2005 Indoor World Trial Championship Round 10

First podium finish aboard the standard bike for Fujinami

For the second time in the season IWTC took an expedition, and the round 10 took place in Argentina in South America. As the 4 stroke development program going into the final stage for team Montesa, they opted to keep the 'works' bikes in Barcelona, so all three Montesa riders had to participate the event with the standard-based bike. Normally, factory teams have spare 'works' bikes to deal with such occasion, but it is difficult for team Montesa at the moment to produce any spare bike when they hasn't finalized the modification of the bike.

Prior to Argentina round, Fuji had never advanced to the final lap on the standard bike, and it looked to be a tough round again for Fuji. He wasn't discouraged though, because he knew it was important trying to achieve the best result possible at given conditions.

There was no wild-card rider in Argentina, and Raga was the first rider to attack the qualification lap. It was an important round for him, for he had a chance to clinch the championship, but he couldn't show his commanding form as he has shown all year. He started the lap with a maximum penalty points, and he continued to make mistakes. Fuji thought Raga was out the rhythm at first, but he then realized that sections were a lot tougher than they appeared to be when second rider Lampkin struggled even more. Lampkin dabbed three consecutive fives at the beginning of the lap, and eventually he would finish last for his observed sections with 28 penalty points.

Fuji was third to ride the qualification lap. Before his ride he figured that we would mark 15 points when things were OK, and 20 points if weren't. He applied the tactics that he took a few times in this season, which was to attack the sections when he had chances, but give up early to save time when he found it too difficult. Fuji completed the observed sections with 20 points as he expected with 50 second extra time. He was careful not to make a big mistake at the following double-lane, and giving away victory to Fajardo, but adding another point was enough for Fuji to advance to the final lap for the first time on the standard bike.

There were two sections in the final lap- two huge staircases, where Fuji had disadvantages on the standard bike. Fuji dabbed two fives, while two Gas Gas riders marked clean on both sections. Displacement was around 50cc smaller on Fuji's bike, and that alone made a huge difference. Fuji believed that he had no problem clearing the staircases if he had the 'works' bike, and he could save 10 points there. When the competition was over, it was Fajardo who celebrated his first win of the season with 16 points total. Fuji thinks he had a very good chance for winning the round as he finished third with 24 points; only 8 points behind the winner.

The Argentina round became valuable lesson for Fuji, because he learned the way to bring out the competitiveness on the standard bike. Although standard bikes are inferior in horsepower to the 'works' bikes, he found the way to reduce its weakness by altering a riding style. These experiences will help him because he is now scheduled to ride the standard bike for the rest of the Indoor season. The team decided to keep Fuji's 'works' bike at the Barcelona camp to concentrate in testing and allow Fuji to have more practice time on it. Lampkin, on the other hand, will have his testing in UK after the Argentina round, and he will bring his 'works' bike to Ireland round.

So, Raga secured the world title once again. Knowing the championship has been settled, it somehow taken away Fuji's interest for the Indoor ranking a bit. Fuji's mind is already concentrated in the coming Outdoor season.

Quote from Fujigas:

I think I had a good chance to win if I had my 'works' bike. Still I am happy with the way I rode the standard bike. I fought the way I planned, and I was able to take the results as I expected. We have two more rounds before the season is over, but I feel like the series ranking isn't so much important knowing the world title has been taken by Raga. I think I learned a lot this time on the standard bike. For the rest of the Indoor season, I will try my best on the standard bike, and I try to be fully ready for the Outdoor season.

Pix: < http://www.worldtrials.info/>

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