On The Pegs February 2019 - Volume 4 - Issue 2 | Page 90

On The Pegs
TONI BOU
P 90
On The Pegs
Vol. 4 Issue 2 - February 2019
P 91
Budapest hosted the first round of the 2019 FIM X-Trial
World Championship season, a series that will see seven
events throughout this first part of the year before going
outdoors. As expected, Repsol Honda’s Toni Bou kicked
off the season with a triumph at the opener in the Laszlo
Papp Arena, beating out rival Adam Raga (TRS) by four
points for the win, 10 to 14. Bou was forced to miss the
event in Hungary last year due to an injured vertebrae.
Gas Gas factory rider Jeroni Fajardo finished third with
two points, while teammate Jaime Busto was fourth, after
the two riders faced off in the Consolation Final.
Bou started strong by dropping only a single point in
the first round, five points clear of the next closest rival.
Raga moved on after winning his group as well. James
Dabill (Beta), Dan Peace (Sherco) and Japan´s Takahisa Fu-
jinami (Repsol Montesa-HRC) were all eliminated in round
one.
In the final head-to-head between Bou and Raga, Bou
lost ground early before some deft handling eventually
moved the Spaniard up into first place. Raga pushed Bou
all the way to the end, however Bou managed to hold on
to the lead – in spite of picking up a five in the penulti-
mate hazard – to secure the first victory of the 2019 FIM
X-Trial championship.
“I’m super happy to start off winning,” said Bou. “It was
amazing to get this victory after the rib injury, which I’m
still not recovered from totally. We must continue work-
ing to improve because I believe that I am not yet where
I could be. I trained a little this year and I think I’m not at
my usual level. There is still quite a way to go and I want
to get there as soon as possible. Yes, in 2018 we won, but
I suffered a lot because of the injuries. That is why I want
to thank Joaquim Terricabras and all his medical team
for the help they have given me, especially for the recent
treatment for the rib injury.”