After the cancellation of the Belgian Trial Grand Prix, announced by the Trial Commission of the FIM (Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme) this morning, the World Championship title has been automatically awarded to Toni Bou. The Belgian trial, scheduled for the 23rd of September, was the last trial in the competition, which will now finish with the Andorran Grand Prix on the 2nd of September.
Toni Bou, who will arrive at Andorra at the top of the general classification, 20 points ahead of Adam Raga, has become the World Champion. The Repsol rider has won eight of the ten trials held to date and finished second in the other two. This is his first season as a Repsol-Montesa HRC rider, the team with which he has also won the Indoor Trial World Championship.The cancellation of the Belgian Grand Prix will also affect the Women’s World Championship, which will be limited to two trials and will be decided on the 28th of September in the Isle of Man (Great Britain). Laia Sanz, World Champion for the last seven years, will arrive at the final trial as the leader of the general classification. In the brands standing, Montesa – HRC had already assured its tenth world title, the second consecutive since it decided to compete only with 4 stroke bikes in 2005. Toni Bou: I really couldn’t have had a better return from holiday. I got home this lunchtime and a little while later I received a congratulations message. I thought it was a joke, but I was soon able to confirm that it was true. I am delighted, as a dream that we have worked very hard on has just come true. With the title assured, my strategy for the Andorran trial will be very different. I could allow myself to be cautious, but for the first time, I feel free to give it my all and try to celebrate the title with another win, if possible, as carefully worked as the previous wins. The differences have often been minimal and after fighting against a rival as strong as Adam Raga has been, I value this title even more.
