The 2016 World Trials Championship starts with Round 1 this weekend in Spain. Team Repsol Honda rider Toni Bou is aiming for his 10th consecutive crown while his fellow team member Takahisa Fujinami comes into this year with 20 seasons of top 5 finishes under his belt. With the exception of a round in Japan all other rounds of the 2016 season occur in Europe with the final event being September 3-4 in Italy. The following images are of the HRC Repsol Honda trials team in action.
Comments and predictions from Repsol Honda riders:
The two veteran Honda riders had this to say going into the season.
Toni Bou
This year the start of the championship will be very different from other years as I’m not in top shape and I don’t know what type of physical condition I will be in until I get onto the bike in Olvan and Cal Rosal. Only then will I know what sort of state the injury is in and if the week’s rest has done any good. I have kept in shape in the gym without forcing the upper body, but I always like to prepare the trial very well and this time I haven’t been able to do it. On Friday we will see how things are, but I’m sure that if I get on the bike, I’ll do it without nerves, conscious of the fact that I’m not at 100%, but ready to face the World Championship. I will try and make the most of it, so we’ll have to see which decisions have to be made before and after the trial.
Takahisa Fujinami
My aim this season is to finish the championship in the top three. To do this it will be important not only to fight hard, but also to get on to the podium at the end of each event. I think that one of the advantages that I have over the others is that I have no pressure on me. I’m in better physical shape than in the last three years and that is why I will give it my all in these races. I have trained really hard and I’m convinced about my possibilities. This Catalonian GP is almost like playing at home, although we will be visiting ‘my home’ in the next GP. I have a lot of friends here and I know that there will be a lot friends here to support me. I hope to make everyone happy.
