On The Pegs July 2018 - Volume 3 - Issue 7 | Page 130

On The Pegs
Toni Bou - Repsol Honda held his nerve to
take victory at TrialGP Andorra, round three of
the 2018 FIM Trial World Championship, fol-
lowing a tense four-way battle at altitude in
the Pyrenees principality.
With the majority of sections plotted on the
almost sheer, rocky hillside just outside Sant
Julia de Loria where Bou now calls home, the
Trial called for courage and commitment in
equal measure and at the end of the day it was
the defending eleven-time FIM Trial World
Champion who kept his cool in sweltering con-
ditions.
The result ties him with British legend Dou-
gie Lampkin on ninety-nine TrialGP victories
and paves the way for a possible record-break-
ing one hundredth win at TrialGP Portugal in
one week’s time.
“The feeling is incredible because in Andorra
it is always very difficult for me and today I
think it’s the best I’ve ridden this year,” says
Bou. “I made some little mistakes on the first
lap, but I finally made sure of the win in the
last section.”
Following a close opening lap it was Bou who
led on ten from his fellow Spaniards Albert Ca-
bestany - Beta and Jaime Busto - Gas Gas who
were tied on eleven with Jeroni Fajardo - Gas
Gas a further three marks off the pace.
After sharing the wins at TrialGP Japan last
time out, both Fajardo and Busto knew vic-
tory would hand them the championship lead
which only added to the tension.
The entire fourteen-rider field collected max-
imums on section twelve at their first attempt
so it was modified for lap two. Bou needed a
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