Toni Bou clinches earlier than expected a 28th world championship title at the Italian TrialGP2020-10-13 08:08Repsol Honda Team’s Toni Bou has just been crowned world champion at the TrialGP event in Italy. The occasion marks a 14th outdoor title – adding to the previous 14 indoor titles – taking his overall top-flight championship tally to a whopping 28. Toni Bou is TrialGP world champion for a 14th time! Today in Lazzate, Italy, the Repsol Honda Team rider mathematically sealed yet another world championship title, the fourteenth of his career. Bou’s title came earlier than expected with one remaining season date still to complete tomorrow. Once again, it was a race dominated by Bou, whose results this season now include five wins, a second and third place. These results – together with those of his greatest rival – guarantee the title, with the champion adding even more silverware to an already packed trophy cabinet. The season began with a battle against the pandemic, which had forced a major overhaul of the scheduled championship calendar and limited the amount of pre-season training that Repsol Honda Team riders were able to do. Things worsened with an arm injury picked up in the opening round of the world championship. Yet, in spite of everything, Toni Bou faced and was able to overcome these adversities, going on to clinch the championship title in Italy. Adding to the other 14 titles from the ‘indoor’ discipline, Toni now sports no less than 28 world titles since the unstoppable reign began back in 2007. Bou, aboard the Montesa Cota 4RT, reaffirmed the supremacy that has seen Repsol Honda Team dominate in trial competitions over the last fourteen years. Meanwhile, Bou’s Repsol Honda Team squad-mate, Japanese rider Takahisa Fujinami, rode a fine trial to post a well-deserved fourth place. Fujigas is now fifth in the 2020 TrialGP overall standings with one event still to go. Repsol Honda Team will tomorrow face the final trial of this unusual 2020 World Championship in the same venue in the La Battú trial area. Toni Bou 1 TRIAL: 1st OVERALL: 1º Today I really didn't expect to win the championship. It was a very tight trial, like all the others this year, so it was very easy to drop from first to seventh, so I could not afford to fail. I am super happy with this title, and even more so this year, which has been so strange with many training sessions and few trials. We have won both titles, indoor and outdoor, which I am very happy about. Now it’s time to enjoy and celebrate. Toni Bou Takahisa Fujinami 3 TRIAL: 4th OVERALL: 5th Today went pretty well. I could have made it onto the podium, I did quite well during the first and second laps. At the end of the third I missed some areas that made me finish fourth. Looking ahead to the championship, I have taken a little step forward and I hope tomorrow to finish the championship well. And what can I say about my team-mate Toni? What he does is incredible and I can only congratulate him and the whole team. Takahisa Fujinami Miquel Cirera Team Manager Today the truth is that we did not expect to win, it was quite unexpected. Toni had a great race today, but his greatest rival wasn’t able to beat him. We have to congratulate Toni who has performed an impeccable trial. I also want to congratulate the entire team for the great work done and the medical team who have been very important. Now, we have no choice but to celebrate this championship, which has been very important for us. Fujinami also did very well today, finishing a step away from the podium. Tomorrow we will enjoy the trial calmly, which is the way we like it. Miquel Cirera TrialGP Italy Round 7 2020 Results Pos. Rider Num Nation L1 L2 L3 T3 Champ Team Points 1 Bou Toni 1 SPA 21 7 9 2 20 Repsol Honda Team 39 2 Casales Jorge 33 SPA 32 Source: Honda Racing Corporation Click here to visit our forums to discuss this story |
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