Tomorrow evening Milan, Italy will host the penultimate round of the 2014 FIM X-Trial World Championship. The series last visited the Italian capital city back in March 2012, on a day when Toni Bou – Repsol Montesa managed to wrap up a sixth successive indoor title with a round to spare. It will be very much a case of ‘flashback’ for the reigning champion as he has the opportunity to repeat history come tomorrow night.
However back in 2012 Bou’s championship clinching performance was anything but straight forward as he suffered a nasty crash in the final section that left him lying on the arena floor with a badly bruised back. Like a true champion and after several worrying minutes whilst he received medical attention, Bou bounced back on to his feet to eventually defeat his arch rival Adam Raga – Gas Gas in a decisive tiebreak section that would confirm him as champion once again.
Raga’s second spot on the night, ahead of third placed Albert Cabestany – Sherco put him level on points in the championship table with his Spanish counterpart as they went to the final round in Paris. However the Gas Gas rider was unable to overcome Cabestany in the French showdown and had to be content with third position in the end of season standings.