30/03/17 – TrialGP – Although the French city of Nice has hosted the FIM X-Trial des Nations in more recent times, 2013 was actually the last time that an FIM X-Trial World Championship event was held at the coastal venue ahead of tomorrow night’s 2017 finale.
Four years ago Nice was the closing round of the series, when and where a certain Toni Bou – Repsol Honda claimed his then seventh FIM Indoor / X-Trial World Championship by notching up his fifth victory of the season to complete a 100% winning campaign. As has become the story over so many seasons Bou was pushed hard by Adam Raga on that night with the then Gas Gas rider finishing just one mark behind his long-time rival. Raga also sealed second in the championship too thanks to his final result of the season.
The all Spanish top four on that night back in April 2013 was completed respectively by Albert Cabestany – Sherco and Jeroni Fajardo who was then Beta mounted. Italy’s Matteo Grattarola – Gas Gas secured fifth spot ahead of Japan’s Takahisa Fujinami – Repsol Honda and Jack Challoner – Beta from Great Britain who ended the evening in sixth and seventh positions respectively. France’s lone representative, as will be the case tomorrow night, in 2013 was Alexandre Ferrer – Sherco who will be looking to improve on the eighth place he recorded last time he competed in Nice.