Toni Bou collects another world title with a triumph at the X-Trial des Nations

Repsol Honda Team rider Toni Bou, representing Spain alongside rookie Miquel Gelabert, has added another prize to the trophy cabinet as Spain scoop a twelfth X-Trial del Nations title.

Palais Nikkaïa in Nice, France tonight played host to the X-Trial des Nations with Toni Bou making his reappearance after a period of convalescence to recover from a spinal injury. Lining up beside the champion was novice Spanish rider Miquel Gelabert.

By the end of the first run through the six sections (with each rider tackling three hazards), Bou and Gelabert had accumulated just a single penalty point and thus passed on to the next round as leaders.

The second round saw both members of the Spanish team begin to notch up penalties. The pair were consequently overtaken by the French team who accrued five points less than Bou and Gelabert (10 points). Great Britain followed with 22 points, ahead of Italy on 35 and Germany trailing with 55.

The points from the first two rounds meant the grand final would be fought out between Spain and France. The Repsol Honda Team rider and his Spanish team-mate rose to the occasion. By the end, the Spaniards had picked up just six penalty points compared to the twenty-one of their French adversaries, to take the event’s gold medal.

The title brings the Spanish tally to twelve X-Trial des Nations victories and represents the seventh medal in the competition for Repsol Honda Team rider Toni Bou.

X-Trial des Nations 2018 results