Toni Bou continues to rack up successes in trial. With 17 years of profession and 37 years of age, he already has 34 titles in his resume and guarantees so as to add extra this 12 months.
Regardless of being on the high, the Repsol Honda rider acknowledged to the newspaper AS that age is starting to take its toll and makes issues completely different: ‘I’m already a extra veteran rider, with a profession wherein, fortunately, I’ve achieved greater than I may have dreamed of. With need, however with a unique nervousness. Beginning one other championship is all the time an additional. I all the time should win, I do what I like essentially the most, and that’s why it’s straightforward for me to proceed. Day-to-day makes every thing simpler for me, and so long as I’m bodily properly, I’ll proceed to have the will to pursue my profession. But it surely’s tough, it will get slightly tougher each time, particularly in bodily phrases as a result of it’s been a few years as knowledgeable with out many accidents. However daily fulfills me quite a bit, I like what I do, and so long as I don’t have any critical accidents, I proceed to have the will to maintain preventing, though at 37 it’s not the identical as if I have been 25. I’ve to deal with myself extra, not simply due to age, but additionally due to accidents. Up to now, there have been races the place I couldn’t compete at 100%, they have been extra difficult years. However I’m already 37, it’s been a few years since I used to be 15 after I turned skilled… think about’.
Concerning his preparation routine, Bou commented: ‘I attempt to deal with myself extra with age, perform a little extra biking, extra stretching to be extra versatile and have the utmost power, deal with myself till the races come, handle the week to be properly on the weekend with as a lot vitality as potential’.
The Spanish rider confirmed consciousness that his successes is not going to final perpetually and that the duty turns into more and more difficult: ‘I all the time say that this may finish sooner or later. It’s been 17 consecutive years profitable each world championships, it’s rather more than I may have dreamed of. I’ve to get pleasure from it, take it step-by-step and attempt to get the utmost realizing that it’s difficult. Every season turns into harder as a result of though he’s a younger rider at 26, he has expertise, has improved, and it’s his second 12 months with GasGas, which continues to work very properly. I’ve relationship with him, I do know him properly, and I’ve seen his evolution for a number of years. He is a superb rival, and for me, it’s motivating to combat in opposition to riders of this stage. [Gabriel] Marcelli can be an awesome rider, as a teammate, we have now relationship, and I’ve additionally been capable of comply with his evolution. He completed final season tied with me within the final races of the championship, so it will likely be a balanced, thrilling season, and I’ll face it with dedication’.
For now, Bou is linked to Honda till 2027 and hopes to repay with the continuation of fine performances and outcomes, with out setting limits: ‘The reality is that it was very straightforward to resume the contract, as I’ve all the time mentioned, it’s a household, I’ve achieved every thing right here. I’m very proud of them, and they’re proud of the outcomes I’ve achieved. There might be nothing higher than ending my profession right here, I believe I might be linked to Honda for all times. I used to be very proud of this information. I don’t set any limits. We’ll see, first I’ve to satisfy my contract and see if we might be aggressive in these 4 years. We take it step-by-step, that is the time to do it and luxuriate in it. I’m not so younger anymore to look to the long run. I don’t rule out something. I’m not obliged to proceed profitable, if I felt that stress, I wouldn’t have been profitable for 17 consecutive years’.
