Thirty-five year old Albert Cabestany – Sherco seized his second top three placing of the 2016 FIM X-Trial World Championship when he climbed onto the lower step of the box alongside his Spanish compatriots Toni Bou – Repsol Honda and Adam Raga – TRS in Barcelona, Spain last night. Third also at the opening round in Sheffield, Great Britain a month earlier Albert can count himself fortunate to have made it through to the final at his home event after he failed the very first section of the evening.
After his uncharacteristic and unforced mistake, Cabestany was then instantly back at the top of his game and he parted with only three further marks during qualification to book his spot in the main event along with Bou, Raga and Jeroni Fajardo – Vertigo. Whilst unable to really threaten the two front-runners in the final, Albert always looked odds on favourite to secure the last remaining podium position.
Speaking after the event Cabestany said. “To start so badly did not put me in the best position, but from that moment forward I rode well during qualification and could be happy to be in the final. Again we had some issues in the final but realistically I was never at the same level as Toni (Bou) or Adam (Raga) this evening, so third place is the best I could have hoped for.”