Fujigas We Salute You

Takahisa Fujinami, the ever-smiling factory Honda rider from Japan, scored 34 grand prix wins and the 2004 Trial World Championship during his incredible 26-year career — his final victory coming earlier this season at the age of 41.

Fifth in the all-time trials hall of fame, the World’s favourite trials rider has been an absolute fans’ favourite of the sport ever since he made his first Trial World Championship appearance in Spain in 1996 as a 16-year-old, where his full-throttle style of riding quickly earned him his ‘Fujigas’ nickname.

A factory Honda HRC rider for the entirety of his professional career, Fujinami scored his first Trial World championship points in Britain in his debut year before taking his first victory in Germany a year later, aged just 17.

Team-mate to World champions Marc Colomer, Dougie Lampkin and for the longest part of his career, the greatest trials rider of all time, Toni Bou, Fujinami was always in good company, always kept sharp and, when it came to personality and enthusiasm, never outdone.

His recently announced retirement from professional trials riding has saddened the whole trials family — the man with the contagious smile, inspirational attitude and who shines as an example to any young trials rider will be sorely missed.

While never a Jitsie rider, as a 100% trials brand it’s impossible not to admire, respect and appreciate everything the great Takahisa Fujinami has given to the sport we love.

Fujigas, we salute you, and thank you massively for more than twenty-five years of incredible entertainment. And we hope you enjoy watching this tribute as much as we enjoyed putting it together.