2006 Indoor World Trial Championship Round 5
Barcelona, Spain - 5/2/2006 - Attendance: 8,000
Missing the final lap but satisfying results
Having the first podium finish of the season a week ago in Milan,
Fujinami wanted to have another good result at his team's home round
in Barcelona to keep the momentum. He finished fourth after D-L battle
against Bou, but he was satisfied with the results, because he and
the team earned positive feedbacks from the round.
After the Italian round, Fuji caught a very bad cold, and he spent
most of the weekdays staying in the bed. He had a practice session
on Thursday when he thought he got well, but it was a bad move for
him as his condition became worse next day. He spent two more days
seeing the doctors and resting before going to the stadium.
Traditionally,the sections in Barcelona have been set up linearly
using huge materials. A year ago, the team Montesa was right in a middle
of the new four-stroke bike development. While the rivals showing a
little sign of trouble climbing the huge steps, Lampkin, Fuji and Freixa,
three Montesa riders struggled a lot, slipping down from many sections.
Although further development has taken place to their four-stroke bikes,
fundamentally they were still the same bikes, so Fuji wasn't optimistic
how the bike would work against Barcelona monster sections at this
year's event.
Bouwas the first rider to start the qualification lap. He didn't
seem to have too much trouble even at some of the tough sections to
finish with ten points including four cleans. Fuji thought it could
be one of the best ride for the lap.
Lampkinstarted his ride following another wild card Morris, but he
struggled a lot like last year, having five fives to finish with twenty-six
points. It made Fuji wonder if their bikes were not up to the challenge
even having a year of hard work and experiences they gained. He was
afraid it was going to be another very tough challenge.
Cabestanyand Raga, two championship leaders followed Lampkin, and
they rode better than Bou. Cabestany finished with six points including
one five, and Raga finished with four points only. Fuji said afterward
that he was so impressed by their performances. Being the final rider
to start, Fuji first thought to make a game plan by observing the other,
but having the rivals riding almost error free, he had no choice other
than trying to mark clean at every section.
The lap started better for Fuji than last year's event, where he had
a bad fall at the opening section to bend the front forks. He had three
consecutive cleans before adding five at the section four. Fuji was
specially happy when he marked clean at the section three - a huge
obstacle to climb - where both Bou and Fajardo failed to climb. He
had another five at the section six and two points at the final section
to finish the lap with twelve points.
AlthoughFuji was two points behind Bou, he had more time left than
the wild card rider. So, he had a chance to go to the final lap if
he could beat Bou at both D-Ls. It was a nerve breaking battle at the
end of the qualification lap for both of them; Fuji needed nothing
but winning, and Bou had to fight against the rider known to be very
strong at the D-L battle.
Bouled early at the first D-L, and Fuji closing the gap from behind.
Fuji rode very aggressively though the D-L in Barcelona was very demanding.
But it didn't turn out well for Fuji and he made a mistake slipping
down at one of the sections. He managed to avoid taking five points,
but he lost the battle adding three more points when he finished. So,
there was one final battle at D-L between Fuji and Bou. Bou, after
having five points lead over Fuji rode very carefully, letting Fuji
win but secured the spot for the final lap.
Normally, Fuji would stay to watch the game, but he left early as
he didn't feel well at all. Fuji gave a word to encourage Bou before
leaving the stadium. It was next Monday when he got out of the bed
to find out that it was Bou who took the victory in Barcelona.
Quote from Fujigas:
Indoor Trial World Championship 2006
Barcelona |
Final Lap |
1. |
Toni Bou |
Beta |
9 |
2. |
Albert Cabestany |
Sherco |
23 |
3. |
Adam Raga |
Gas Gas |
25 |
Qualificarion Lap |
1. |
Adam Raga |
Gas Gas |
6 |
2. |
Albert Cabestany |
Sherco |
6 |
3. |
Toni Bou |
Beta |
11 |
4. |
Takahisa Fujinami |
Repsol Montesa HRC |
15 |
5. |
Jeroni Fajardo |
Gas Gas |
20 |
6. |
Dougie Lampkin |
Repsol Montesa HRC |
26 |
7. |
Shaun Morris |
Gas Gas |
31 |
Point Standings |
1. |
Adam Raga |
42 |
2. |
Albert Cabestany |
37 |
3. |
Toni Bou |
35 |
4. |
Jeroni Fajardo |
26 |
5. |
Takahisa Fujinami |
23 |
6. |
Dougie Lampkin |
17 |
7. |
Daniele Maurino |
4 |
8. |
Shaun Morris |
3 |
9. |
James Dabill |
3 |
10. |
Jerome Bethune |
2 |
11. |
Tadeusz Blazusiak |
1 |
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