FIM Gala Ceremony 2013 - X-Trial/Trial -

X-Trial Toni Bou

FIM X-Trial World Champion

Trial Toni Bou

FIM Trial World Champion

Laia Sanz

FIM Women’s Trial World Champion

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Toni Bou

FIM X-Trial & Trial World Champion Born on 17 October 1986 in Piera, Spain

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BOU IS ONCE AGAIN A DOUBLE CHAMPION Continuing the theme of the last six seasons Toni Bou – Repsol Montesa claimed his seventh successive FIM Indoor / X-Trial World Championship and FIM Trial World Championship during 2013. The now twenty-seven year old rider from Barcelona was once again in devastating form both indoors and outdoors as he further etched his name in the history books having now achieved an amazing fourteen FIM individual World titles.

Championship with a worthy performance and with a round to spare at the next and penultimate round in the German city of Bielefeld. The Montesa rider rounded out his campaign with yet another win to maintain his 100% winning record at the last event in Nice, France where Raga also claimed the runners-up spot in the title race.

The 2013 FIM X-Trial World Championship saw Bou extend his winning record in this particular discipline having already become the rider with the most titles the previous year. Bou was simply unstoppable during a five round campaign that ran from January to April.

The opening round in Sheffield, Great Britain saw Bou face one of his strongest challenges as Albert Cabestany – Sherco, who would eventually take third place in the series, pushed him right to the wire.

Outdoors Bou had to fight off a spirited challenge from Raga, to secure a record equalling seventh crown to match the previous feats of Trial legends Jordi Tarres and Dougie Lampkin. Between Bou and Raga, they took twelve out of the thirteen-day wins, to confirm that the title chase was very much a two-rider race. Raga’s sheer persistence set up an exciting closing final two round showdown. However Bou was to dominate the penultimate British GP with a double victory despite a late scare that saw him need hospital treatment for a deep cut to his stomach.

It was Adam Raga – Gas Gas who followed Bou home a month later in Barcelona where the reigning champion showed his real class, as he did again at round three in Malaga to open up a healthy lead in the series standings. Bou duly wrapped up his seventh FIM X-Trial World

Raga made one last attempt to stop Bou from taking a seventh straight crown at the closing French GP, however fell slightly short as Toni rounded out the campaign with a championship winning victory on the final day of an enthralling first season for the new no-stop format. © G2F Media 85

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Laia Sanz

FIM Women’s Trial World Champion Born on 11 December 1985 in Barcelona, Spain

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SANZ STEALS HER THIRTEENTH TRIAL TITLE Twenty-seven year old Laia Sanz – Montesa secured an amazing thirteenth FIM Women’s Trial World Championship after coming from behind and stealing her latest crown on the last day of the series. Sanz’s late charge came after she missed the opening two days of the campaign as she juggled her assaults on two different championships, the other being the FIM Women’s Enduro World Cup. At the opening event high in the mountains of Andorra it was the British duo of Rebekah Cook – Beta and Emma Bristow – Sherco who would trade the opening blows in the fight for female supremacy. Cook came out on top on day one as Bristow miscalculated the overall time allowance and ended the day in third spot behind Spain’s Sandra Gomez – Ossa due to her mistake. Just twenty-four hours later Bristow made amends for her costly error as she won on day two and was joined on the podium by Cook and Gomez respectively.

After an extended pause in proceedings, the battle amongst the leading ladies resumed in the French ski resort of Isola 2000 where reigning and defending champion Sanz joined the frontline for the first time this season. Laia knew that nothing less than back-to-back

wins on her return would give her the chance to lift what could prove to be a lucky thirteenth Trial crown. Bristow pushed her arch rival close on both days of competition in Isola 2000, but ultimately could only manage to finish as runner-up to Sanz on the two days to set up a tense and thrilling climax which would be played out in La Chatre, France a few days later.

In a winner takes all showdown, with the Women’s title being decided on the best three results from the five counting days, Sanz and Bristow squared up for one last time to decide who would occupy the throne come the close of play. After two enthralling laps of top level riding just three marks split Laia and Emma, with the Spanish rider holding the narrowest of advantages as they headed out on the course for one last but important time.

Like a true and thirteen time FIM Women’s Trial World Champion Sanz held her nerve to fight off Bristow, as the British rider once again had to settle for the bridesmaid placing both on the day and in the series. After her own season long battle Cook finally got the better of her younger challenger Gomez to secure third spot in the final standings.

© G2F Media 87