Toni Bou wins the X-Trial World Championship round in Sheffield

The 2013 X-Trial World Championship has kicked off with its round in Sheffield, and it has done so with two riders at a high level: Toni Bou, the winner, and Albert Cabestany, who gave the Montesa rider a real fight right up to the end.

By Gloria7 January 2013 · 2 min read

Rider Toni Bou remains unstoppable, taking victory in the first round of the 2013 X-Trial World Championship in Sheffield, so the Repsol Montesa rider Honda defends his crown in grand style with this opening round. This time, though, it was not easy for him: Albert Cabestany performed at a great level and came close to snatching the win away from him.

With this victory, Bou earns his 30th win in the World Championship. The most interesting part of this event on British soil was the hand-to-hand battle between the Montesa rider and the Sherco rider. Bou led all five qualifying sections, conceding just two penalty points, seven fewer than Cabestany, while in the second part he had to pull out his full repertoire to hold off a tough rival.

In the semifinal, Bou scored 0, and Cabestany also had a very strong second round, so the final had to be decided between the two of them in the last section. Cabestany was ahead in the final of the five sections, four individual and one parallel race, keeping the spectators at the Motorpoint Sheffield Arena on the edge of their seats.

It was a battle to watch and rewatch between two greats, Cabestany and Bou, but in the end it was the latter who was crowned the winner with 6 penalty points, versus Cabestany’s 7. The third contender, Fajardo, finished much further back with 18 points. The remaining positions were Dabill in 4th, Ferrer in 5th and Fujinami in 6th. In the overall standings, Bou takes the lead, followed by Cabestany and Fajardo.