FIM X-Trial World Championship
Bou makes Geneva a one rider show
The home city of the FIM welcomed round two of the 2012 FIM X-Trial World Championship, with Toni Bou – Repsol Montesa taking his second successive victory in Geneva, Switzerland. Once again Bou was unstoppable and ran out an easy winner, as his rivals scrapped it out for the remaining podium places. Albert Cabestany – Sherco eventually took the runners-up spot after defeating Takahisa Fujinami – Repsol Montesa in a last section showdown. Adam Raga – Gas Gas was a disappointing fourth on this occasion after having headed Bou in qualification.
Bou continues to defy the laws of physics in X-Trial
During the pre-event press conference Raga explained how important it was to put Bou under pressure and that is exactly what the Gas Gas teamster did as he went clean during qualification to beat the series leader by a single mark. Toni had looked in devastating form once again until a rare mistake in the water and rock section spoilt his otherwise faultless tour. Jeroni Fajardo – Beta was the next best on a total of five marks as he failed the slabs, where only Raga, Bou and Fujinami went clean.
Cabestany beat his Japanese rival in the tie-break to qualify in fourth spot, as both of the more experienced riders kept the younger Loris Gubian – Gas Gas at bay, with the French protagonist finishing in sixth to claim the last place in the semi-final. Michael Brown – Gas Gas made his evening slightly better as he defeated Jack Challoner – Beta in their tie break decider to take the points for seventh place. Alfredo Gomez – Montesa and Benoit Dagnicourt – Beta rounded out the qualifying results in ninth and tenth position respectively.
For the second week in a row French section maestro Bernard Estripeau was again responsible for creating a course to test this elite gathering of Trial riders and that proved the case in the very first hazard of the semi-final. Toni once again exercised his superiority as he passed through the almost impossible concrete slabs for a dab, whilst the rest of the field were stopped in their tracks. After a relatively easy passage through the log section, all the protagonists then failed as they attempted the pallet steps in the reverse direction. Fajardo and Gubian were cruelly eliminated at this point as only two marks separated all but Bou.
Full Gas: Fujinami Stretches it out for third
The Toni Bou show immediately resumed in the final, as he became the only rider to conquer the man-made mountain and in doing so stretched his advantage by another five marks. His winning margin was to grow to thirteen marks come the finish. Raga slipped off the Tag Heuer section late on to rule himself out of a rostrum place and to drop to third in the general standings. Cabestany and Fujinami, the two oldest riders on the tour, battled mark for mark with the Spanish veteran eventually snatching second spot by virtue of his better qualification placing. Cabestany now moves into second position in the series. Takahisa was still pleased to join his Repsol team-mate Bou on the podium after a long absence for the thirty-two-year-old.
The top three riders will have no time to really enjoy their champagne as the 2012 FIM X-Trial World Championship moves swiftly on to Marseille, France for round three that will be held over next Friday and Saturday.