Toni Bou Mena Last September he closed his twentieth TrialGP title, which added to his twenty X-Trial crowns makes him 40 times world championall of them with the Repsol Montesa Honda HRC. An unprecedented figure in motorcycling, not only nationally but internationally, and even a milestone that no Spanish athlete of any specialty has ever managed to sign (at least we have not found data of such a feat).
The difficult thing is not to get there, but to stay
It is the idea that runs through the entire documentary. Being the best in the world once is within the reach of very few; But winning 40 consecutive titles requires something else: hunger, enthusiasm, the ability to improve and, above all, consistency. Bou talks about the path as a process, a journey in which every day he feels the need to continue demonstrating. What remains of Toni from 20 years ago? The base, and the same desire to compete and improve.
The documentary does not hide the physical invoice. Bou has competed this year with an injury to two tendons in his right shoulder, and even though injured he has been able to change his way of driving to continue winning. And now many will wonder: Is it the pilot or the machine? The Indian or the arrow? None of them: Toni Bou.
But facing injuries has not been an isolated case during his career, as Bou had already suffered other major injuries before, an endless list that in 2017 almost left him out of competition forever: he broke three vertebrae.
And here is an important conclusion: given what we have seen, the collection of titles that he has been adding with an iron fist against all the rivals that have crossed his path (Adam Raga, Doug Lampking, Takahisa Fujinami…) will not stop growing as long as his physique allows it. Because his hunger seems to have no limit, but his body does: if one day he retires, it will be his body that decides, not his desire.
Toni Bou, 40 out of 40: “Everyone must make their own career”
The review begins with his origins in his hometown, Piera, and with the figure of his father, the most important person in his sporting and personal life and, according to Toni himself, a differentiating factor in his career. At only nine years old he was already competing in biketrials in Japan. At 14 he made the jump to motorcycles with Beta, at which point he became a professional, and in 2007 he joined Repsol Honda, the team with which he has won everything. Their motto: do not look at others, because each one must make his own career.
Aggressiveness, power and great physical strength. But above all, a driving based on the body: Bou works with the rear wheel and moves his body without abusing the gas, something that his rivals have tried to decipher for two decades but none have managed to copy it or come close. The rider’s mentality is so granite that many rivals insinuate that Bou beat them before getting on the bike.
The documentary features Adam Raga, his great rival, as well as legends such as Jordi Tarrés, Dougie Lampkin, Takahisa Fujinami, Pol Tarrés and Marc Márquez. Fujinami’s case is especially symbolic: the Japanese, who was his rival, today works alongside him with a single objective, to continue winning.
After the presentation Bou commented: “It has been spectacular. The truth is that I had high expectations. Not seeing it, I was nervous, but I think it describes very well what has happened this season and the last 20 years. So I am happy and super grateful to Movistar and Repsol, because it is very special to also be able to celebrate this success like this.”
He concluded: “What has impressed me most has been the statements from rivals, or from references like Marc Márquez, speaking so highly of me, it is something that has moved me. I thank them”. Perhaps the phrase that best sums up the character: Toni Bou feels more proud of the person he is than of the athlete.
Plus Report: Toni Bou, 40 of 40 can now be seen on Movistar Plus+, also from its free plan.
