Can Toni Bou Win Seven, Or More, World Titles?

[neils on wheels]

I was interested to read in the Hawkstone programme the British riders responses to the question, "Can Toni Bou emulate Doug & Jordi Tarres, record of 7 world titles?"

The response was a pretty unanimous yes. You have to say the world top 10 is a pretty stagnant place with only Bou making a significant move up and Dibs also making some progress. Everyone else is pretty much shuffling down in order to make space for these two. It's hard to see anyone currently riding in the full WTC being able to beat a fit Toni Bou over a whole season, and sadly I belive that includes James Dabill (please prove me wrong Dibs ). Dani Oliveras dominated the youth & junior chanpionships but has yet to make a mark at world level, perhaps he will establish himself better in a second season onboard the 4T Sherco?

We then have to look to the Junior & Youth ranks for the next guy to beat Bou. Here the British responses were even more interesting, I reckon if Bou did win 7 titles that would leave Michael Brown about 27 years old and Wiggy about 24. If these guys are going to challenge for a world title they really need to do it in or near to this time frame.

What do you all reckon, how long will Bou reign & who will be the next world trials champion?

[city trials]

I think the rising competition and three class system (World/junior/youth) will hinder Bou matching 7 titles. Everyone thought Adam would be the next seven title winner - and Bou came along.

I believe there are way too many variables to ever think a long run of titles will happen any time soon. But then, who knows? That's why they hold the competitions.

[nigel dabster]

Bou and Dougie won there first titles around 22 so if browny and dibs are going to go all the way they had better get cracking, and in dibs case he needs to carry on with his progress year by year and within 3 he will be challenging I'm sure.

Michaels potential is less measureable till he has a go in the next 2 rounds which will give a good indication. If he manaages even a point then the futures bright.

Wiggy is only 17 now so has time on his side, if he can win next years Junior, which will be very tough, haslam Sampson, Gubian, Matterola, Danby, Gontard and gomez, then again a few WTC's will give us an indication.

Bou 7 doubt it, but five and I would say very long odds for that.

It is so difficult to see who will come through, but lets hope they are British!

Alot of promise was put on Morris and Connor but they peaked around tenth.

Jarvis was I felt in with a chance the year he did his knee at hawkstone.

Manzano looked good, and cobos, so did kenichi before his wrists went pop, so there are many variables.

Edited July 31, 2007 by Nigel Dabster

[cota kid]

I've said before I reckon Bou will achieve 4 outdoor titles. By his own admission he does not think he is riding any better than last season, he just doesn't make any mistakes.

Within 4 years I think someone will have come through to challenge. However Bou comes across as I really sound guy and will no doubt make a very good and popular World Champion.

[daggs888]

The bar is being up'ed by the young boys coming through, cycle trials is becoming more and more popular (more so in the states) and will prove a superb training basis for the youth coming through, if you look at the balance and skill involved, it far exceeds bmx'ing etc .... the next world champion will more than likely be from the states and come from nowt like a bolt out of the blue .... like bou did, i remember his first wildcard entry at hawk, who would have thought that in such a short time he would dominate world trials, indoor and out !.

The boys across the pond are taking an interest in this sport and there's 100's of them in skate parks now doing 720's on a razors edge without even thinking about it, skill levels that we think is impossible (look the vids up on youtube ... awsome)

No doubt they will have to make up there own set of rules to ensure thay can be 'world champions', but I'd bet the states are a big trials player within the next few years ... which wont be a bad thing for the sport.

[atomant]

The bar is being up'ed by the young boys coming through, cycle trials is becoming more and more popular (more so in the states) and will prove a superb training basis for the youth coming through, if you look at the balance and skill involved, it far exceeds bmx'ing etc .... the next world champion will more than likely be from the states and come from nowt like a bolt out of the blue .... like bou did, i remember his first wildcard entry at hawk, who would have thought that in such a short time he would dominate world trials, indoor and out !.

The boys across the pond are taking an interest in this sport and there's 100's of them in skate parks now doing 720's on a razors edge without even thinking about it, skill levels that we think is impossible (look the vids up on youtube ... awsome)

No doubt they will have to make up there own set of rules to ensure thay can be 'world champions', but I'd bet the states are a big trials player within the next few years ... which wont be a bad thing for the sport.

I like your vision but your timing may be a little too premature. Pat Smage could do well but it will take a while for some others to come through. But saying that, I think you could be right! It certainly is a reasoned observation.

