On The Pegs February 2020 - Volume 5 - Issue 2 | Page 107

On The Pegs
VOL. 5 ISSUE 2 - FEBRUARY 2020
107
Repsol Honda Team rider Toni Bou won
round three of the X-Trial World Championship
in the closest possible way, beating TRS fac-
tory rider Adam Raga in a thrilling conclusion
to a highly-intense affair.
Budapest played host to round three of the
FIM X-Trial World Championship where the
spectators in the Laszlo Papp Arena were
treated to a thrilling display from the best in
the world.
Bou cruised through the opening qualifying
round to claim a spot in the second knockout
phase. The champion scored better than the
other seven riders over the five-section pre-
liminary phase.
Subsequently in the knockout phase, Bou
again fared better than adversaries Gabriel
Marcelli (Mon) and Jaime Busto (Vert), earn-
ing himself a place in the Grand Final against
Raga.
Bou and Raga, both displaying top-level
riding skills, faced off in the final over six sec-
tions, only to finish tied on points. The ‘run-
off’ section failed to decide the winner, with
both riders fiving the section. Eventually the
victor was adjudicated to be Bou on merit of
a count-back, the reigning champion having
scored better in the second round.
The triumph at X-Trial in Budapest marks a
65th career victory for the Repsol Honda Team
ace, further consolidating Bou’s grip at the
top of the overall rankings. Bou now boasts a
15-point advantage over Raga.
“It was a really, really tough trial,’ said Bou.