Japanese Repsol Honda Team rider Takahisa Fujinami finished on the podium on the first day of the TrialGP competition in Japan. ‘Fujigas’ overtook team-mate Toni Bou who posted fourth.

Takahisa Fujinami took his Japanese podium tally in top flight competition to twenty-seven – the 161st rostrum place in his lengthy career. Today the rider found the right rhythm and forgot about the right shoulder injury. Fujigas rode at leisure to achieve a fine third-place result. Undoubtedly, the great support from the home crowd, at every section along the route, was a decisive factor in the season’s first podium. In the general standings Fujinami climbs to fifth place.

Meanwhile, current champion Toni Bou wasn’t experiencing his most inspired day, feeling ill at ease on the bike and finding that the overly-simple sections of the course played to his disadvantage. Moreover, mistakes were paid dearly with little subsequent chance of making up on dropped points. Bou lies in second overall, two points behind the leader.

Tomorrow, Sunday, sees day two of the Japanese trial, to be battled over the same route as today, where Bou will be hoping to return to form and get back onto the podium.

Toni Bou

TRIAL: 4th OVERALL: 2nd

Today I just didn’t find the good sensations at any time. During the trial I tried to overcome some of the errors committed, but I wasn’t comfortable. We hope that for day two we will be able to get back on the right track, because today I didn’t feel good on the bike and I lacked the confidence to ride better.

Takahisa Fujinami

TRIAL: 3rd OVERALL: 5th

I'm very happy with today's podium. I'm still recovering from the injury and I did not expect to finish on the podium, but already on the first lap I felt very comfortable and only got eight points. On the second I made a few more mistakes, but with the advantage from the first lap, I was able to finish third. I’m very happy also for being able to get on the podium at the home of Honda.

Private: Miquel Cirera

Team Manager

Trials are trials. Today Toni did everything he could. Now we just have to work as tomorrow is another day and we can remedy the mistakes of today. Fujinami was spectacular as always here in Japan where he always comes away with flying colours. As I said, this year will not be easy; the rivals are pushing hard, so we’ll have to work hard too.

TrialGP 2018
Trial Round TGP 2 , 1   Motegi

TrialGP of Japan 2018 Day 1 results

Pos. Rider Num Nation L1 L2 L3 T3 Champ Team Constructor Points
1 Fajardo Jeroni 4 SPA 0 11 20 Gas Gas Factory Team Gas Gas 11
2 Raga Adam 67 SPA 18 5 17 TRRS Factory Team TRRS 23
3 Fujinami Takahisa 5 JPN 8 20 15 Repsol Honda Team Montesa 28
4 Bou Toni 1 SPA 18 12 13 Repsol Honda Team Montesa 30
5 Busto Jaime 69 SPA 25 5 11 Gas Gas Factory Team Gas Gas 30
6 Casales Jorge 33 SPA 21 22 1 10 Vertigo Factory Team Vertigo 44
7 Cabestany Albert 37 SPA 26 20 9 Beta Factory Racing Beta 46
8 Dabill James 22 GBR 29 17 8 Beta Factory Racing Beta 46
9 Kuroyama Kenichi 98 JPN 34 22 7 Yamaha Racing Yamaha 56
10 Gelabert Miquel 11 SPA 36 21 6 Sherco Factory Team Sherco 57
11 Price Jack 34 GBR 33 25 5 Gas Gas Factory Team Gas Gas 58
12 Bincaz Benoit 16 FRA 26 33 4 Scorpa Factory Scorpa 59
13 Kadlec Franz 9 GER 27 35 3 Gas Gas Factory Team Gas Gas 62
14 Ogawa Tomoyuki 97 JPN 30 35 1 2 Honda Honda 66
15 Nozaki Fumitaka 99 JPN 41 41 1 1 Yamaha Racing Yamaha 83
Location Information

Race format 12 sections x 2 laps

Twin Ring Motegi, Haga District, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan - View in Google Maps

Records

Podium 2019 -day2- Toni Bou - Adam Raga - Takahisa Fujinami
Podium 2019 -day1- Toni Bou - Adam Raga - Takahisa Fujinami
Podium 2018 -day2- Jaime Busto - Toni Bou - Adam Raga
Podium 2018 -day1- Jeroni Fajardo - Adam Raga - Takahisa Fujinami
Podium 2017 -day2- Toni Bou - Adam Raga - Albert Cabestany
Podium 2017 -day1- Toni Bou - James Dabill - Takahisa Fujinami
Podium 2016 -day2- Toni Bou - Adam Raga - Takahisa Fujinami
Podium 2016 -day1- Adam Raga - Toni Bou - Takahisa Fujinami
Podium 2015 -day2- Toni Bou - Takahisa Fujinami - Jeroni Fajardo
Podium 2015 -day1- Toni Bou - Jeroni Fajardo - Adam Raga
Podium 2014 -day2- Adam Raga - Toni Bou - Albert Cabestany
Podium 2014 -day1- Adam Raga - Toni Bou - Takahisa Fujinami