Repsol Montesa HRC riders Toni Bou and Takahisa Fujinami shared the wins at this weekend‰Ûªs Grand Prix of Great Britain, the fourth round of the 2010 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship.
Bou was the class of the field on the first of the two days of action on his factory Cota 4RT. However, the second day saw a reversal of fortunes, with Fujinami demonstrating extremely strong riding to claim an emphatic win.
Four stroke mounted Bou looked confident on the typical Scottish sections on Saturday, climbing a series of rocky streams and riverbeds at the foot of Ben Nevis, the UK‰Ûªs highest mountain, despite admitting that they were very different to events he was used to.
He lost a five on the first lap, but took an early lead at the halfway point. Fujinami picked up the pace in the afternoon once the problems with his bike had been repaired though and looked good to take second place behind Bou. But former team-mate Dougie Lampkin was relishing the conditions and kept Fujinami at bay, by a single mark.
Having won the first of the two days, Bou was therefore the first world rider away on Sunday and the disadvantage was clear. He enjoyed a good first lap to hold the advantage at the mid-point but admitted to making too many big mistakes on the second, including a trio of fives. However, it was Fujinami who was the hero of the afternoon, racking-up just five marks for the entire second lap, against Bou‰Ûªs fifteen. The performance netted him the win, ahead of Albert Cabestany - Sherco in second with Bou eventually third.
‰ÛÏThe first day was a very big day for the championship, with the win and Adam [Raga] in fourth," Bou said.
"It was not an easy trial ‰ÛÒ the sections were very difficult and slippery, as well as long. There were no huge rocks or climbs but very technical with lots to think about. I knew that Sunday would be difficult; after the win on Saturday I would be the first rider away
"I made big mistakes on the second lap on three sections and that cost me. The win was possible on Sunday, but I am happy to be third. It‰Ûªs good for the championship ‰ÛÒ the lead is seventeen points now from Adam, so it‰Ûªs good. And I will be third rider at the next round, so I will be looking for another win there.‰Û
