Jaime Busto wins the X-Trial in Paris while Toni Bou is proclaimed World Champion for the twelfth time
The X-Trial Paris, held in front of 4,800 spectators at the AccorHotels Arena, was marked by two important milestones. On the one hand, Jaime Busto (Gas Gas) claimed the first victory of his career in the FIM X-Trial World Championship and Toni Bou (Repsol Honda Team) was proclaimed World Champion of the speciality for the twelfth consecutive time in a race in which his vertebrae injury took its toll.
> Toni Bou X-Trial World Champion 2018
The final of this X-Trial in Paris has been decided in the last section and almost in the last second after a vibrant fight between Jaime Busto and Adam Raga (TRS), who is in full recovery from surgery on his left after competing in Barcelona. Both riders have gone to zero in the first three sections and Raga’s five in the fifth has finished tipping the balance for Busto, who confirms his progression with this first victory of his sporting career. On the other hand, the TRS rider has secured the runner-up position in the World Championship.
The third occupant of the podium was Takahisa Fujinami (Repsol Honda Team) who, in this way, returned to the podium on the same day that he equalled Dougie Lampkin’s record with 135 participations.
Meanwhile, Toni Bou has qualified fifth, making a great effort since it has been 25 days since he suffered the injury in which he fractured three vertebrae. The Spaniard has scored his twelfth X-Trial World Championship title and has continued to make history in very tough physical conditions although, on the first lap, he has been the best. Already in the second, the column has taken its toll and he has not been able to compete at his usual level, adding 16 penalty points.
Ahead of Bou was Benoit Bincaz (Scorpa) who once again showed extraordinary consistency, while the Top 6 was closed by Miquel Gelabert (Sherco) who had just achieved the second best time in the first round.
The first three eliminated were Alexandre Ferrer (Sherco), Jeroni Fajardo (Gas Gas) and James Dabill (Beta).
X-TRIAL PARIS 2018 RESULTS
DECLARATIONS
Jaime Busto (1st):
“It’s incredible to have achieved this first win in my sporting career and in such a tight final. I think I rode at a high level and I withstood the pressure very well throughout the race to end up getting the victory. I’m really satisfied because this result consolidates my progression and I’m ready to work and fight to maintain this level.”
Adam Raga (2nd):
“This second place is positive and satisfies me because the X-Trial in Paris has been tough and very competitive from the first moment and, especially in the final that has ended up being decided by details after a very close and intense fight between Jaime and me. My arm responds better day by day after the operation I underwent, and it hasn’t stopped me from riding with intensity, although it still needs to improve.”
Takahisa Fujinami (3rd):
“To return to the podium is great news and third place, a very good result. I went zone by section, consolidating my riding and building my confidence as I overcame the various obstacles. Today’s result also reflects the upward progression of my performances this year.”
Toni Bou (2018 X-Trial World Champion):
“I’m very happy to have won this twelfth X-Trial World Championship title because for me it means more than a dream to have made it this far. This season has been fantastic as, from the beginning, everything went very well and I acquired the advantage that has allowed me to get the title before the end of the season. I think I rode very well, I took five wins in the first five rounds and that made a big difference. That’s what I’m most proud of. Today was a difficult day. In the first round I felt good, but in the twenty minutes that I was standing until the second round, I cooled down and my back started to hurt and give me problems to the point of not allowing me to do practically anything. I gave everything to achieve the best possible result and the title is the culmination of the effort I put in.”
The last round of the championship will be held on March 29 in Budapest. It will be the first time that the Hungarian capital has hosted a round for the FIM X-Trial World Championship.
X-TRIAL PARIS VIDEOS
