Toni Bou makes Barcelona a one man show
By G2F on 1st Feb 10
Reigning champion Toni Bou - Repsol Montesa took a massive step towards defending his title as he made the third round of the 2010 SPEA FIM Indoor Trial World Championship a one man show. From the outset Bou was simply in a class of his own, and the only question was who would join him on the podium.
Whilst never able to challenge the series leader, last week's winner Albert Cabestany - Sherco kept his own titles hopes alive with a battling second place in what proved to be by far the toughest test of the championship thus far. Young British rider James Dabill - Gas Gas claimed his second podium of the campaign as he beat Takahisa Fujinami - Repsol Montesa by a single mark.
The shock of the evening was the loss of Adam Raga - Gas Gas, as he first failed to gain automatic qualification to the semi final and then suffered a mechanical failure in the last chance. Raga was a frustrated specatator for the remainder of the event, as he looked on helplessly at his close rivals. Alexz Wigg - Beta also left the competition at the same point.
Bou signalled his intention with a simply incredible ride on the opening section of the semi final, his inch perfect clean was in contrast to the sudden fives suffered by all the other five riders. Toni moved further clear as he once again repeated a similar performance in the next hazard to go ten marks ahead even at this early stage.
The winner was never in doubt from this moment forward, but behind Bou there was a fierce scrap amongst the other riders as they fought to avoid eliminantion. Eventually Jeroni Fajardo - Beta and Loris Gubian - Gas Gas were to wave goodbye as this point, as the best four riders transferred to the final four hazards.
After a slow and slightly disappointing start in the sharp end of the Trial, Cabestany rode his way back into contention to deservedly claim the runners up spot this time out. Bou blotted his otherwise stunning performance with an uncharacteristic five in the last section, but this was not to really spoil his one man show show.
The championship now takes a short break before resuming in Madrid on 13th March for the penultimate round in this year's series.