[HONDA]Japan team claims silver at WCT Trials Competition of National Teams

* Sunday September 11th, 2016
* Place: Isola 2000 in France

Trials competition of national teams “Trial des Nations” organized by the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) was held at Isola 2000 that is the north of Nice in France and close to the Italian border.

This Trial Des Nations is a competition of national teams and each team is composed of three riders. Total scores of two riders with fewest penalties are adopted and the team with the fewest scores is awarded the title. Japan team competed in the race last year for the first time in four years and captured the bronze. They challenged for a higher position this year.

Japan team members selected by Motorcycle Federation of Japan (MFJ) were: Takahisa Fujinami (Repsol Honda Team), the second runner-up in the World Championship in this season; Tomoyuki Ogawa (HRC CLUB MITANI), who is on three winning streaks in All Japan Trial Championship; Kenichi Kuroyama (YAMAHA FACTORY RACING TEAM), the 11-time champion in All Japan Trial Championship.

Factory machines of Honda and Yamaha, COTA 4RT and TYS250F, were brought in the event for the team.

Their competitors were also gorgeous; the top riders in the world gathered. Spain team that has been on a winning streak since 2004 consists of: Tony Bou (Repsol Honda Team), who won the 10th straight title in the World Championship last week; Adam Raga (TRS), who ranks second in this season; and Albert Cabestany (Sherco), who ranks fourth in this season. This powerful lineup aims at its 13th straight victory. UK team contains James Dabill (Vertigo), who ranks 7th in this season, and Italy team holds Matteo Grattarol (Gas Gas), who ranks 9th in this season.

Isola 2000, which is a ski resort in winter, is located at an altitude of approximately 2000 meters and many rocks are scattered there. Tough trials full with difficult sections were expected at first, however, once the trial started, it became such a tense fight that a tiny mistake determined the position.

♦Takahisa Fujinami

♦Tomoyuki Ogawa

Japan team got two penalties at the first lap. Ogawa went first, then Kuroyama followed and Fujinami came last; it was a plan that Fujinami makes up for the team’s failure if Ogawa or Kuroyama loses points. Because the three riders are the top riders in the world, they lost only a few points.

♦Kenichi Kuroyama

At the second lap, a long challenge, Ogawa and Kuroyama showed a little fatigue with the unfamiliar no-stop rule*. Japan team got a few more penalties and the total of their penalty points became five. But, their total of seven penalty points in two laps were almost their best score.

*A rule that is adopted in World Championships. A stop of a machine in a section is five penalty points.

♦ Japan team (left)

Spain team won an overwhelming victory with no penalty in 18 sections/two laps. UK team got 8 points and the France had 14 points. Japan team defeated the UK by only one point and finished second. This is their fourth silver for Japan since Spain Trial in 2000, UK Trial in 2007, and Andorra Trial in 2008.

→ Read the full article (*Japanese)

Original Source [ Honda ] (*Japanese)