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 VICTORY
IN MADRID DESERVEDLY EARNS BOU THE TITLE
Toni Bou - Repsol Montesa is the 2011 SPEA FIM X-Trial World Champion, after he won the fifth and penultimate round of the series in Madrid, Spain. Whilst Bou eventually carved out a clear margin to take the victory, in reality the event was a tense affair as Adam Raga - Gas Gas pushed him hard throughout the competition. With Albert Cabestany - Sherco finishing third on the night, Raga now sits just six points behind his compatriot with one round remaining. Wild card entrant Alfredo Gomez - Montesa joined the eight fixed riders in qualification, which was split into two parts. The initial four sections being ridden behind closed doors, then with the deciding two hazards being used to open the show in front of a packed arena. Gomez was immediately locked in a battle for survival as he fought with Michael Brown - Gas Gas and James Dabill - Beta, who was off form once again, as the young trio tried to remain in the competition. In the end Takahisa Fujinami's - Repsol Montesa experience shone through as he became the last of the qualifiers. Early in the semi final the pattern of the evening began to emerge with Raga almost matching Bou mark for mark through the four observed hazards, after having lost out to him in the dual lane section. These two riders had already moved clear of their rivals, as Cabestany was left to duel with Jeroni Fajardo - Ossa for the final podium place, whilst Fujinami managed to just defeat Jack Challoner - Beta for fifth spot by a single mark as the rookie transferred to the main event for the third round in a row.
Bou could sense the importance of the moment and looked slightly nervous as he approached the final step. His attack lacked technique for once, and as his bike rocked back and forth on the sump-guard, his title literally hung in the balance for a split second. Thankfully for him gravity was on his side and the crowd erupted as he made a final burst for the end cards, whilst remaining feet-up. All the riders fived the massive undercut step in the last hazard, so the victory was Bou's, as was the title as he remains undefeated in this year's series, with just the closing round in Italy next Saturday to go. With Bou already crowned champion, he will look to maintain his 100% record in Milan, as Cabestany and Raga continue to fight it out to become the 2011 vice World champion.
2011 SPEA FIM X-TRIAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP XQ-Qualification Non-Qualifiers: 2011 Current |
The
final was an all Spanish affair, with the last three sections being played
out in an electric atmosphere, as the expectant crowd waited to see if Bou
could wrap up the title on home soil. Raga had obviously not read the
script and threatened to spoil Toni's party. Adam really threw down the
gauntlet in the last but one section, his one dab ride applying extra
pressure at the critical moment.