Japan GP Trial: Raga surprises
Adam Raga took his first outdoor victory of the season on Sunday, during day two of the Japanese GP. The Gas Gas rider managed to beat Toni Bou, who had won on Saturday, with a difference of four penalty points. Beta rider Jeroni Fajardo also stood on the podium on both days.
Although the sun shone brightly on Sunday after a very rainy Saturday, most of the tests in the forests around the Twin Ring Motegi still turned out to be very slippery. The cause of this was a thick, fairly deep layer of mud that lay between the large rocks. However, these difficult circumstances would not stop Adam Raga. In fact, Raga dominated. On extremely difficult sections where many top riders, including Bou, made mistakes, Raga only had to record 12 penalty points.
The seven thousand enthusiastic spectators saw how Raga kept a cool head in round 2. Despite two sections in which he received five penalty points each time, the Catalan did not get carried away. Saturday's winner, Toni Bou, could hardly cope with a very strong raga and had to be satisfied with a second place. Yet the Montesa Honda rider continues to lead the World Championship standings and left Japan 8 points ahead of Raga.
Behind the two strong Spaniards, two people with completely different motives fought for the last podium place. Local hero Fujinami, who had just missed the podium 24 hours earlier, wanted to make his supporters happy this time with a podium place. Fajardo, on the other hand, was simply aiming for a second podium finish in as many days. Ultimately, it would be Fajardo who won the match with one penalty point less, causing a disappointed and frustrated Fujinami to miss the podium once again. Sherco's Albert Cabestany, who only finished seventh on day one, now took fifth place.
Maxime Warenghien did not reach any heights in the Juniors, de Waal had to settle for 10th and 11th place. It was the British Beta rider Jack Challoner who won the argument on both days
Photo Credits: FIM SPEA Trial/Jake Miller
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