2006 Indoor World Trial Championship Round 10

Best finishes for Fuji with First then Second

Fujinami scored the best finished so far in 2006 at round 10 in Brazil, as he stood on the podium for the third time in the season to finish second.

It was Fuji's turn to start the qualification last in Brazil. A total of seven riders started at the event with two wild-card riders: Blazusiak and Bou, and Lampkin, Raga, Cabestany, Fajardo and Fuji followed in the order. Fuji took a full advantage of having a chance to watch other competitors' riding. In Brazil, Lampkin, who started first, helped Fuji a lot as he gave the team-mate some valuable and important information each time after riding it.

Lampkin meanwhile had a disastrous opening of the day with a huge crash at the first section damaging the front stabilizer. Although he was very lucky to be unhurt, he had two more fives after switching to the spare bike. He had his bike fixed in time for the section four, but three consecutive fives hurt him a lot, and he had to settle for seventh following Blazusiak at the qualification lap.

The first section of the lap, where Lampkin had a heartbreaking crash, was very slippery, a lot more than it looked to be. Thanks to Lampkin's advice, Fuji was well aware of slippery surface before his ride.

It was the first time that Indoor competition took place in Brazil. A very hot and sticky condition took a toll on the riders at the stadium without air-conditioner, where the temperature reaching 30 degree with high humidity.

Since transporting fuel by air is not allowed by the airlines, the Montesa team along with the other teams needed to prepare the fuel in Brazil, where normally in Europe, they bring own fuel to the competition sites. The components of the fuel are strictly regulated in the championship, and even though there is nothing special with the fuel they bring along, they want to use the gasoline they use all the time and they can trust. Montesa team used the local fuel, unfortunately, the quality was way off, forcing them to reset the ECU so the engine would produce decent power.

The warm up area was located outside the stadium. As the weather in Brazil was unstable and unpredictable, they had sudden squalls many times a day; they had to stop practicing. Furthermore, they had leaking roofs at the stadium. When it rained outside, so as inside the stadium at some degrees. The sections were lined up almost perfectly underneath the leaking spots getting wet and becoming more difficult at a result.

Fuji finished second in a tie with Bou after the seven sections. Following double-lane, Fuji rode against Raga, who was first at the moment. Raga couldn't keep up with Fuji's speed, and he also made an error for footing along the way. He had another point at the following high-jump, allowing Fuji to build two points lead at the end of the lap. Bou rode against Fajardo at the DL, and he also lost the race with an additional mistake, adding two more point before the lap was over. So, Fuji suddenly became the top of the lap for the first time in the season. Fajardo, who was fourth with eight points at the seventh section also advanced thanks to the rivals' mistakes to finish second at the lap.

Finishing first meant Fuji was the last guy to start the final lap again. Both Fuji and Fajardo fived at the opening two sections allowing Raga seven points lead at the early stage. Literally, Raga's victory was decided then, since Fuji and Fajardo had no chance to turn it over at the following sections.

At the double-lanes, Fuji lost both times to add two points. Fajardo lost against Raga, and he made an error with footing. Fuji calculated then that he was one point ahead of Fajardo. Having Raga escaping at the beginning, Fuji wanted to finish second so bad ahead of Fajardo. After both Fuji and Fajardo marking clean at the final high-jump, Fuji thought his second place was fixed. However, he heard the announcement saying that there would be a play-off between him and Fajardo. Fuji didn't know but Fajardo finished in a tie with Fuji after making an appeal at the DL; then it was granted.

Surprising at the end, and Fuji had one more DL against Fajardo for the second place. That time, Fuji beat Fajardo, finally, securing the best finish in the season, the second place at last. The results brought Fuji back to thefifth place in the standing, having a lead of five points over Lampkin andseven points over Fajardo.

Raga clinched the Indoor title again with two rounds remaining. Job well-done, and he may ride easier in Argentina and Spain. For Fuji, these two rounds will be very important in order to go on to the Outdoor season in a high note.

Quote from Fujigas:

I was told to ride one more when I already thought the competition was over. Suddenly I was put into a situation where I had to win no matter what. I finished third in Portugal after the pressure wilted me, so I am happy this time because I managed to win it even in a situation very strange and difficult. I will keep fighting hard for the next two rounds too.

Pix: IndoorTrial.com

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