Toni Bou continues to rack up successes in trial. With 17 years of career and 37 years of age, he already has 34 titles in his resume and promises to add more this year.
Despite being at the top, the Repsol Honda rider acknowledged to the newspaper AS that age is beginning to take its toll and makes things different: ‘I am already a more veteran rider, with a career in which, luckily, I have achieved more than I could have dreamed of. With desire, but with a different nervousness. Starting another championship is always an extra. I always have to win, I do what I like the most, and that’s why it’s easy for me to continue. Day by day makes everything easier for me, and as long as I am physically well, I will continue to have the desire to pursue my career. But it’s difficult, it gets a little harder every time, especially in physical terms because it’s been many years as a professional without many injuries. But day by day fulfills me a lot, I like what I do, and as long as I don’t have any serious injuries, I continue to have the desire to keep fighting, although at 37 it’s not the same as if I were 25. I have to take care of myself more, not just because of age, but also because of injuries. In the past, there were races where I couldn’t compete at 100%, they were more complicated years. But I am already 37, it’s been many years since I was 15 when I turned professional… imagine’.
Regarding his preparation routine, Bou commented: ‘I try to take care of myself more with age, do a little more cycling, more stretching to be more flexible and have the maximum strength, take care of myself until the races come, manage the week to be well on the weekend with as much energy as possible’.
The Spanish rider showed awareness that his successes will not last forever and that the task becomes increasingly complicated: ‘I always say that this will end one day. It’s been 17 consecutive years winning both world championships, it’s much more than I could have dreamed of. I have to enjoy it, take it step by step and try to get the maximum knowing that it’s complicated. Each season becomes more difficult because although he is a young rider at 26, he has experience, has improved, and it’s his second year with GasGas, which continues to work very well. I have a good relationship with him, I know him well, and I have seen his evolution for several years. He is a great rival, and for me, it’s motivating to fight against riders of this level. [Gabriel] Marcelli is also a great rider, as a teammate, we have a good relationship, and I have also been able to follow his evolution. He finished last season tied with me in the last races of the championship, so it will be a balanced, exciting season, and I will face it with determination’.
For now, Bou is linked to Honda until 2027 and hopes to repay with the continuation of good performances and results, without setting limits: ‘The truth is that it was very easy to renew the contract, as I have always said, it’s a family, I have achieved everything here. I am very happy with them, and they are happy with the results I have achieved. There will be nothing better than ending my career here, I think I will be linked to Honda for life. I was very happy with this news. I don’t set any limits. We’ll see, first I have to fulfill my contract and see if we will be competitive in these four years. We take it step by step, this is the time to do it and enjoy it. I am not so young anymore to look to the future. I don’t rule out anything. I am not obliged to continue winning, if I felt that pressure, I wouldn’t have been winning for 17 consecutive years’.