifth. One round remains, which takes place in Budapest, March 29. CN PHOTOGRAPHY HONDA RACING The cancelation of a round of the FIM X-Trials Championship means that Toni Bou is champ once again with one round still to go.