2008 Indoor World Trial Championship Round 5

Datch Forum, Milan, Italy - 8/3/2008 - Attendance: --

Another Podium but...

The round 5 in Milan took place after a month of interval due to the cancellation of the Portuguese round. The championship this year will be competed with five rounds only.

It was Fujinami's turn to start last in Milan. The ideal way to start the event, because it would give him a chance to observe the other and set his plan before riding. But Fujimani was far from the ideal condition, physically, to enjoy such advantage in Italy.

Prior to the event, he became a victim of the Spanish flu, which was known to have severe symptoms. First, Yumena, the daughter was infected, then the virus spread across the entire Fujigas family. The Symptoms appeared for Fujinami a week before the Italian round, and he spent the whole week in bed. The fever finally started to drop the day of his departure for Italy. He had no training for the event, so Fujinami said he wasn't sure if he could perform well at all, or if he had a strength to compete. He was feeling dizzy when the event got underway too.

Cabestany was the first rider among the nominated riders after two wild cards; Fajardo and Dabil. He finished his observed sections with eight points so as Fajardo. Still feeling dizzy, Fujinami felt pressure because he knew he had to keep the point smaller than eight otherwise dropping down to fifth.

Fujinami had a trouble of feeling unbalanced and continued to run out of his breath while riding, and he footed many times. However, fortunately, starting last might have helped him a lot, and he stayed away from any full mark error. He dropped a total of five points, all from footing. Having an enough cushion against Cabestany, Fujinami didn't challenge the Spaniard at the Double-Lane, to finish third to proceed to the Final Lap.

When Fujinami finished his ride, running out of his breath, his rivals were ready for the Final Lap challenge. He felt ill and had to excuse himself for a moment, so he asked the organizer to delay the start.

The Final Lap turned to be technical with 'Clean or Five' sections. Fujinami dropped two full marks at the beginning, and he virtually dropped out from the battle. But it wasn't his rivals that he was fighting, but against himself at the stage of the evening. He finished third with 33 points, 14 points more than Raga and 24 points more than the winner Bou.

The championship point concern, having both Cabestany and Raga missed the Final Lap ride in Milan and Granada, respectively, Fujinami closed the gap, yet unable to move up the position. There are only one more round to go till the end of the championship. The very short Indoor series will have the final round in Madrid, Spain next week.

Quote from Fujigas:

I had an awful week before the event. My fever went down but I still had a sore throat as I came over. I wasn't in a condition of controlling the bike and even competing this time. I have always taken care of my physical condition, but I need to be more careful. I cannot make the same mistake in the Outdoor series for sure.

pix: --

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