MADRID, 29 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The ‘Team Manager’ of Repsol Honda Trial, the Japanese Takahisa Fujinami, is clear that the Spanish rider Toni Bou is “stronger than ever at 36 years old” and that “he has time to go”, so he could add two more titles to his enormous record.
“Seeing the results, Toni is stronger than ever at 36, but the important thing is that he doesn’t get hurt. That he didn’t have injuries was one of the objectives this season and for that reason I tried not to force him physically so as not to risk so much,” Fujinami said in an interview provided this Thursday by his team.
The expilot is clear that in 2023 the Catalan is the favorite to get two new titles won. “We believe that he is very strong and that he has the rope for a while. He has a lot of technical advantage over any other driver and, on paper, he can get the two world titles at stake in 2023,” he warned.
Regarding the other member of the team, Gabriel Marcelli, he admits that “at the beginning of the year I was quite nervous, probably because of the weight of being part of the official team.” “Everyone was paying close attention to him and he pushed himself to get results. He had to learn a lot to adapt his style to the bike, but it was a matter of time,” he said.
“In the end he achieved several fourth places and the victory in the last race of the Spanish Championship, so I’m also happy with him. His level is quite high, but I think it’s possible to finish on the podium in every race of the year; there will be to fight for it to also try to finish with a medal at the end of the championship”, added the Galician.
2022 was also marked by the Constructors’ title that had escaped in the last two years. “Montesa’s is the only 4-stroke motorcycle that competes in the World Championship. People say it’s a heavy bike, but very good results are achieved. Perhaps we have a handicap at some points, but there are other aspects in which it obtains advantages “, he detailed.
Fujinami acknowledges “the luck” of being able to remain linked to the Repsol Honda Team, “the best in the world”. “I have to thank HRC for having trusted me by giving me this opportunity. I am very happy to be able to help both Toni and Gabriel,” he remarked.
On a personal level, his new position has meant “starting from scratch in many things”. “For example, getting the license. Before the team did it and now I have to manage it myself. My computer and my phone do not stop receiving messages, also from the sponsors,” she said.
“It’s a big change and at first it seemed that it would cost me a lot, but we have already adapted to it. Miquel Cirera, the previous ‘Team Manager, had everything in hand’, and perhaps I still need to learn something, but I think that we are going in the right direction, although with my style and enjoying doing this”, he added in this regard.
And what he likes most about his new job is “helping” the two pilots in what he considers they “need”. “If the results come out like this, it’s like a prize for everyone,” he recalls, laughingly pointing to “office work” as his least favorite thing.
The Japanese highlights the preparation with collective training that was done before, but “only among the pilots.” “We agreed to train together and that’s it, but now it’s a request from the team. We have a number ‘1’ driver and the rest of Montesa can learn from him. The trust that is created within the team is important, it’s like a family,” he celebrated.
The ‘Team Manager’ also talks about the recent stay in Japan on the occasion of ‘Honda Thanks Day’, where they took the opportunity to exchange impressions with HRC Japanese technicians and engineers. “In the end, each rider chooses the bike they like the most, with the engine and settings they like the most. Then there is the work with the engineers so that they can carry out everything they are told. It is a matter of time to have exactly what each one wants, but in general it has been a good test”, he affirmed.
On that holiday, the former pilot received a farewell tribute. “Many have asked me to drive again in the Motegi test and thus be able to say goodbye to everyone, but obviously it is not possible. I would like to, but I do not have the level for it and, also, I have a job to do and I must help the team “, he clarified.
In 2023, the TrialGP World Championship will have more races after a few years marked by the pandemic. “For three years now it seems that we are in ‘another world’, racing only in Europe and with one-day races. The pandemic has also affected the team internally, since HRC technicians have not been able to come to Europe, nor to races or our development tests. Now it seems that everything is going better and we trust that it will be good for everyone”, he confessed.