After slipping to a shock defeat on the first day of the opening round of the 2022 Hertz FIM Trial World Championship, defending champion Toni Bou (Montesa) fired straight back to reclaim the top spot today – but the victory hung in the balance until the very last section of the final lap.

The rider who pushed him all the way to the end of day two of the TrialGP of Spain at L’Hospitalet de L’Infant was yesterday’s winner Jaime Busto (Vertigo) who has started the season in the best form of his career.

In the TrialGP Women and Trial2 categories Emma Bristow (Sherco) and Pablo Suarez (Montesa) completed double weekend wins while David Fabien (Beta) came out top in Trial3.

With three sections made harder for all classes following yesterday’s event and the blazing Spanish sun beaming down all day, fitness and finesse were called for in equal measure.

At the age of 35, Bou is 11 years older than his fellow Spaniard and he needed to draw on all the experience of 15 years at the top to beat a rival who is displaying incredible maturity and the ability to soak up pressure – and there was no shortage of pressure today with just one mark separating the winning pair after the full 24 sections.

Bou led Busto by one mark following the opening lap on a total of three but an early maximum on section two on the second lap when he momentarily stopped between two huge steps handed the younger man a four-point advantage which he briefly held before he incurred a five of his own on the rocky, near vertical banks of section four.

The pair then slugged it out at the front through a super-tense final eight section with both adding a couple more marks to their totals with Bou ending on 10 to Busto’s 11.

“I didn’t start the season with the best day yesterday,” said Bou, “but today I was riding well. I made a mistake and stopped at section two on the second lap but it’s amazing to start with a second and first place here in Tarragona.”

Just to underline their dominance, former champion Adam Raga (TRRS) was third on 32 and the veteran was 11 clear of fourth-placed Jorge Casales (Scorpa) and 17 ahead of Gabriel Marcelli (Montesa) who completed the all-Spanish top five.

British lioness Bristow made it a dazzling double today in TrialGP Women with a dominant performance as once again Berta Abellan (Scorpa) emerged as her main competition – although the Spaniard was soundly beaten.

Bristow, who lost her world title last year after seven consecutive crowns, parted with two marks on the opening lap to lead Abellan by two before moving up a gear on the second lap and staying clean as her rival added an additional 12 to her total.

“I felt like I was riding well today and didn’t really make many mistakes,” said Emma. “I had a good feeling with the bike and two out of two is a dream start to the championship.”

A close fourth yesterday, Italy’s Andrea Sofia Rabino (Beta) completed the podium with her total of 31 good enough to finish two marks ahead of yesterday’s third-placed finisher Naomi Monnier (GASGAS) from France before a sizeable gap back to German rider Vivian Wachs (TRRS) and Norwegian Huldeborg Barkved (GASGAS).

That’s six different nationalities on five different marques in the top six – well they do say variety is the spice of life!

There was another dynamite double in the Trial2 class where Suarez made it two wins on the trot – but Britain’s Jack Peace (Sherco) made him fight for it every inch of the way.

A phenomenal opening lap of just one gave the Spaniard a seven-mark advantage over Peace – last year’s Trial2 runner-up – and Norway’s Sondre Haga (Beta) at the halfway stage but it was almost all-change at the top on lap two.

On his second circuit Suarez appeared to tighten up and a couple of maximums and a three contributed to his final trial total of 17 and he only took the victory on a tie-break after rock-solid Peace added just an extra nine to his score.

“It has been an amazing weekend for me,” said Suarez. “The second lap today was not so good but I managed to keep the lead. I’m so happy.”

Haga also suffered a dip in form and he was lucky to make the podium for the second time over the weekend with his final total of 24 only one better than Britain’s Billy Green (Scorpa) who took fourth on a tie-break from Hugo Dufrese (Vertigo).

Even riders at this level suffer from first-day nerves and Czech teenager David Fabien (Beta) saw his hopes of victory yesterday in Trial3 evaporate on the opening lap. However, he secured third on Saturday with a sensational second lap and carried this momentum into today.

Tied with Saturday’s winner Harry Hemingway (Beta) on two marks after a close and competitive opening lap, Fabien stayed cool and collected on lap two and added another couple to his total to claim a career-first win at this level as the British rider racked up a further 13.

“It’s my first win so it feels great,” said Fabien. “Today was very good for me – it was super-hot and the sections were very hard so I’m super-happy with my riding.”

