First bow to Bou
By TMX Archives on 27th Feb 08
DEFENDING Spanish Trials Champ, Toni Bou, drew first blood in the battle for the 2008 title when he took a narrow victory in the opening round on the four-stroke Montesa. As expected, Bou was pushed all the way by arch-rival Adam Raga and the Gas Gas rider made a great late charge to narrow the gap as these two pulled well clear of the field.
The event was held in Cordoba and the two laps of 15 sections were run under a radical new format designed to make trials more spectator friendly. Basically, the Championship (TR1) class riders tackle the opening
section twice before moving onto the next and so on until the end.
Said Bou, "Regarding the new Championship format, I like it quite a lot and I think that the spectators will agree with me. It is clear it is not going to be an easy Championship and it was important to have an early
victory.”
In third place was Takahisa Fujinami, making it two Monts on the podium but Fujigas was a long way adrift of the two leaders.
Even so, Fuji was in turn well clear of Sherco's Albert Cabestany while completing the top five was Marc Freixa, celebrating his return to Gas Gas by beating Beta's factory rider Jeroni Fajardo.
RESULTS
Overall: 1 Toni Bou (Montesa) 27, 2 Adam Raga (Gas Gas) 29, 3 Takahisa Fujinamim (Montesa) 46, 4 Albert Cabestany (Sherco) 59, 5 Marc Freixa (Gas Gas) 66, 6 Jeroni Fajardo (Beta) 73.
Series Standings after 1 round: As above.
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