Despite his recent injury, Bou will undoubtedly be favourite to lift the Outdoor Title again in 2018The sublime skills of Toni Bou - Repsol Honda have carried him to an amazing eleven consecutive TrialGP titles and the superstar of the sport has his sights set firmly on a twelfth crown as he gets ready for the start of the 2018 FIM Trial World Championship at Camprodon in his native Spain on 19/20 May.
His preparations suffered a serious setback when he fractured three vertebrae after crashing heavily at an indoor event last month but even this could not stop him from achieving an unparalleled twelve FIM X-Trial World Championships in a row.
"I am quite happy with how I have been recovering," says Toni, who was back in action just four weeks after his crash. "There is still a lot to do to be ready for outdoors but I have time and will focus on getting in top shape."
Preparing for his successful X-Trial campaign and then his unexpected injury may have interrupted his pre-season TrialGP training, but the record-breaking champion's motivation remains as high as ever.
"I am a very competitive rider and I always find motivation in day-to-day life. I think it's something innate. I do not have to work to have it and it is good that it is that way."
As a young boy growing up in Barcelona, Toni's ambition was always to be the best rider in the World but he freely admits that he never thought he would dominate the sport in the manner he has since winning his first TrialGP title in 2007.
"My dream was to be World Champion but, of course, after that I could not imagine everything that would follow. It's a dream and I'm living a great dream. I have had the opportunity to win many World Championships and I am very happy to have won so many titles."