The 2016 Spanish GP will be remembered as one of the most important in Toni Bou’s sporting career. After an ordeal that began 10 days ago with a tear in the ligament in his right shoulder and a forced rest to try to get on the bike in Cal Rosal, the reigning world champion has not only taken the controls of his Cota 4RT, but also leaves for Japan. where the 3rd and 4th scoring races will be held, as a solid provisional leader. A dream for Toni Bou just a few hours ago.
On the
first day of the Spanish GP, the
main protagonist was Albert Cabestany, who achieved a fantastic victory.
Today the dominance went to Toni Bou, who consolidated his position at the front of the race from the first lap, where he scored only 3 points, to Adam Raga’s 5 who only failed in the sixth zone, which choked him throughout the day and added 15 of his 24 total points. The surprise was given by James Dabill, who was partially placed in a third position (with 10 points) that he managed to maintain until the end of the race. Cabestany and Fujinami were behind the leading trio with 15 points.
In the second lap Raga made an additional mistake to the one in the damn zone six, this time in the fourth, distancing himself even more from Toni Bou who only scored 5 points. Here Dabill signed his worst lap, with 19 points, and distanced himself from the leading duo to fight for permanence on the third step of the podium.
In short, an extraordinary victory for Toni Bou and worthy of admiration for his pride and overcoming the uncomfortable injury. Raga’s second position allows him to come out of the first GP tied on points with his main rival. For Dabill, this podium is important in terms of motivation and especially for Vertigo, who was eager for a good result and to make his debut in the top positions of the outdoor world championship. Busto, fourth, failed more than on Saturday, but made clear his intentions to aim for the maximum in every race. He is no longer a mere podium contender, but must be counted on as a candidate for victory in every race.
Bad day for Cabestany after some setbacks and the rush to recover lost ground. Yesterday’s victory contrasts with today’s bitter seventh position, which allows him to leave for Japan as third classified, 8 points behind Toni Bou.
In relation to the rest of the Spaniards, Jorge Casales finished ninth, Miquel Gelabert thirteenth, Pol Tarrés fourteenth and Francesc Moret sixteenth. Oriol Noguera, rider of the Moto Club Baix Berguedà, has obtained the seventeenth position in the home race.
In the Trial2 category, the podium changed compared to the previous day. Iwan Roberts climbed to the top of the podium ahead of Pierre Sauvage and Jack Prince. The Catalan Arnau Farré, who won yesterday, had to settle for eighth place today. Marc Riba finished ninth, Samuel Obradó seventeenth, Gabriel Marcelli eighteenth and Gabriel Giró twenty-fifth.
The Englishman Jack Peace, in his first year in the Trial125 category, has won again (yesterday he already did it), ahead of Max Faude and Mikkel Brade. The Catalan Eric Miquel who was on the verge of the podium.
Finally, in the International Trial category, the rider of the Moto Club Baix Berguedà, Adrià Albejano won ahead of Berta Abellán and Elisabet Solera, also a rider of the organizing Motob Club.
Toni Bou: “I had a bad night, it was a difficult weekend, but also the pain today was more bearable than yesterday. I don’t know why, but today I was able to fight with Adam at a very high level. The changes in all four zones were good, especially in zone 6, which I was able to climb all three times and Adam wasn’t. I was able to fight despite the injury and I’m very happy with the final result, as ten days ago I didn’t expect to lead the World Championship after this Grand Prix.”
Adam Raga: “Today, the race was more difficult, I couldn’t get past zone 6 and this weakened me. Still, the feeling is good and this gives us confidence for the next race.”
Takahisa Fujinami: “The only positive thing about today was that in the end I finished fifth. I think it’s all in my head, as I’m in great physical shape and the technique is on par with it. I’m much better than last year but while I do some difficult steps well, I fail on easy steps. I need to be at the top, today I could easily finish third, but I didn’t manage to do it. These two weeks that remain in Japan I will work on the psychological part to be at the top of my game at my home Grand Prix.”
Jaime Busto: “Today was the complete opposite of yesterday: I did very badly. The result is the same, but the sensations are not. Today I was terrible and from the first lap I made very absurd mistakes. I’ve been consistent, but with a lot of points. Now we will have to prepare well for Japan, which I hope will go better than here.”
SPANISH GP DAY 2 WORLD PRO STANDINGS
