Toni Bou aims at a 20th world title in Italy

The 2016 FIM Trial World Championship wraps up this weekend in Italy with a crucial date for Toni Bou and the Repsol Honda Team. The Montesa Cota 4RT rider is on the verge of a championship win that will increase his status as the most-garlanded world champion.

Sitting on a 31 point advantage over nearest second place rival, Toni Bou looks set to clinch a tenth Outdoor Trial title this weekend in San Pietro Mussolino, Italy. This will bring the Spaniard’s total tally for Indoor and Outdoor to twenty, further consolidation of his now legendary standing as the most decorated champion in motorcycle history.

There is a very high chance that the Repsol Honda Team rider will scoop the title in the first of the two ‘match balls’ of the Italian GP. A seventh place would be enough to seal the title, although until now the Montesa Cota 4RT ace has never finished in such a low position.

Toni Bou’s teammate Takahisa Fujinami also has the chance of achieving a personal goal in the world championship as the Japanese rider battles for a third place overall spot. ‘Fujigas’ currently holds third place with a 14 point advantage over the nearest contender. Working against him is the injury picked up earlier this summer during the Indoor Trial in France. After undergoing surgery, the Japanese rider has barely had a week to train for the event. Fujigas hopes to be able to make it through what looks likely to be a complicated trial.

Meanwhile, Repsol Honda Team’s third member, Basque rider Jaime Busto, holds high hopes of returning to the top positions and still craves that elusive podium spot. Busto lies in fifth place overall in the world championship standings – a one position improvement on last year’s final result.

Repsol Honda Team would like to take the opportunity to express their support for the victims of the earthquake in the Lazio region, in particular in the towns of Amatrice and Accumoli.

All about the GP Trial of Italy

• San Pietro Mussolino is the 33rd Italian town to host the World Trial Championship since the first championship event was held in Torre Pelice in 1975.
• The race will cover a 20 kilometre course. The majority of the 12 sections are found in San Pietro Mussolino, although the start and finish will take place in Chiampo (where the final section will also be). For the first time this season, the final rider to start – in this case Toni Bou – will set off at 10:30 local time.
• Dougie Lampkin is the ‘king’ of Italy with nine victories – six aboard the Montesa. Trailing him are Toni Bou and Jordi Tarrés with six wins apiece.
• Toni Bou has taken victory in the five most recent editions of the Italian Trial GP (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014).
• In San Pietro Mussolino, Toni Bou will celebrate 125 trials with the Repsol Honda Team.
• Takahisa Fujinami is the rider with the highest number of points accumulated in Italian Trial GP events. With 391 he has accrued over 100 points more than any other competitor.
• Repsol Honda Team’s Japanese rider has clinched the top honours in Italy on five occasions, the last of which was in Darfo Boario Terme.
• Toni Bou, Takahisa Fujinami, Dougie Lampkin and Marc Colomer have won the Italian Trail GP with Montesa. Also Eddy Lejeune (Honda) has done it too on four occasions.
• Montesa celebrated their 200th victory in World Trial in Tong (England) almost doubling the second-best mark. They also took their 19th constructors’ world title. Indeed, it is in the UK where the Catalan marque has won most often (25 times).
• The Italian Grand Prix will also host a two day trial whose points will count towards the FIM Women’s Trial World Championship.