[daggs888]

Thanks for the reply atom..... i did say within the next few years, like cotakid, i'd recon Bou has it now for three or four years.

Having said that, who the hell am i to make such a judgement ! .... I only work off the info available to me, these cycle trials boys from the us are maturing and looking for the next challenge ....... 'i'd say doug will be the last uk champion for at least a decade' ..... having said that ,,,,,,,,,, come on Dibbs son, lets have the next level out of you.

50% mind power, 30% skill, 10% fitness, 10% eat and drink like a true athlete......

Drink Water ;-)

[fivemeister]

The boys across the pond are taking an interest in this sport and there's 100's of them in skate parks now doing 720's on a razors edge without even thinking about it, skill levels that we think is impossible (look the vids up on youtube ... awsome)

No doubt they will have to make up there own set of rules to ensure thay can be 'world champions', but I'd bet the states are a big trials player within the next few years ... which wont be a bad thing for the sport. (IMG:

Nah - utter nonsense. Most of these guys will never be interested in converting to an engine, and even if they did, its not as easy converting to a motorbike as you think. Lots more variables to compute and if you haven't ridden before, its unlikely you'll master it all quick enough to be a world champ.

[tomsdad]

Historicly, during the last 20 years we have had two dominant riders, Jordi Tarras & Dougie Lampkin. They both started their reigns in their early twenties.

If Bou is to continue this trend, then his challenger will be 13 or 14 years old right now and unknown to most of us.

Several brilliant riders were just born at the wrong time. Colomer, Fuji, Jarvis. Without the above 2 riders these three would surely have had more success.

Lets hope for our young riders, (Brown, Dibs, Wiggy, Haslam, Danby etc.........) history does not repeat itself.

[atomant]

Bou, if the desire stays within him AND he is in the right team, can continue to win for the next 5-7 years. I say that purely because he is a big step up from his peers at the top level, so anyone challenging him would have to get to the top level then go 2 steps further.

The other riders coming through right now in the youth/junior classes have got to keep developing to get to that level and thats an unknown how far they can go. Unless of course inline with what has been suggested, the next world champ is someone we don't know too much about right now?

IMHO

[steveo]

Historicly, during the last 20 years we have had two dominant riders, Jordi Tarras & Dougie Lampkin. They both started their reigns in their early twenties.

If Bou is to continue this trend, then his challenger will be 13 or 14 years old right now and unknown to most of us.

Several brilliant riders were just born at the wrong time. Colomer, Fuji, Jarvis. Without the above 2 riders these three would surely have had more success.

Lets hope for our young riders, (Brown, Dibs, Wiggy, Haslam, Danby etc.........) history does not repeat itself.

I think you are pretty much right here Toms Dad.

The other brilliant rider to be overshadowed had to be Bosis.

Young Brown I saw when he was in Australia, and to me was the pick of the crew that came on over for our SuperTrial.

If he could be picked up by Montesa and get his mum to give him a few extra feeds, would not be surprised to see him really charge up the rankings.

[atomant]

Historicly, during the last 20 years we have had two dominant riders, Jordi Tarras & Dougie Lampkin. They both started their reigns in their early twenties.

If Bou is to continue this trend, then his challenger will be 13 or 14 years old right now and unknown to most of us.

Several brilliant riders were just born at the wrong time. Colomer, Fuji, Jarvis. Without the above 2 riders these three would surely have had more success.

Lets hope for our young riders, (Brown, Dibs, Wiggy, Haslam, Danby etc.........) history does not repeat itself.

I think you are pretty much right here Toms Dad.

The other brilliant rider to be overshadowed had to be Bosis.

Young Brown I saw when he was in Australia, and to me was the pick of the crew that came on over for our SuperTrial.

If he could be picked up by Montesa and get his mum to give him a few extra feeds, would not be surprised to see him really charge up the rankings.

I wouldn't disagree with that. I think Michael Brown has the best chance out of the uk's current best riders to get the WTC title first! Then after that, it could be a host of riders as there are so many good ones about right now

[beatabeta]

If Bou is lucky he 'could' get 4 WTC's I still feel that with the current level of Gas Gas's development that Raga can still be dominant for the next few years.

However come 2009/2010 ther will be some major threats to Bou and most of the current crop of riders in the top10. This is from Spain and France as well as the megastars we have just around the corner. I think Brown can be top 6/7 next year and improve again in 2009 and Wiggy will be top10 easily next year and who knows after that .

I doubt that Tarres and Lampkin will ever be matched let alone bettered