Following the disappointment of narrowly missing out on a podium on his series debut, Jamie Galloway (TRRS) bounced back to make it two British riders on the box with a total of 28 to take third from Harry’s younger brother George (Beta) who finished on 35 after dropping 11 marks in the final three sections.

The best trial riders on the planet now have just a few days to regroup before round two is staged on June 17-19 with the TrialGP of Andorra, held high in the Pyrenees around the scenic town of Sant Julià.

Based around 70 miles south west of Barcelona, the Tarragona venue hadn’t seen top-flight trial action since the 2015 FIM Trial des Nations.

Defending champion Toni Bou (Montesa) hasn’t lost an opening round since 2016 but the record-breaking champ – who’s looking for his 16th straight title this year – had to settle for second after a sensational performance by fellow Spaniard Jaime Busto (Vertigo).

In baking temperatures Busto recorded only his second career-win at the highest level – and the first-ever TrialGP victory for the Spanish manufacturer – to put himself on top of the world!

“Today has been incredible,” said Busto, “and I’m so happy to start the season like this. The bike and the team have been incredible and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”

After an opening man-made section of logs and concrete pipes that took a shock maximum at the first attempt from Bou, the action was predominantly in and around a dry riverbed where super-steep bankings and huge rocks provided a serious challenge for the best riders in the world.

Following a high-scoring opening lap with plenty of time penalties that ultimately had no bearing on the podium positions, Miquel Gelabert (GASGAS) was leading on 22 followed by Busto and Gelabert’s younger brother Aniol (Beta) – who was riding out of his skin after graduating to the TrialGP class this season – on 24. Bou was next best on 25 with Adam Raga (TRRS) completing the all-Spanish top five on 27.

Ultimately, two sections decided the outcome of the trial – section four set under a viaduct with precipitous bankings and imposing boulders and section eight in the riverbed with its series of massive rock steps.

Bou couldn’t get to grips with either and picked up maximums at each attempt while Busto added just eight to his total as he ran out winner with 25 on observation and four time penalties giving him a six-mark advantage as Bou parted with 32 and picked up further three on time.

Gelabert was a career-best equalling third on a total of 45 which put him six clear of his brother as Raga came home in fifth on 51 with his four time penalties costing him a position.

With last year’s TrialGP Women champion Laia Sanz absent, the premier female class followed the form book with Britain’s Emma Bristow (Sherco) – who won seven straight crowns from 2014 to 2020 – quickly getting into her stride.

A single mark lost on section three on the opening lap put her at an initial disadvantage when Naomi Monnier (GASGAS) from France, Andrea Sofia Rabino (Beta) from Italy and Norway’s Huldeborg Barkved (GASGAS) all went clean to share the early lead in this truly international class.

Bristow, however, is a master at dealing with pressure and she quickly regrouped to lose just two further marks on the remainder of the 12-section lap to tie for the lead at the halfway point with her Spanish rival Berta Abellan (Scorpa) as Monnier and Rabino shared third position on nine marks apiece.

It was a high-pressure start to lap two with Bristow and Abellan going toe-to-toe until section six when the 31-year-old Brit pulled clear to complete the lap having added just a single mark to her score as Abellan racked up an addition six penalties to end the day with a total of nine.

“Obviously, I’m pleased to come away with first,” said Bristow. “It’s a great way to start the championship. Hopefully tomorrow the sections will be a little bit more difficult but I’m happy with the way I feel on the bike and the team is really good.”

Completing the podium after a second lap of 12, Monnier’s score of 21 put her two ahead of Rabino and five in front of Barkved.

With Toby Martyn (TRRS) and Aniol Gelabert – first and third last season – both moving up to TrialGP and Britain’s Jack Peace (Sherco) and Italy’s Lorenzo Gandola (Beta), who finished 2021 in second and fourth, both having a bad day the door in Trial2 was left open for some fresh talent to shine.

It was rising Spanish star Pablo Suarez (Montesa) who produced an almost faultless performance. After ending last year’s series in seventh, the 21-year-old has clearly been working hard over the off-season and he dropped just two marks, his second coming on the very last section of the trial!

His compatriot Arnau Farre (Sherco) was tied with him for the lead at the halfway mark but a maximum on section six on lap two ruined his chances and he ended the day on a total of seven which was still 10 clear of third-placed Sondre Haga (Beta) from Norway.

“Today has been great for me,” said Suarez. “There was some pressure because Arnau was also riding really well. I’m very happy with the result.”

