Motegi revisited

When the 2013 FIM Trial World Championship kicks off in Motegi tomorrow, it will be the fourteenth consecutive year that the superbly appointed permanent facility will have hosted the Japanese Trial GP. Dougie Lampkin dominated the initial years winning five out of the six counting days from 2000 to 2002. Home hero Takahisa Fujinami – Repsol Montesa was the only other victor during this period.Fujinami would then go on to secure another four wins, up to and including 2005, Graham Jarvis and Albert Cabestany – Sherco were the other riders to climb onto the top step of the podium, once each during this era. From 2006 onwards, Motegi has very much become Toni Bou's – Repsol Montesa paradise, with the long reigning champion having notched up no less than ten wins in Honda's backyard.During this prolonged period Adam Raga – Gas Gas has managed to stop Bou twice, whilst Cabestany has been able to add one more victory to his Japanese tally. There is no doubt that Bou has a liking for winning in front of the Honda hierarchy and is very much at home on the mainly man-made sections that surround the tarmac circuit, however the new no-stop format that will break cover tomorrow could just serve up a surprise that may interrupt his continued pursuit for more Japanese silverware.

Source: http://www.fim-live.com/en/media/news/news-detail/article/1366960669-motegi-revisited/

Mike Baldwin Brian Ball