Bou wow!
By TMX Archives on 19th Mar 08
TONI Bou is the 2008 World Indoor Trials Champion! True, the reigning champ only had to turn up in Madrid on Saturday evening for the final round of the shortened, five-event series, to retain his title but that is certainly not the way that Bou operates.
The Repsol Montesa rider was on-fire on Saturday night and always well ahead of his rivals, dropping just five marks on the Qualifying lap when the seven riders were faced with eight sections plus three double-lane races, plus the high-jump an obstacle that has not been in evidence much in the current series. A two- mark loss on the opening hazard plus two further dabs and a single time fault for a total of five saw Bou out on his own, a full eight marks ahead of Adam Raga, the only rider who could, mathematically, have taken the title.
The third and final qualifier was Sherco's Albert Cabestany who tied on marks with Takhisa Fujinami. Fujigas blew his chance of a third consecutive podium with a disaster on the High-jump.
For Dougie Lampkin there was more relief than anything that the Indoor series is finally over. Doug has really struggled to get it together indoors since his return to the two-stroke Beta and another lowly sixth place for the former five times Indoor champ included no fewer than five
maximums in the hazards.
Said Doug, It hasn't been a great experience but I am just glad that we can move on now and concentrate on the outdoor series where I know I will be much more competitive because my outdoor training has been going really well.
There was no James Dabill in the final round as the Future TRW rider was concentrating his efforts on the Italian Championship round on Sunday so the organisers drafted-in young Shereco rider Dani Oliveiras. It was a baptism of fire for the talented youngster though as he clocked-up just a single clean in amongst seven maximums to trail Dougie home.
The final was all about Bou. He completed the opening four hazards for a total of six marks, a five and a one followed by two mega cleans. In contrast, his two challengers dropped a maximum 20 and it was all over.
Toni wobbled a bit in the final four sections, after he parted with just a single extra mark in the three dual-lane races, with a couple of maximums but he was
well-clear as Cabestany surprisingly pipped Raga for the runner-up position. The points were more than enough to keep Raga in second place in the series with Cabestany just losing out on the tie-break.
It certainly hasn't been a classic season of Indoors, with so few rounds counting, but there is no denying that the right man lifted the
trophy.
So take a Bow Toni Bou!
WORLD INDOOR TRIALS CHAMPS
Rd 6 Palacio de Deportes, Madrid, SPAIN
FINAL: 1 Toni Bou (E - Repsol Montesa HRC) 19 marks lost, 2 Adam Raga (E - Gas Gas) 27, 3 Albert Cabestany (E -Sherco) 28.
QUALIFICATION LAP: 1 Bou 5, 2 Raga 13, 3 Cabestany 18 (Time 10:42), 4 Takahisa Fujinami (J - Repsol Montesa HRC) 18 (Time 11:42), 5 Jeroni Fajardo (E - Beta) 27, 6 Dougie LAMPKIN (GB - Beta) 33, 7 Daniel Oliveras (E - Sherco) 38 (eliminated before lane races).
FINAL SERIES STANDINGS after 5 rounds: 1 Toni Bou 48 points (CHAMPION), 2 Adam Raga 35, 3 Albert Cabestany 35, 4 Fujinami 27, 5 Fajardo 20, 6 LAMPKIN 14, 7 James DABILL 9, 8 Oliveras 2, 9 Jerome Bethune 1.
For full pictures see T+MX NEWS, Friday, March 21, 2008