The World Trials Championship was recontunued this weekend with the Japanese Grand Prix, disputed at the Japanes town of Twin Ring Motegi. Repsol rider Toni Bou took command both on Saturday and Sunday, considerably increasing his advantage in the general classification. Teammate Takahisa Fujinami claimed two third positions on the podium, while fellow Repsol rider Laia Sanz was eighth in the World Junior Cup.
SATURDAYRepsol rider Toni Bou commanded both rounds with authority, with the added difficulty of heavy rain on the initially tough track. With this victory, the third out of the five tests held up until now, the title holder continued to increase his advantage as leader of the general classification.Takahisa Fujinami lost all chances of challenging the victory of his teammate in zone seven when during the first round he hit a stone hard with his bike, damaging the hood of the clutch and losing some 20 minutes repairing it. In spite of this setback, the Japanese rider gave a brilliant performance before his fans, climbing once again to the podium, himself and Toni Bou the only riders to always finish there. Repsol – Montesa HRC won once again the brand classification and continues to distance itself leading the general classification in this category.Laia Sanz was tenth among the participants at the World Junior Cup, her best result this season in this category, where she has climbed to tenth position in the general classification.Toni BouThe 71 points I’ve scored do not leave any doubts as to how difficult this test was. And under these conditions, a victory tastes even better, so it’s easy to tell why I’m so satisfied. The advantage I built during the first round was crucial in order to face the second in a comfortable position. Tomorrow I’ll try to do the same; I’m sure we’ll find great difficulties and my rivals won’t make it easy for me, but I’ll do my best.Takahisa FujinamiI’ve always maintained that winning here, in my country and before my fans, has a special value, so today I was hoping for much more than this third position. I was unlucky, I lost a considerable amount of time repairing the bike and was forced to complete the rest of the test in a rush in order not to get penalty points for time. In these conditions, I think the result is good, but tomorrow I’d like to challenge Toni and be the one to climb to the top step on the podium.SUNDAYToni Bou increased his advantage as leader of the World Trials Championship after taking command during the second day of the Japanese Grand Prix, which puts an end to the first half of the championship. The Repsol – Montesa HRC rider has four victories and two second positions to his name at this moment. Fellow Repsol rider Takahisa Fujinami repeated the third position taken yesterday after having finished the first round in the lead, at a tie with the future winner.The Japanese rider, who today completed his 200th participation in a world-level test, and Toni Bou, are the only two riders to have claimed a podium position in all six World Championship tests disputed until now. With Toni Bou and Takahisa Fujinami’s results, Repsol – Montesa HRC has contunued to increase its advantage leading the brand classification.On the other hand, Laia Sanz managed seventh position among the participants of the World Junior Cup, a category won by Alexz Wigg. Tenth yesterday after the first day at the Japanese event, Laia Sanz this time claimed her best result this season in this category, and has climbed two positions in the general classification led by Wigg, and is now eighth.The seventh event of the World Trials Championship will be the French Grand Prix, which will be disputed next 22nd June in the town of Maisse.Toni BouWinning the two days of such a selective test as this is fantastic, both for me and for the team. Yesterday I won more comfortably, because today Takahisa was very strong during the first round and Adam was putting on the pressure right until the end during the second. The overall result of this first half of the Championship is unbeatable, and as the tests go by I’m feeling calmer. Our situation is the best indication that we’re heading in the right direction and that we should stay in this line of work,Takahisa FujinamiIt was an excellent weekend for the team and for Toni, though not so much for me. I wanted to win in my country in front of my fans, but it was not to be. I started off well and at the end of the first round everything was possible, but during the second I made a couple of mistakes that cost me dear. The two podiums this weekend are OK but I expected more.Laia SanzIt was a satisfactory weekend, though yesterday I couldn’t help feeling disappointed because I lost four positions during the second round. Keeping sixth position under those difficult conditions would have been great. Today, however, the process was the reverse and during the second round I got better. I feel very happy.
