The Repsol Montesa Honda Team rider, Toni Bou, became yesterday Outdoor Trial World Championship for the sixth consecutive time and now has twelve World Championship titles.
Bou lands today at 13:55 at Terminal 1 of the El Prat Airport (Barcelona), on Alitalia’s flight AZ7098, arriving from Milan
After achieving his twelfth World Championship title —6 outdoor and 6 in X-Trial— Toni Bou only thinks about sharing and enjoying the moment together with his family and friends. In the last for rounds held, the Repsol rider was able to overcome an injury of his left leg and increase his track record, gathering triumphs that place him among the best riders of the speciality.
After winning the 6th Outdoor World Championship last March, now you have achieved the 6th outdoor World title two rounds before the end. You make everything seem easy…
“Today was a fantastic day, after achieving the X-Trial World Championship, to celebrate now the Outdoor title is a great feeling. With the injury I also knew that it would be much more difficult that other times. Today, in the first lap I didn’t do very well and I was a bit far from the leaders, but I was finally able to get the win and that was fantastic. We are very happy, it was a perfect day”.
This season you achieved all possible wins in the X-Trial World Championship, as in 2011, and 9 out of 11 in the outdoor, are you in your best form?
“I think so, I think I am in my best form. I am aware that now my leg is injured and I need to recover, but in general, I could not ask for more, the bike works perfectly and I am in the best team of the world”.
With 12 World Championships you tie with Dougie Lampkin, who achieved 7 outdoor and 5 indoor championships, what do you think about hitting that milestone at only 25?
“It is something I could have never imagined, I had always dreamt about being World Champion and to achieve it makes me happy. To see the years pass and still being in good form, achieving more victories and the best reward for this job. I love this sport and I want to enjoy every minute of my sporting career, which will be short and also enjoy fantastic moments”.
Since you arrived to the Repsol Montesa Honda team you didn’t stop winning, what is the key to this success?
“The bike is very well adapted to my riding style, it has a very consistent performance, it always works well and that gives me a lot of security. To be confident in that area is very important, as you face the races with more calm and that is key to achieve victories. Also the people I work with are very professional, this team gives me everything I need, I am very comfortable and that gives results in the end”.
Since the Spanish GP, you have competed and won in 4 rounds with the femoral biceps of your left leg broken, is your level so high in this moment that you win even injured?
“This is an injury that fortunately does not hurt too much, I received it after a very strange movement with the handlebar. The doctor said that is an injury more common in a gymnast than in a trial rider. It doesn’t bother me too much riding and that is what allowed me to compete and be in front”.
How do you feel now? It doesn’t seem probable that the injury could affect the rest of your calendar…
“The doctor told us to work until the end of the World Championship, to see if I could keep fighting for victory. In the end everything went well and we are very happy because we achieved something great, but as soon as we arrive to Barcelona I will go to see him so that he can tell me how the injury is evolving. If it gets worse, the best would be to stop for a few days. This weekend we have Spanish Championship and I would love to participate, so let’s hope everything is in order and don’t be force to renounce to anything”.
Soon the World Championship will be over, with the two rounds of the British GP, on July 28th and 29th, and you will have completed 20 indoor and outdoor trial rounds in 7 months. What do you think about competing with such tight calendar?
“In case you have an injury, as I have now, it is a problem. If we can rest for some days in August, but during the rest of the year we have no margin for mistakes”.
After so long in the sport and so many triumphs, do you become excessively perfectionist?
“I think I behave as I did when I started. I fight to win as many races as possible, but, as in any sport, there are always things that can escape your control. You can do your best and have a bad year or the other way round. Luckily for me, everything went very well, but you always need to be realistic. If everything works you will get results and you have to enjoy the moment”.
Will you treat yourself to something? Do you have a celebration ritual?
“The most important thing is to enjoy the moment, because you never know if it will be your last triumph. Winning a World Championship is always difficult, it doesn’t matter how many you have in your track record. When I celebrate I’m very traditional, I always gather my family and friends to have a dinner and a party, so that we have a good memory”.
