Toni Bou looks poised to make off with the world outdoor trial championship for the tenth time after another notable performance. The Repsol Honda Team rider went from zero to hero in the Belgium Grand Prix, displaying all the hallmarks of a champion. Teammates Takahisa Fujinami and Jaime Busto’s performances were the inverse of Bou’s; both missing out on the podium.
It was the tiny population of Belgium’s Comblain-au-Pont who hosted the sixth Grand Prix of the trial calendar – the eleventh of a total of fifteen trials given that the Belgium event featured only a single date. Toni Bou scooped his eight win of the season in a trial a world away from the rain-soaked one disputed here two years ago. The lengthy course did, however, feature some very technical sections which forced some riders to make mistakes.
Toni Bou picked things up after a poor start. A fall on the first lap and a sudden, sharp movement caused problems for the rider who is still carrying a shoulder injury. Battling against the pain, the Spaniard was holding fourth spot overall by the end of the first lap. On subsequent laps Bou scored better than rivals, going on to take victory with ten points over runner up Adam Raga. The result bolsters Bou’s command of the general standings with his advantage over nearest second-place adversary Adam Raga increasing to twenty-three points.
Takahisa Fujinami, arrived at the Comblain-au-Pont event fired up after his win in the previous round in Lourdes (France). The Japanese Repsol Honda Team rider has had his eye on the overall third position. ‘Fujigas’ got off to good start, looking set for a podium finish, until a spectacular fall on the third lap forced the ex-champ to ride out the rest of the trial in defensive mode. After clocking up further marks, Fuji had to settle for a final fifth place but is still third in the overall ranking.
Repsol Honda Team’s third rider Jaime Busto continued to battle to get into the podium zone. However, after completing the first two laps with an identical scorecard, the young Basque hopeful made several mistakes to wipe out any chances of a first podium.
The FIM Trial World Championship continues next weekend with the Great British Grand Prix to be held in Tong.
Toni Bou
I was able to settle the race in my favour at the end of the second lap, but the riding wasn’t up to much as I wasn’t feeling too good on the first lap. I had injured my shoulder during training and in spite of not feeling right I was able to make it through. I’m very pleased with the result but I will have to work hard to get the shoulder in shape for the trial in England next week.
Takahisa Fujinami
I’m not pleased with the fifth place. I was among the top positions on the first part of the race. There was a misunderstanding with the time that I was given and I missed out on the podium by very little. I was feeling good on the bike and things were going well, but I’m not pleased with the way it all worked out. I continue to hold on to third place in the overall standings and with four trials still to go, I think I’m doing well and am on the right path.
Jaime Busto
In the sections with the mud that had formed, I wasn’t feeling very comfortable. Those are not my favourite type of sections, that’s for sure. I was riding a bit clumsily at the beginning and only picked up one zero on the first lap in the final section. On the second lap I felt better on the bike but it wasn’t enough. As the trial went on the sections didn’t get any better.
Private: Miquel Cirera
Another trial and another victory for Toni and for the team. It wasn’t easy for Toni today; he wasn’t having the best day. He hurt himself in one of the sections and had a difficult day as a consequence, but he was able to seal the win all the same. For the championship it is important. Fujinami’s result could have been better, but with today’s trial and the rivals, it has been a hard one for everybody. It was to be expected that it would be tough. Jaime won’t be happy – he didn’t make it onto the podium and that is his intention. He will have to keep working. Let’s hope things work out well in England for everyone and hopefully we will get better results. Thanks to the whole team for the great effort today at a very tough trial.
Results Trial GP Belgium 2016
| Pos. | Rider | Num | Nation | L1 | L2 | L3 | T3 | Team | Constructor | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bou Toni | 1 | SPA | 18 | 13 | 14 | Repsol Honda Team | Montesa | 45 | |
| 2 | Raga Adam | 2 | SPA | 19 | 15 | 19 | 2 | TRRS Factory Team | TRRS | 55 |
| 3 | Cabestany Albert | 4 | SPA | 14 | 25 | 16 | Sherco Factory Team | Sherco | 55 | |
| 4 | Fajardo Jeroni | 3 | SPA | 15 | 21 | 24 | Vertigo Factory Team | Vertigo | 60 | |
| 5 | Fujinami Takahisa | 5 | JPN | 16 | 22 | 21 | 2 | Repsol Honda Team | Montesa | 61 |
| 6 | Busto Jaime | 6 | SPA | 21 | 21 | 26 | Repsol Honda Team | Montesa | 68 | |
| 7 | Dabill James | 8 | GBR | 23 | 25 | 29 | Vertigo Factory Team | Vertigo | 77 | |
| 8 | Karlsson Eddie | 10 | SWE | 31 | 32 | 26 | Montesa Team Karlsson | Montesa | 89 | |
| 9 | Ferrer Alexandre | 7 | FRA | 32 | 36 | 29 | 1 | Sherco Factory Team | Sherco | 98 |
| 10 | Gelabert Miquel | 20 | SPA | 37 | 32 | 35 | RFME Spea | Sherco | 104 | |
| 11 | Grattarola Matteo | 18 | ITA | 32 | 46 | 26 | Gas Gas FG Italia | Gas Gas | 104 | |
| 12 | Casales Jorge | 9 | SPA | 28 | 40 | 37 | 1 | Beta Factory Racing | Beta | 106 |
| 13 | Noguera Oriol | 24 | SPA | 37 | 37 | 36 | 1 | MRW Limit Motos Montesa | Montesa | 111 |
| 14 | Gubian Loris | 21 | FRA | 31 | 48 | 32 | Beta Factory Racing | Beta | 111 | |
| 15 | Kadlec Franz | 11 | GER | 42 | 39 | 32 | Gas Gas | Gas Gas | 113 | |
| 16 | Pedersen Hakon | 15 | NOR | 45 | 52 | 43 | Gas Gas | Gas Gas | 140 | |
| 17 | Sorensen Ole Kristian | 16 | NOR | 52 | 50 | 45 | 4 | Sherco Sorensen | Sherco | 151 |
Location Information
| Race format | 12 sections x 2 laps |
Comblain-au-Pont, Belgium - View in Google Maps
Records
| Podium 2024 | Toni Bou - Gabriel Marcelli - Adam Raga |
| Podium 2022 | Toni Bou - Jaime Busto - Jeroni Fajardo |
| Podium 2019 | Toni Bou - Adam Raga - Jeroni Fajardo |
| Podium 2018 | Toni Bou - Adam Raga - Albert Cabestany |
| Podium 2016 | Toni Bou - Adam Raga - Albert Cabestany |
