Trials Torque: Nice and easy does it for the X-men
By John Dickinson on 29th Mar 17
THE 2017 FIM X-Trial World Championship has been short and sweet and the fourth and final round of the series takes place in Nice, France this Friday evening.
No prizes for guessing that Toni Bou is hot favourite to lift his 11th consecutive X-Trial crown, the Repsol Honda star sitting on a maximum 60 Championship points, a healthy 15 ahead of nearest challenger, TRS-mounted Adam Raga.
In turn Raga is a dozen points up on third-placed Albert Cabestany and short of a disaster for either of these contenders this is exactly how the series will end.
Jeroni Fajardo holds fourth on 25 while Jaime Busto, Repsol Honda's young ‘apprentice' has made the most of two wildcard appearances and holds a promising fifth on 15 point.
He sits ahead of veteran Takahisa Fujinami on the third Repsol Honda while sole Brit, Gas Gas No.1 James Dabill sits in seventh place, four marks adrift of Fujigas.
It has been a disappointing Indoor campaign for The Dibsta and he has just this final chance to give his rivals a shock and a reminder that he is on the case, especially with the outdoor series next on the list.
Wildcard for Nice is home, French, rider Alexandre Ferrer.
This is Ferrer's first appearance in the 2017 X-Trial series and frankly, after a very disappointing 2016 season both indoors and outdoors the Sherco rider and reigning French champ shouldn't trouble the regulars.
