Toni Bou Mena (38 years old, Piera) is very aware that it is complex to explain, and even more to understand, how difficult has been his professional career. But he defends that it has been. Although he accumulates as many titles as years -19 outdoors and another 19 inside-, the last newly raised this Saturday at the last appointment of the Trialgp World Cup that is being played in the United Kingdom, the most laureate motorcycling pilot in history ensures in conversation with the country that has a rope for a while: “I am not only here to win, but to enjoy doing what I like the most. I will continue to have it well on the motorcycle. ”
To reign once again, Bou has had to adapt for the umpteenth time to the changes in the category, with the double points at play on each day. “The secret has been the regularity, always be in front. I am also very happy because I have respected the injuries and I have managed to take care of myself,” says the tyrant of the specialty, unstoppable on the back of his Montesa Cota 4RT of the Repsol Honda team. “I understand those who doubt, it is very difficult to explain so many years of dominance, and perhaps people do not realize that they could have perfectly lost the title on several occasions.”
Bou has taken six of the eight appointments in the X-Trial World Championship (inside) and six of six in trialgp (outside), in the absence of knowing the final result of the British test this Sunday. The data only tell a part of the story. “In my career, in general, everything has gone face at the right time, and when I had to tighten, risk, things went well,” values the pilot, which also has the most advanced team and technology of the moment. “Now, in any sport, even minority, the level is always very high. Everything has been greatly professionalized, and if I compare the current level of the trial with that of 2007, when I achieved the first World Cup, this is another world”
Bou cites the years 2016 and 2018 as two complicated moments in his career. An injury to the scapular tendon of the right shoulder, first, and then another in three vertebrae of the back, perhaps the most delicate, appeared to the withdrawal. He competed with Dolores, and above all it cost him a lot to get up every morning to go to train as if nothing: “It is not necessary to be an athlete to understand it. When you are wrong and something is broken, you do not live well. You do not enjoy things, and then you learn to value everything you have and how lucky you are. The injuries can make you lose a title, but they are always a moment of learning.”
Fortunately, thanks to his team and doctors, he was able to forget that stage and frighten doubts about his future. And here it continues, with a contract until 2027. “The key to everything is to know how to reinvent yourself. If you do not know how to evolve in your sport, it will be very complicated that you can stay above.” Bou faced icons like Dougie Lampkin (12 World Cups) and Adam Raga (6) in its beginnings, when what happened in the next two decades with its overwhelming domain was still unthinkable. Just as it is absurd to think that someone can dethrone him until he says enough. The Spaniards Jaime Busto (Gasgas) and Gabriel Marcelli, his teammate, 27 and 25 years respectively, are the best positioned and have accompanied him in the World Cup podium these last three years. The next revolution begins to look out: there are already electric motorcycles competing in the discipline.
The ultracampeón does think that it will not withdraw with number one. In addition, he acknowledges that victory is no longer in his life. “I have it already very digested. This is not normal, very few have been in the elite of their sport for so long. Throughout my career I have been able to imagine my withdrawal in many ways, but I doubt that I will retire as world champion. It may be an injury or perhaps because the level no longer gives me to compete. With almost 40 years it is very difficult to be able to fight with kids of 25,” the champion concludes.
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