The overwhelming superiority of Toni Bou during the Indoor Trial season, a modality where he left no option to his rivals, has given way to a competitive and unpredictable outdoor World Championship with a very different regulation in which the rider is not allowed to stop in the area.
Toni Bou arrived at Motegi (Japan), a circuit owned by Honda, as the leader after obtaining a victory and a second place in the Australian GP, with the sole objective of consolidating his lead and putting on a good show at the home of Honda. However, the reigning champion arrived physically depleted with a cracked rib, which did not prevent him from competing at the highest level during the two days of racing at the Japanese GP.
However, the main protagonist of the weekend was Adam Raga, a rider who is comfortable with these regulations and more effective in the outdoor areas than indoors. The Gas Gas rider set a crushing pace from the first lap on the first day of competition , always much pursued by his great rival, Toni Bou.
At the end of the second lap they were only separated by five points, being the last step through the zones when an insurmountable difference would really open up for Toni, who finished in a meritorious second place, 16 points behind the winner.
Completing the podium, three points behind Toni Bou, we find the local hero Takahisa Fujinami, followed by Cabestany, Fajardo, Dabill and an impressive Jorge Casales, who in his third race with the TOP has already been able to sign records very similar to those of more veteran riders.
: “I knew that today I would have to suffer, but I suffered a lot. My ribs have hurt very intensely throughout the day despite coming out infiltrated. At the start of the second half of the season, the effects had practically disappeared and the break affected me considerably, it was difficult for me to get back into the rhythm. By the end of the race I was almost out of strength. With this panorama, the result is excellent, because I thought I couldn’t even finish on the podium, so it’s very positive to finish second. We’ve fought a lot. I hope I can rest tonight and not suffer too much so I can finish tomorrow’s race.”
According to Takahisa Fujinami: “It was a very tough Japanese Grand Prix for me: I hit my knee hard in Zone 7 and had to finish the race in a lot of pain. I thought I would miss out on the podium at home, but in the end I’m very happy that I was able to finish third without being in full condition. Adam [Raga] has done very well; Toni [Bou] also had a very bad rib, and I was able to withstand the pain and pressure of racing at home to finish in third position. Tomorrow I hope to hold up well.”
JAPANESE GP DAY 1 RESULTS – WORLD PRO
JAPANESE GP DAY 1 – WORLD CUP RESULTS
GP JAPAN DAY 2
On the second day of competition, Adam Raga was once again the main protagonist, signing an extraordinary victory that allows him to face the fifth round just one point behind the lead, which is still held by Toni Bou.
On this occasion Raga finished the first lap four points behind Toni Bou, who started very strong on this second day of competition in Japan. However, unlike Bou, Raga was consistent in his records during the second pass through the sections that allowed him to obtain a comfortable advantage of eight points that he knew how to manage until the end of the race to secure the highest step of the podium.
The The podium was completed this time by Albert Cabestany, with six points more than Bou, followed by Fujinami, Fajardo, the local rider Ogawa, who does not take part in the rest of the World Championship, and an extraordinary Jorge Casales, who repeated the feat of the previous day, beating riders of the stature of James Dabill.
According to Toni Bou: “I’m physically shattered. We fought as hard as we could to finish the race. As we were, I think it’s a good balance. I was able to do well on the first lap, close to Adam [Raga], but on the second lap I felt bad and on the third lap I felt bad
It was sunk. Still, I’m glad I finished. We haven’t been able to win, but we come out of here top of the table and we have to be satisfied. I’m staying here for a few days, to rest, and next week I’ll go to the doctor, although I already know what I’ll have to do: not train to recover. I hope to arrive at the next race in good condition.”
According to Takahisa Fujinami: “Yesterday I ended up with a lot of pain. Today I started a bit better, but from the second lap I didn’t have the strength. The knee couldn’t stand. I knew Cabestany’s scores and I wanted to try to improve to be able to get on the podium, but it wasn’t possible. I knew I had a chance of getting on the podium and, with the sections here – which allowed you to recover a lot of points if you managed to finish it – I was encouraged, but I didn’t make it. It was a shame, because there was a lot of people, a lot of fans who encouraged and motivated me. I feel bad about finishing fourth, because I don’t think it’s a good result. I want to thank the fans and Honda for the support they have given me in this race.”
Regarding the World Cup category, highlight the double victory for Basque rider Jaime Busto, who in his first year competing in the world championship in this category and with a regulation unknown to him, is proving that he is one of the most talented riders on the current scene and a firm candidate for the title this season.
