The Repsol Honda Team riders, Toni Bou and Takahisa Fujinami, achieved in Japan the second and third places respectively, despite competing with physical problems.
Toni Bou, the FIM Trial World Championship leader, started the Japanese Grand Prix with a second place in the first day. He suffered from an intercostal crack he had during a training session a few days before travelling to Japan. His team mate Takahisa Fujinami ended also on the podium of a race won by Adam Raga.
As he is used to ride at the highest level despite feeling pain, Bou was able to finish the first lap just a few points behind Adam Raga, in complicated zones and with strict marshals. His team mate, Takahisa Fujinami, was also fighting for victory after setting a similar score.
Nevertheless, an unprecedented event in the FIM Trial World Championship affected the race: the authorities suspended the even for one hour and a half when the second lap had just started, due to the risk of an electrical storm in Motegi. This is the first time that something like that happens in the World Championship since it started in 1975.
When competition resumed, Toni Bou had difficulties to set his own pace again and was not able to recover the difference with the leader, as he lost points during the third lap. Despite that, the rider from Piera finished second, behind Raga. Fujinami, who hit his knee badly, also gathered more points than usual, but he was able to control his rivals and finish in third place.
In the provisional standings, Bou still leads the World Championship –54 points–, while Fujinami is third —45 points—. Tomorrow will be the second and last day of this Japanese Trial Grand Prix.
Toni Bou
“I knew I would suffer today, but I suffered more than I though. I had a lot of pain in the ribs the whole day, despite the infiltration. At the beginning of the second lap the effects had nearly disappeared and it was difficult to recover my pace. At the end of the race I had nearly lost all strength. Taking that into account, the result is excellent, because I thought I wouldn’t be able to get on the podium, so it is very positive to finish second. We fought hard. I hope to be able to rest tonight and not to suffer too much, so that I can finish the race tomorrow”.
Takahisa Fujinami
“It was a very hard Japanese Grand Prix for me: I hit my knee badly in zone 7 and I had to finish the race with a lot of pain. I thought I would be out of the podium in my home race, but in the end I’m happy of having been able to finish third despite not being in the best shape. Adam [Raga] did very well. Toni [Bou] also felt bad because of his rib and I was able to stand the pain and the pressure of competing at home to finish third. I hope I will be able to stand it tomorrow too”.
