Toni Bou scoops 99th world championship victory in Andorra

Repsol Honda Team rider, Toni Bou, triumphed in the Andorra TrialGP, the third round of the world championship, taking his victory tally to a record ninety-nine wins.

It was the second victory of the season for Bou and a win to relish, not only because it represents a win on ‘home soil’ in Andorra where he resides, but also because the Repsol Honda Team rider equals the ninety-nine win record of seven times world champion Dougie Lampkin. Bou, in addition, extends his advantage in the overall standings to seven points over immediate rival Jeroni Fajardo.

Toni Bou displayed a high level today in spite of the sections not being the most demanding in a trial where any errors paid dearly. A five in section eleven on the first lap threw the trial wide open before Bou eventually completed the first lap in second place overall. A splendid ride on the final lap saw the current champ put the pressure on rivals, who took maximums in some rather unexpected places. The victory was accomplished in the last of the thirty sections by a mere two point-advantage.

Elsewhere, Takahisa Fujinami was one of the first riders to take the start after a less-than-positive qualification round yesterday. Overcoming the sections with virtually no previous reference weighed heavy on the scorecard and saw the Japanese rider take twelfth position. ‘Fujigas’ is now eighth in the general rankings.

The sections of this third TrialGP date in the 2018 calendar were battled over hard, slate terrain that disintegrated very easily as the bikes went through, as well as offering some high steps to negotiate. In addition, the Repsol Honda Team riders had to deal with both suffocating heat and altitude, with most sections 1,300 metres above sea-level in the mountainous area of Sant Julià de Lòria.

The next stop for TrialGP World Championship takes place next weekend in the town of Gouveia, in Portugal. The Senhora dos Verdes Park will host this, the fourth date of the trial outdoor calendar.