FIM X-Trial des Nations revisited

Tonight will see the FIM X-Trial des Nations reconvene after a three-year absence. The event was last held in 2012, and coincidentally in the exact venue where the action will take place tonight. Like three years ago, five, two man teams will battle it out for national supremacy. Spain were victorious inside the Palais Nikaia in 2012, the combination of Toni Bou – Repsol Honda and Albert Cabestany – Sherco (the same pairing who will represent Spain tonight) losing just a single mark on each lap of six sections.

Japan kept the eventual winners honest throughout and ended the night just seven marks back. Takahisa Fujinami – Repsol Honda led the line-up and was ably accompanied by Tomoyuki Owaga – Honda (both who will ride again for Japan this evening) who dropped two and seven marks respectively over their two laps to take the runners-up spot back then.

France were actually an early threat to the Spanish with an opening lap of just two marks, to trail Bou and Cabestany only by one mark at the midway point. However Loris Gubian – Gas Gas and Alexandre Ferrer – Sherco (who again will form team France tonight) were unable to maintain their challenge and finally had to be content with taking their place on the lower step of the rostrum.