The Repsol riders get a first and third position in the first day of the round held in Motegi
Toni Bou achieved a new triumph in the first day of the Japanese Trial Grand Prix, eighth round of the World Championship, held this afternoon on a very complicated track due to the rain fallen the day before. With this victory, sixth of the current season, the Repsol rider has an 18 points advantage as leader of the overall standings just three rounds before the end of the series.
This first day consisted on a dramatic duel between Toni Bou and Adam Raga, second in the overall standings. The Repsol rider was beaten for one point in the first lap. But in the second Bou was able to recover two points and achieve yet another success.
His team mate at the Repsol Montesa Honda, Takahisa Fujinami, fulfilled his aim to get on the podium in front of his fans. A result that, apart from the points gathered has an emotional significance for the Japanese rider, after the consequences of the terrible earthquake and tsunami that devastated his country last March. Fujinami thus strengthens his position in third place of the championship.
Tomorrow the second day of the Japanese round will also take place in Motegi.
Toni Bou,
“I am very happy with the way things went today. I must say that Adam [Raga] did a fantastic race, which makes me feel even more proud of my success. I think that the key was to overcome the “zero” in the ninth zone, which was extremely complicated in the first lap. This points with one less round to the end of the championship, I am also very happy for Takahisa Fujinami, knowing what it means to him to have got on the podium”.
Takahisa Fujinami,
“To be on the podium was a very special feeling. It was very important for me, due to the situation in my country and specially to be able to dedicate it to everyone that was in Motegi this weekend. In front of me there were two very strong riders and the difference in points shows it. I felt tense, not very confident and I made a lot of mistakes, but I could save it… just for one point! Tomorrow I will try to get again on the podium and, most importantly, without losing so many points”.
