Toni Bou has been proclaimed X-Trial World Champion 2016 after his resounding victory at the Marseille Indoor Trial. The rider from Piera thus adds his 10th indoor world title, which joins the 9 outdoor titles he already holds.
In France, Toni Bou’s dominance was overwhelming, finishing the final round with his card without penalties and withstanding the pressure against his great rivals, who this time were Cabestany, Raga and his own teammate, Takahisa Fujinami.
Cabestany has repeated the brilliant second position of Austria, a record that has not allowed him to win the runner-up position, which has gone to Adam Raga, but which shows the great equality and level of this contest.
INDOOR TRIAL RESULTS MARSEILLE
1.- Toni Bou: 0 points
2.- Cabestany: 4 points
3.- Raga: 5 points
4.- Fujinami: 18 points
5.- Fajardo: 15 points (not qualified final)
6.- Ferrer: 17 points (not qualified final)
7.- Karlsson: 22 points (non-final qualifier)
8.- Bust: 23 points (not classified final)
2016 XTRIAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL RESULTS
1.- Toni Bou: 75 points
2.- Adam Raga: 59 points
3.- Cabestany: 54 points
4.- Fajardo: 33 points
5.- Fujinami: 27 points
6.- Ferrer: 13 points
7.- Karlsson: 9 points
8.- Kadlec: 2 points
9.- Dabill: 2 points
10.- Bust: 2 points
INTERVIEW WITH TONI BOU
It is often said that the difficult thing is not to get to the top, but to stay there. With his tenth consecutive X-Trial World Championship title achieved last Friday, Toni Bou sealed a historic decade in which he has shone year after year, elevating his name to the category of legend, to certify nineteen consecutive World Championships – both indoors and outdoors.
10 years being the best in the world. How do you achieve something like that?
“It’s an incredible thing that I don’t know how to explain. I’m living a dream and I’m very happy. I never would have thought I could make it this far. If he had pushed me to win 19 consecutive titles, I would never have done it. This season we have had only four races and in the first one I finished second, suffering a lot. From there we were in tow to revalidate the title. These last three months have been very long, but once again we have done a very good job with the entire Repsol Honda Team.”
How has trial changed in these 10 years?
“The evolution of the bikes and our level is increasing. We have more complicated races and year after year we make it more difficult for the organisers, because our level continues to increase. In Marseille, we all finished with very few points and it’s one of the factors that indicates that the drivers have been evolving and improving.”
And how has Toni Bou changed?
“I hope as a person not much, even though I’m 10 years older. As a rider I think I’ve matured a lot, I’ve had to learn to carry the pressure. On days like Friday, it’s very difficult and it’s very difficult to deal with, because you can’t make mistakes. In a race with only 5 zones, any failure in one of them can penalize you a lot.”
What do you think you have contributed to the world of trial?
“I’ve always used a lot of things from the trial bike; For example, I use my body a lot to ride the bike. I have a very physical riding and I think that has made many young riders who are coming up today, come from the world of cycling and also have a more physical style. They have a very high level and are very precise drivers.”
Where would you like trial to go in the coming years?
“This sport should continue to focus on Indoor Trial, to make a show; An event where people have fun and where anyone who is not a motorcycle fan comes to have a good time. And to make good entertainment, you have to have a high level, go up another step, and I think that’s what can get people hooked.”
“To be behind and have to recover, it’s also a very nice experience.”
After 19 titles, you are the favorite for the outdoor World Cup. Do you feel a lot of pressure to get 20th?
“We have to keep taking it step by step. Winning the World Indoor Championships has to give me encouragement. There is not much time to rest, because in two weeks we already have the first outdoor test, but we are going to take a breath to recover, because it has been three very hard months. Having only four races, which were complicated by the result of the first one, I want to relax and start preparing well, because the regulations are very different and normally it is more difficult for me.”
You’re turning 30 this year, is it itchy to reach this age?
“Obviously, a little bit yes. Nobody likes to get older, but it’s nice to have a birthday and even more so if there is joy, which is the best way to get along with it.”
How long do you see yourself competing?
“I don’t know. It’s clear to me that I really like my day-to-day life, because I have fun and it’s what motivates me to get up every morning to go out and train and improve. Until this energy runs out, I don’t plan to stop. But to see Fujinami, Albert [Cabestany] and Adam [Raga], who at 36, 35 and 34 years old compete at a very high level, is something that doesn’t make me think about stopping.”
From a very young age, your life has been trial. What have you had to sacrifice? What have you missed?
“Obviously, like all athletes, when you are young you have to sacrifice a lot of things, but you do it because it gives you satisfaction. In my case, they have compensated a lot for all the successes I have achieved and everything I enjoy on the bike and in my day to day. You miss a lot of time with your friends or family, because of so much travel and so much competition, but it’s very clear that you find benefits in other things.”
What memory would you keep from these 10 years?
“The most special moment is obviously the first one, in Menorca 2007, because it was the first World Cup. It was a very complicated championship and the fact that we achieved it for the first time makes the difference. And I’ll also stick with the latter, because it’s been a lot of suffering and we’ve fought a lot. It was the first time I didn’t win the first race of the year Indoors, so to go behind and have to recover, it’s also a very nice experience.”
What’s your ceiling?
“I don’t know. Honestly, I never imagined I’d make it this far, so I’m really glad I did. The main goal is to keep enjoying myself and achieve as much as I can as long as my body holds out.”
Many trial riders have switched to enduro or even the Dakar. Are you thinking of trying any other discipline?
“Not at the moment. Obviously, I like everything related to the engine a lot, and if I do something, I would like to be competitive. But at the moment, with how much I like trial and all the work that goes into being here, at the moment it’s hard for me to think about other things.”
