This year will be the sixth season of the Japanese rider integrated in the heart of the strongest team of the World trials Championship, the Repsol Montesa-HRC Team. World Champion in 2004 with this same team, Fujinami has been a key figure behind the evolution of the four-stroke Montesa-HRC Cota 4RT which last year already took its first victories. This season the Japanese rider has already been on the podium, a result he hopes to repeat on more occasions this year.
How is the start of the 2008 season going?
The first race in Marseille wasn’t bad, as I finished the first round only one point behind Toni – Bou -, but just enough not to make it to the final. Barcelona was quite different because I found it very tough climbing over some steps. Granada was evidently much better; I managed a podium there. This year I’ve had two fourth positions and one podium, but I feel quite a bit better than last year and i always like to look towards new goals. i think this year will be better; there are two World Indoor races left and I want to do it right.
What goals do you set for yourself race by race?
Basically our goal in each race is to make it to the podium, and for now we have managed it once. The most important thing for me now is to continue getting podiums.
Last year Toni Bou won on a bike that you had been developing. How do you feel on that bike?
It’s a very good bike, and works better every day. We are always trying new things and I think that the difference between two-stroke and four-stroke has disappeared completely. Four-stroke engines are now more powerful, and Montesa is always working on new improvements.
How do you see your main rivals this year?
They’re all very strong. My teammate Toni – Bou – is very strong, as he demonstrated with all the championships he won last year. Cabestany is also very strong, and though he has changed to four-stroke, he is still very focused and motivated. Adam Raga is the only one to still ride a two-stroke, but he’ll also be there. I think that this year there will be four riders – my teammate Toni Bou, Raga, Cabestany and myself – who will be in the best form and who will be fighting for the victory.
Speaking about yourself, how do you feel?
This year I feel in much better physical form than last year. I’ve been training a lot on the bike and I feel quite well.
