Toni Bou has been proclaimed Trial World Champion after fulfilling the purpose he needed to be crowned in Portugal, the penultimate Grand Prix of the current season.
The rider from Piera has now accumulated a total of nine consecutive outdoor titles, to which must be added the other nine achieved indoors. In other words, he has been undefeated for almost a decade. An impressive record that consolidates him as the best trial rider of all time.
The ninth title has come not without suffering. His overwhelming technical superiority and effectiveness have once again been overshadowed by Adam Raga, who, far from regretting and justifying the disappearance of his brand, Gas Gas, has sought the appropriate solutions to continue fighting race after race with the aim of adding victories. Therefore, Toni has had the best version of Raga in front of him, which according to the champion himself, magnifies and increases the demand of his riding.
In Portugal we witnessed a double victory for Toni Bou on a demanding route with 36 sections each day, but relatively easy on a technical level, something that tends to make Toni Bou nervous. However, everything was perfect and he managed to win both days with relative comfort.
Adam Raga also showed himself at a very high level, finishing in second position in both races and mathematically winning a runner-up position that tastes like victory. The level of these riders is very high and that translates into spectacle.
The podium was completed on the first day by Jeroni Fajardo, while on the second day it was for Albert Cabestany. Both riders are fighting for the third place in the championship, where Fajardo has a 15-point advantage with 40 points left to play. Anything can happen, but the Beta rider has the bronze medal very much in his favor.
The battle for fifth place can also be nice, where rookie Jaime Busto is 17 points behind his teammate Fujinami. It is very difficult for it to happen, but in Portugal the young Basque has already cut 11 points from the Japanese.
Next week the riders will take part in the last race of the season, which will be held in the Galician town of Teo.
Toni Bou: “Nine titles! I am very happy. Today it looked like the race could be more complicated and in the end it was quite easy. Morally, victories in these easy trials are very important and, as I said, the level of the rivals has made me improve mine as well. I want to thank my people, my parents, my girlfriend and the whole team for the support they have given me to achieve this title. Thank you all very much.”
