When the 2014 FIM Trial Wo
rld Championship arrives in Japan this weekend for round two, veteran campaigner Takahisa Fujinami – Repsol Honda will be hoping to repeat the success that saw him take the win on the opening day of the new series in Australia just over a week ago. The now thirty-four year old showed that he is still very much a contender as he defeated his teammate and defending champion Toni Bou – Repsol Honda by a single mark on the first counting day of the 2014 campaign down under. However just twenty-four hours later Fujinami’s fortunes were to suffer a set back as he slumped to sixth place on day two, a result he is desperate to make amends for when he returns to his home GP this coming weekend.
The Twin Ring circuit at Motegi proved to be a happy hunting ground for Takahisa last season, and was the scene of his last victory prior to his most recent win in Australia. Twelve months on and Japan’s favourite Trial son will once again look to delight his passionate home fans as he sets about repeating his winning ways in Honda’s backyard. Now the oldest rider in the series, Fujinami sees this as no disadvantage and has continued to show his commitment and motivation after having fought his way back to fitness following a serious knee injury he sustained in September last year. With little time on the bike over the winter months as he under went a full rehabilitation process, Takahisa struggled to show his real potential during the 2014 FIM X-Trial World Championship, although still managed to keep his place in the hearts of the public throughout Europe with his now trademark antics.
Following the Australian GP, Fujinami headed straight to Japan to spend time with friends and family and to prepare for this important and annual encounter at Motegi. “With me living in Spain now I do not get much time to return home so this is a good moment to catch up with some people and to be back in Japan for some days. This will be the fifteenth year that we have had a Trial GP in Japan so now it feels quite a normal part of the season for me.”
“For sure there is some extra pressure as I want to ride well in front of my family, friends and many home fans and also for Honda and HRC as it is an important event for all of us. Over the years I have had some good results at Motegi, it is a place I know very well and where I enjoy to ride. Last year it was an amazing feeling to win on the second day at my home GP, perhaps one of the best and that is something I want to feel again this year if possible.”
“To win in Australia was a good start to the season, on the Saturday I rode really well with no mistakes, which you need to do if you want to beat Toni (Bou), but the Sunday was a real disaster. I started very badly and never really recovered during the first two laps. The only positive on what was a bad day was that I made a good final lap so at least I can take that confidence into the Japanese GP. I am feeling good on the bike at the moment and the team is working well so I hope in Motegi we can win again.” said Fujinami with a typically large grin.
Fujinami scored his first Trial GP win back in Germany in 1997 aged just seventeen years old, since then he has gone on to record another thirty victories and has amassed just under one hundred and fifty podium finishes during the two hundred and sixty five Grand Prix events he has competed in. Takahisa joined the series in 1996 and finished seventh in the final standing during his debut season, as well as becoming FIM Trial World Champion in 2004 the four times national Japanese champion has been runner-up in the FIM Trial World Championship on an unprecedented seven occasions throughout his long and illustrious career.