The
2022 Trial World Championship
began this past weekend with the Spanish Trial Grand Prix, held in L’Hospitalet de L’Infant (Tarragona) under intense heat. On this occasion, the Grand Prix was held in a format of two independent days of competition.
One of the news that jumped last Friday was the presentation of the official GASGAS team, where they confirmed the premiere in competition of the prototype that will give rise to the new GASGAS TXT 2023, with interesting novelties in its cycle part.
Otherwise, there was a lot of expectation in the top flight to see what level the young talents were at and if there would be more equality in the fight for victory and the podium. At the mercy of the weekend’s results, we can say that we are facing one of the most equal and open world championships in recent years, where the favorites, Bou and Raga, are joined by a great candidate for the title such as Jaime Busto.
Jaime Busto, winner on Saturday and second on Sunday, is a strong contender to fight for the world title in 2022
JAIME BUSTO STRIKES FIRST
Jaime Busto got off to the best start in his bid for this season’s title. From the first area he showed concentration, regularity and knew how to make a difference in the areas that were really “all or nothing”. In this way, he completed the first lap in the leading group, but with a very open victory for the first five riders (the Gelabert brothers, Bou, Busto and Raga). In this first pass through the zones, the key was in time, since except for Miquel Gelabert, all the others exceeded the two and a half hours and regulations.
In the second pass through the zones, Busto’s superiority was important over his main rival, Toni Bou, but very wide over the rest of his rivals, being able to complete the twelve zones with only five points to his credit, to Bou’s ten.
This gave him a comfortable victory where Busto convinced, not only with the result, but also with his great management of the race. The podium was completed by Miquel Gelabert.
Another of the news of the day was the spectacular debut of Aniol Gelabert, who in his first race as a TrialGP was fourth, beating Raga in the points jump-off. Behind, Marcelli, Fajardo, Casales, Bincaz, Grattarola, Martyn, Petrella and Colario.
TONI BOU'S TURN
On the second day of the race, another duel between Toni Bou and Jaime Busto. Both riders lowered their partials from the previous day, finishing the first lap with 3 and 4 points, with an advantage for Toni Bou. A distance that Busto could not recover in the last pass through the zones, where both had a card of seven points.
At last victory by the minimum for Toni Bou, who starts as co-leader to his home GP, in Andorra: “We were stronger than yesterday and we were able to withstand the pressure. If I wanted to win, it was key to do well in zone 4 and, despite the pressure, I was able to do it. Jaime has made things very difficult for us, he will be a great rival”.
On this occasion it was Adam Raga who completed the podium, although he was not close to the leading records: “During the weekend I didn’t find the best feeling on the bike, although on Sunday we made a good progression in the race and I completed the second lap satisfied with the riding.”
If on Saturday it was Aniol Gelabert who gave the news for his good performance, on Sunday it was Jorge Casales with his Scorpa who caused the surprise, ahead of Marcelli and the Gelabert brothers.
Emma Bristow's women's brace
Emma Bristow, former World Champion and big favourite, gave no respite to her rivals in the women’s category. After losing the 2021 title to Laia Sanz, the Briton is more motivated than ever to retake the category crown.
Her great rival throughout the weekend was Berta Abellán, who was making her debut with Scorpa. Her performance was fantastic, finishing closer to her great rival on Saturday than on Sunday. Aware of Emma’s high level, Berta’s line of work is on the right track to maintain concentration and technique to reach the last scoring event with a chance of the title.
Yesterday, in fourth place, the Italian Andrea Sofia Rabbi completed the podium with a total of 31 good enough to finish two points ahead of yesterday’s third finisher, Naomi Monnier of France, before a considerable gap to Germany’s Vivian Wachs and Norway’s Huldeborg Barkved.
Pablo Suárez dominates in Trial2
Pablo Suarez took two wins in a row, but Britain’s Jack Peace made him fight for it every inch of the way.
A phenomenal first lap of just one gave the Spaniard a seven-point lead over Peace, last year’s Trial2 runner-up, and Norway’s Sondre Haga at the halfway point of the stage, but almost everything changed at the top of the second lap.
In his second circuit, Suarez seemed to adjust and a pair of highs and a three contributed to his final test with a total of 17 and he only took the win in a playoff after rock-solid Peace added just nine extra to his score.
“It’s been an amazing weekend for me,” Suarez said. “The second lap today wasn’t very good, but I managed to keep the lead. I’m so happy.”
FABIEN AND HEMIGWAY IN TRIAL3
David Fabien saw his hopes of victory evaporate on Saturday after a poor first lap, finishing in third position. A result that propelled him to victory on Sunday, beating Saturday’s winner, Harry Hemingway.
For Fabien: “It’s my first win, so I feel great; The trial was very hard and the heat was difficult to manage, but we had a great ride.”
This week the riders travel to Sant Julià de Loire to compete in the Andorran GP on June 18 and 19.
Photos: Future 7 Media – Pep Segalés
GP SPAIN TRIAL - SATURDAY - TRIALGP
- JAIME BUSTO (VERTIGO)
- TONI BOU (MONTESA)
- MIQUEL GELABERT (GASGAS)
- ANIOL GELABERT (BETA)
- ADAM RAGA (TRRS)
- GABRIEL MARCELLI (MONTESA)
- JERONI FAJARDO (SHERCO)
- JORGE CASALES (SCORPA)
- BENOIT BINCAZ (GASGAS)
- MATTEO GRATTAROLA (BETA)
- TOBY MARTYN (TRRS)
- LUCA PETRELLA (GASGAS)
- TEO COLARIO (BETA)
GP SPAIN TRIAL - SUNDAY - TRIALGP
- TONI BOU (MONTESA)
- JAIME BUSTO (VERTIGO)
- ADAM RAGA (TRRS)
- JORGE CASALES (SCORPA)
- GABRIEL MARCELLI (MONTESA)
- MIQUEL GELABERT (GASGAS)
- ANIOL GELABERT (BETA)
- MATTEO GRATTAROLA (BETA)
- BENOIT BINCAZ (GASGAS)
- JERONI FAJARDO (SHERCO)
- TOBY MARTYN (TRRS)
- LUCA PETRELLA (GASGAS)
- TEO COLARIO (BETA)
