Half-time for X-men
By John Dickinson on 25th Jan 18
THE eight-round 2018 FIM X-Trial World Championship series heads for the halfway point in Strasbourg this Friday, January 26 completing the opening four rounds which have all been staged in France before moving across the border to Barcelona, Spain, the following weekend.
The opening three rounds, in Vendee, Montpelier and Toulouse have all gone down well with the fans who have seen the seemingly unbeatable Toni Bou being unbeatable!
Repsol Honda star Bou is gunning for an unbelieveable 12 consecutive X-Trial crowns,
Bou said: Without a doubt the month of January is turning out to be quite intense, and the new format means that each event is a real challenge in terms of physical effort.
But I am enjoying the competitions new format and I think it can only be a good thing for the sport. As for Strasbourg, I hope to recover my physical level.
Having notched an incredible 100 X-Trial podiums in his career Adam Raga (TRS) is in search of 101 as he looks for a way to topple Bou. There have been new names on the podium though, French youngster Benoit Bincaz (Scorpa) being the latest newcomer to the X-Trial podium last time out in Toulouse.
Similarly, Jaime Busto (Gas Gas) made his first X-Trial podium in Vendee and James Dabill (Beta) took his first podium in eight years with third in Montpelier. Spanish teenager Miquel Gelabert (Sherco) will also be considered a major contender for a podium position, having made it through in two successive rounds as the automatic qualifier and now sitting sixth in the overall standings.
Britains Jack Price (Gas Gas) gets a second bite at the X-Trial cherry having been baptised last week in Toulouse and is joined this week by Franz Kadlec, the young German making his first appearance under new 2018 regulations and meaning that the series will have featured riders of six different nationalities.
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Toni Bou cleans up in Toulouse
Repsol Honda Team rider Toni Bou finished on the top step of the podium in Toulouse
