BOYS & TOYS
No, I am not talking about boys and toys on Christmas day, the fun began just before the festive celebrations, but without the outcome I wanted! Along with my good friend and fellow Repsol Honda team rider Takahisa Fujinami, we were invited along with our fellow HRC athletes to the Honda ‘Thanks Day’ in Japan in mid-December for a celebration of the 2018 season.
AWORDS: TONI BOU WITH JOHN HULME • PICTURES: HONDA s part of the celebrations and fun element of the occasion, various activities are organised at the home of Honda racing the Motegi Twin Ring race circuit and facilities in Japan, some three hours from Tokyo. Its title ‘Twin Ring’ comes from the fact that facility houses two racetracks, which are a 2.49km (1.540 mile) oval and a 4.8km (2.98 mile) road course. It was built in 1997 by Honda as part of the company’s efforts to bring the Indy Car Series to Japan, helping to increase their knowledge of American open-wheel racing. It is well worth a visit.
We all want to race; it’s a fact that keeps us all competitive, whether it’s on two or four wheels. After giving invited guests a trials display, we were all asked to take part in both GoKart and Scooter racing, amongst other things. In the Scooter race we all wanted to beat the road racers, and unfortunately, I got a little over excited and crashed out, which resulted in two broken ribs! The Japanese doctors confirmed everything else was okay, but it’s not the best way to come home on a Trans-Atlantic twelve-hour flight. Talk about uncomfortable. Once back in Spain I underwent an examination by the team doctor Joaquim Terricabras who concluded that, yes, I had suffered two fractured ribs. Doctor Terricabras recommended some rest, and as I always I listened to his excellent advice.
Feeling much better with just a little discomfort I took the win at the opening event of 2019 at the Sheffield Martin Lampkin Invitation Indoor Trial in the first weekend in January. As always it was a pleasure to perform in front of such an enthusiastic crowd.
After my first ride in Budapest at the opening round of the 2019 FIM X-Trial series, I am heading the world championship, so I am very happy with this result and looking forward to another winning year.
Until Next Time – Ride On! – Toni