2009 Indoor World Trial Championship Round4

Bolzano, Italy - 26/2/2009

Back on the Podium, Barely

photoAfter finishing second at the opening round and struggling at the past two rounds, Fujinami came back on the podium as he finished third at the penultimate round of 2009 Indoor championship held in Italy. Although the result wasn't fully satisfying, he was glad that at least achieving his minimum goal.

It was a close and fierce Qualification Lap, and Fujinami finished fourth. Severity of the sections wasn't so high and it made the competition very close. Bou was a step ahead by finishing first with two points, followed by Fajardo and Raga finished with four points, respectively. Fujinami was fourth with five points, and Cabestany was a point behind the Japanese to finish fifth.

The point was tied, but Fajardo was second and Raga was third at the result of QL. That meant Raga would ride against Fujinami at the first section of the Final Lap, the Double Lane. Fujinami watched Cabestany winning before his turn, and he was relaxed. But a minute later he was shocked that he was not aware of a very important change in the starting procedure. Normally, they hear some buzzing sounds before starting. In Bolzano, the buzzing itself was the signal to start, so while Fujinami tried to be reactive, Raga took off. The Spaniard made an early advantage, and though Fujinami made a big catching up, it wasn't enough for him to overtake. For the three consecutive times Fujinami lost the speed race and dropped two points at the beginning of the Final Lap.

Before the Final Lap, riders suggested to raise the severity, as they found the sections weren't competitive enough when inspected. Modifications then took place, but still, sections didn't give them a real big challenge. It wasn't a good news for Fujinami, because it would make the recovery from his early disadvantage difficult. Fujinami rode aggressively and tried to avoid dropping five at the Final Lap. As he reviews his riding was good and the result shows it, but the first mistake at the DL cut him deep that day.

photoCabestany and Fajardo dropped five points at a tough section four. Fujinami managed to ride with a single point and he moved up to the third place with the gap to the second position Raga at the time was two points. Fujinami dropped five at the final section of the lap, so as Cabestany, so the Montesa rider kept the third place with one point advantage over Cabestany. Raga took the second place with four points gap over Fujinami.

The winner of the day, Bou showed another convincing victory by dropping one mark only, and he clinched the Indoor titile in 2009. Fujinami thought Bou was out of his reach, but he had a good fight against Raga and Cabestany in Bolzano.

Fujinami also told us that he was having a problem with his elbow, which is the symptom common for riders and tennis players. He had a problem since the Marseilles round, and it bothered him a lot in Barcelona. In Italy swelling seemed to be reduced, but Fujinami worries that if the condition continues and affecting the Outdoor season. If that is the case, he may take a surgical treatment to be fully ready for the championship he needs to be focused on.

Quote from Fujigas:

I barely finished 3rd. It will be nice if I can finish third in the championship, but it looks unlikely to be happened. I am two points down from Cabestany with only one round to go. Catching up two points in the Indoor championship means either you win or have someone finishing inbetween. I need to forget about the standing and try to prove myself how strong I can ride in the Indoor competition at the final round. And I I hope will come up on top too.

2009 Indoor World Trial Championship
Round4 - Bolzano, Italy
Final Lap
1 Toni Bou Repsol Montesa HRC 1
2 Adam Raga Gas Gas 6
3 Takahisa Fujinami Repsol Montesa HRC 10
4 Albert Cabestany Sherco 11
5 Jeroni Fajardo Beta 20
6 Michael Brown Sherco 29
Qualificarion Lap
1 Toni Bou Repsol Montesa HRC 2
2 Jeroni Fajardo Beta 4
3 Adam Raga Gas Gas 4
4 Takahisa Fujinami Repsol Montesa HRC 5
5 Albert Cabestany Sherco 6
6 Michael Brown Sherco 10
7 Matteo Grattarola Sherco 25
PointStandings
1 Toni Bou 30
2 Adam Raga 22
3 Albert Cabestany 20
4 Takahisa Fujinami 18
5 Jeroni Fajardo 12
6 Michael Brown 7
7 Dougie Lampkin 4
8 Loris Gubian 1
Matteo Grattarola 1