Repsol Honda Team conquer Chalon-Sur-Saône
Toni Bou wins and Gabriel Marcelli places second in France.
This Friday, Chalon-Sur-Saône hosted the second round of the X-Trial World Championship season. The Repsol Honda Team took a one-two finish, with series leader Toni Bou winning and teammate Gabriel Marcelli placing second.
The first lap was a preview for what would happen throughout the day. Bou began by stringing together four consecutive perfect zones, and completed the first go-around with just a single penalty point. On the second lap, he remained at the same level and qualified for the final, together with Marcelli and Jaime Busto. In it, he put in a peerless performance to claim his second win of the season.
Marcelli maintained an intense fight with Jaime Busto throughout the day. On the first lap, the young rider incurred four penalty points and moved into second place. On the second lap, the Repsol Honda rider made some mistakes that dropped him down a place, but was enough for him to enter the final. After overcoming the closing obstacles with great precision, Marcelli took second in Chalon-Sur-Saône.
Bou maintains the lead in the overall standings with 44 points, as Marcelli moves into second with 27. The next challenge for the Montesa Cota 4RT riders will be in Nice, France in a week’s time.
Toni Bou 1
CHAMPIONSHIP: 1ST
“The team worked really well and I am very happy. I felt very comfortable from the first lap and I think that since Barcelona we have been working in a very positive direction. Earning 22 more points is very good, but we cannot relax because our rivals are pushing very hard and the key will be to not make mistakes. We are already focused on the next race and I want to thank the team for the great work they have done.”
Gabriel Marcelli 38
CHAMPIONSHIP: 2ND
“It was a very intense fight and I felt very comfortable with the bike and with the work done by the team. I would have liked to give a little more, but a second position is good for the title race. We leave Chalon second overall, so it is important to maintain this pace and score as many points as possible. I want to thank the team for the great work they have done; the objective in Nice will be to fight for victory.”
Takahisa Fujinami
Team Manager
“I’m very happy because we continued with the same pace as in Barcelona. In this month off, Toni and the team have worked hard. That is how the good results come, and he has shown that he is still at the highest level. As for Gabri, we already knew what he might be capable of after the event at the Palau Sant Jordi and his debut in the Spanish Championship. We are going step-by-step, but every day he is closer to achieving a victory, he is becoming more confident and this is very important. In Nice we will fight very hard again for first and second position.”
