2005 Indoor World Trial Championship Round 7

19/2/2005 - Fila Forum, Milan Italy

Disastrous results but positive feedbacks in Milan

In order to be fully ready for the Outdoor season, Montesa team continues to put their maximum effort for the bike development. Adjustments and modifications are taken place rapidly. The team in fact came up with a new modification the day before their departure for the trip to Italy. That put Fujinami, along with other team riders, in a difficult position for the coming competition, because it didn't give them enough time to get used to the new setting of the bike. This lack of experiences on the bike affected Fuji's performance in Italy with a great degree.

Fujinami was assigned the final starting position after 6 rounds away. He noticed that the other riders were having troubles competing in time. Raga and Lampkin received 4 penalty points for 2 minutes overtime too. Fuji then set the game plan as he did at the opening round in UK, to sacrifice some of the tough and time-consuming sections to preserve time. He let go early at the section 1 when he found the section was very tough with potential overtime. There was a danger to suffer a flat tire too; thus Fuji fived there.

It wasn't Fuji's plan to be fived again at the following section, but when he tried to hop the step in the 2nd gear as usual, the bike reacted too vigorous than he expected. Later Fuji talked to his teammates, and he found that he should've stick with 1st gear there. It sounds awkward that the top rider like Fuji didn't know how to choose the right gear for the section, but because of a limited time on the bike, he wasn't sure about the its characteristics.

There was a little hop over at the section 3, and it wasn't supposed to be a big challenge. Fuji hopped as usual but he did too far. He ended up in a huge crash and sustained a broken front fender and a throttle problem. He chose not to fix the bike at the time in order to avoid a time penalty. However, the throttle problem became worse and it got stuck open when he was in the section 4. He had no choice to give up and fived: 4 consecutive fives in a row. By then he built time margin, so he asked his mechanic to fix the throttle for the three remaining sections. But he was way behind in point by then, and he was unable to even hope for proceeding to the final lap.

Fuji wasn't too discouraged after the event though, because he found that the bike was excellent. It convinced him that the bike was very close to the level that he could fight for victory. The only problem was that he wasn't ready to ride the bike the way it deserved. It was neither a performance of the bike nor ability of the rider, but the combination between the bike and rider which preventing Montesa riders to be strong in the season so far.

Fuji expects to have fully developed bike for the Outdoor season within one to two weeks. Until the bike is ready, there maybe a few more tough Indoor challenge for Montesa camp. Next round will be in Lisbon Portugal on Feb 26th.

Quote from Fujigas:

I had very bad results, but I am not so displeased about it, because I found many positive feedbacks from the bike. I had a good feel when I rode it at a warming up run, but lack of practice time prevented me to ride the bike at its potential. I couldn't choose the right gear, and I overshot at some occasions too. The qualification lap was over before I figured out the way to ride the bike correctly. I like the bike I rode in Milan, and I wish I would have time to get used to it. I have only 3 days before traveling to the next round, and further modifications may take place any time. I am not satisfied with not making good results, but that's the way it goes at the moment. I think there will be the time for me to be very strong, because things are going to the right direction.

Indoor Trial World Championship 2005
Round 7
Final Lap
1. Adam Raga Gas Gas 9
2. Albert Cabestany Sherco 9
3. Toni Bou Beta 34
Qualificarion Lap
1. Toni Bou Beta 6
2. Adam Raga Gas Gas 9
3. Albert Cabestany Sherco 19
4. Jeroni Fajardo Gas Gas 21
5. Dougie Lampkin Repsol Montesa-HRC 23
6. Takahisa Fujinami Repsol Montesa-HRC 27
7. Marc Freixa Repsol Montesa-HRC 28
8. Tadeusz Blazusiak Gas Gas 31
Point Standings
1. Adam Raga 70
2. Albert Cabestany 51
3. Dougie Lampkin 37
4. Jeroni Fajardo 32
5. Takahisa Fujinami 31
6. Marc Freixa 23
7. Toni Bou 11
8. Tadeusz Blazusiak 6
9. Jerome Bethune 5
10. Fumitaka Nozaki 1

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