The Repsol rider wins in the first day of the Japanese round that starts the 39th edition of the World Championship. Takahisa Fujinami just missed the podium.
Toni Bou started in the best way his defence of the title he has achieved in the last six years, as he won the first day of the Japanese Grand Prix of Trial. In this 29th edition of the World Championship, the several times champion attained the best scores in each of the three passes through a route with 12 high-difficulty areas. Yesterday’s rain and the new ‘non-stop’ regulations of this season gave even more value to this victory for the rider from Piera.
His team mate, Takahisa Fujinami, finished fourth, as he was burdened by the points he received in the first lap.
Tomorrow, the second day of the Japanese Grand Prix will include also three passes through a route with 12 areas and a score independent from that of today.
Toni Bou
“There is nothing better than starting the championship with a win, which was not easy. The zones were fairly complicated, I risked a lot to avoid stopping and it went well. I am happy with this victory but not with the new rules, which will make us all suffer this year. Here, the marshals were strict, as they have to be, but it is clear that it is impossible to judge in the same way every questionable situation that might arise and to ensure equality for everyone. There were some complaints and I have no doubt that in this sense it will be a complicated championship. Winning in Honda’s home turf is always special, and I want to thank the work they did with the new engine, which worked very well in its first round of the outdoor championship”.
Takahisa Fujinami
“My aim was to get on the podium and celebrate it with my fans, but it couldn’t be. In the first lap I received too many points and it was impossible to reduce the difference after that. Tomorrow I will have another opportunity and I hope I can improve. Last year it happened exactly the same in the first day and the next day I was on the podium. I hope history repeats itself”.
