11 Sep 2017 ID: 113894
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Toni Bou crowned 2017 FIM TRIALGP WORLD CHAMPION!

Toni Bou crowned 2017 FIM TRIALGP WORLD CHAMPION!

This Sunday in the Czech Republic, Repsol Honda Team rider Toni Bou, found space in the trophy cabinet for yet another world championship prize. Second place on the day was enough to accrue sufficient points to seal the 2017 TrialGP title.

Eleven outdoor and eleven indoor championships extend Toni Bou’s absolute domination of the sport to over a decade. The Repsol Honda Team rider just keeps on making trial history. Today in Sokolov, Czech Republic, Bou once again donned the victor’s shirt after a taxing, complicated trial where the champ had to settle for runner-up spot. The result brought with it an outburst of joy after the tensions of the previous week, given that fourth place on the day was all that was needed to guarantee the top overall prize.

Repsol Honda Team brother-in-arms Jaime Busto ran the full range of emotions during the trial. At best, the Basque rider led the event for most of the first lap. By the end, the promising young rider was holding third spot with the corresponding third position in the overall championship rankings.

Likewise, Takahisa Fujinami performed well in spite of being one of the first riders to start the TrialGP course on this wet and humid morning. Fortunately the rain held off throughout the trial although showers during the night had left the terrain in a delicate state which made the second lap all the more challenging. Fujinami raised his game and occasionally flirted with the podium positions before posting fifth final place.

The eighth and final event in the TrialGP world championship takes place next weekend in Arco di Trento, Italy.

Toni Bou, 2017 and 22 time World Champion:

"Today was a complicated day from the beginning. I battled to win the trial but today was not to be, although the aim today had been to get the title. I am very happy despite several issues. The wet terrain we found today is not really the one I like the most, or one that favours the bike best, but we fought hard to finish on the podium. This season has been a very good one, the first victory in Camprodón and the two in Japan, where Adam Raga lost points, have been important, as well as the two victories in the United States."

Miquel Cirera, Team Manager:

"Today was not an easy race for any of our riders. It will be a good idea to analyze exactly what happened. Toni suffered until the final moment in a strange race. Now, it is time to celebrate the title, which was the main objective and we will try to do better in the next and final world championship trial next week.

"I really must congratulate the whole team for the great work that they have done. Not just here, but throughout the whole season. And not only the crew here, but also all of those in the factory and back in HRC: they have all made this great success possible in events like this which are not easy to win."

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