With electric motorcycles competing against conventional petrol-engined machines for the first time in the series’ history, French rider Gael Chatagno (Electric Motion) showed just how competitive these bikes can be and was only three marks away from the podium.

For 2022 the old Trial125 class has been rebranded as Trial3 and Harry Hemingway (Beta) got his campaign off to the best possible start with a conclusive win – although it wasn’t all plain sailing for the young British rider who ended last year as runner-up.
A comfortable six marks clear of Adria Mercade (Scorpa) following his incredible clean opening lap, a maximum on section six second time around caused a few nervous moments but he held it together and his total of seven saw him finish five marks ahead of his talented Spanish rival to top the 28-strong field.

“It’s the ideal way to start the year,” said Hemingway. “I set off great with a perfect first lap but I got a bit tired in the heat on the second lap and made a mistake but I’m still very happy with a score of seven.”

The Czech Republic’s David Fabien (Beta) started the day as one of the pre-event favourites but a disastrous opening lap total of 18 dropped him out of contention. However, the 16-year-old – fourth overall in 2021 – showed his class and parted with just three marks on lap two to snatch the final podium position from class newcomer Jamie Galloway (TRRS) from Britain.

The action resumes tomorrow with the first rider away at 9am.

GASGAS has come onboard as the first-ever official manufacturer sponsor of the Hertz FIM Trial World Championship. The deal will run throughout the year and boost the manufacturer’s exposure both in and out of competition.

GASGAS’s proactive approach to motorcycle sport has been heightened following its acquisition by the Pierer Mobility group in 2019 and the deal is a major boost to the world championship with a programme of dynamic, ground-breaking initiatives set to raise the series’ profile.

FIM Marketing and Digital Director Fabio Muner is delighted with the tie-up: “GASGAS is a successful and innovative manufacturer,” he said. “Its reach extends far across the Atlantic and encompasses much more than purely off-road motorcycle sport. In recent years GASGAS has expanded from its roots in Trial and is now a contender on Tarmac as well as on all the major motocross stages on the planet. To partner-up with such a forward-thinking company is ideal for the Hertz FIM Trial World Championship. Our goals are very much shared and this deal will help take the series to the next level.”

Rene Esterbauer, GASGAS Head of Global Marketing, is looking forward to putting the new partnership into practice: “From our first Trial bike in 1985 and winning our first TrialGP title in 1993, Trial remains today hugely important to GASGAS from a production bike point of view, motorsport perspective and brand awareness. By partnering with the Hertz FIM Trial World Championship we are set to work together with the sport’s governing body to promote and increase awareness of Trial. GASGAS is thrilled to be supporting the sport that lies at the very heart of the company and represents the roots of our brand.”

The manufacturer has been a major power-player in the Hertz FIM Trial World Championship since it made its debut in 1986 and has won a total of five top-flight titles with the legendary Spaniard Jordi Tarres claiming the first of three consecutive championships for GASGAS in 1993 before his compatriot Adam Raga doubled up in 2005 and ’06.

In 2021 Spanish superstar Laia Sanz returned to the TrialGP Women class after an absence of seven years and added to her legacy as the most successful female off-road rider of all time when she promptly claimed her 14th world title riding for GASGAS.

She was backed up in the TrialGP class where Miquel Gelabert from Spain ended the season fifth and in Trial2 with Italy’s Gianluca Tournour ending the year ninth.

Britain’s Jack Dance topped the Trial125 category for GASGAS last season and Italian rider Alessia Bacchetta ended the Trial2 Women season in seventh.

Overseen by Team Manager and 2002 FIM X-Trial World Champion Albert Cabestany, for 2022 Gelabert will be aiming to climb further up the championship ladder with back-up from Luca Petrella and top-10 rider Benoit Bincaz.

GASGAS is fielding a strong five-rider team in TrialGP Women this season with Naomi Monnier aiming to advance from sixth in 2021 with support from Huldeborg Barkved, American Maddie Hoover, Erika Melchior and Bacchetta who’s moving up to the big league this year.

Tournour will again compete in Trial2 alongside young Aussie Connor Hogan, Dance who is graduating up a class, Milosz Zynowski and Marco Mempor while Pawel Ryncarz and Jorge Iglesias will carry the hopes of GASGAS on their young shoulders in Trial3.

The opening round of the 2022 Hertz FIM Trial GP World Championship kicked off at noon today at L’Hospitalet de L’Infant on the Mediterranean shores of Tarragona just south of Barcelona with official practice before the first of two points-paying days gets under way the following day.

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