Imperious Bou back in charge

Spaniard Toni Bou (Honda) produced a towering day two performance in round one of the 2014 Trial World Championship at Mt Tarrengower in Maldon (Vic) on Sunday, April 13.

After lowering his colours to teammate Takahisa Fujinami on Saturday, this time the seven-time world champion wouldn’t be denied as he lost only seven points across the 42 different zones at Mount Tarrengower – some made even more difficult after overnight  tweaking by officials. Bou’s precision was more than enough to claim the spoils by six points over compatriot and world No. 2 Adam Raga.

“The pressure has been on me to win today and I am very happy to take this victory,” said Bou. “Second position yesterday was a good start to this year’s series but I now have the confidence to carry this victory to the next round in Japan. I would like to thank everyone in Australia for the support and also my team Repsol Honda for a good job.”

Bou is chasing a record eighth consecutive title in 2014, currently sharing seven on the trot with Briton Dougie Lampkin.

Behind Bou and Raga, it was daylight at Mount Tarrengower back to third-placed Jeroni Fajardo (Beta, 39), Albert Cabestany (Sherco, 39), Briton James Dabill (Beta, 50) and Fujinami (69), who felt the pressure and could ’t repeat his Saturday heroics. Fajardo was awarded third overall in a countback after producing more ‘clean’ runs than Cabestany.

In the championship, Bou takes a seven-point (37 to 30) lead into Japan over a three-way tie for second between Fujinami, Fajardo and Raga. Cabestany is next on 23 points.

In the World Cup, Australia’s Kyle Middleton (Gas Gas) was eighth for the second day running, with Italian Matteo Poli the winner.

The next event at Motegi will be held on April 26-27.