Bou brilliant as Repsol Honda dominate in Madrid
By Team TMX on 27th Oct 25
Repsol Honda HRC are on a roll – and there’s no sign of them slowing down. The factory duo of Toni Bou and Gabriel Marcelli delivered yet another one-two finish at X-Trial Madrid, repeating their domination from the opening round in Andorra and stretching their lead in the 2026 FIM X-Trial World Championship standings.
Riding in front of a passionate Spanish crowd, Bou looked every bit the 38-time world champion he is. Determined to make amends for his near-miss on his last visit to the capital, the Montesa Cota 4RT rider came out firing from the very first lap, dropping just a single mark to take control early on and book a direct ticket to the Grand Final.
In the Super Section, Bou turned on the style again – blitzing the three-section sprint in 32 seconds to earn last-start advantage for the decisive final. And when it mattered most, he kept his cool, holding off a fierce challenge from Jaime Busto, Marcelli, and Arnau Farre to rack up just two penalty points and seal his 93rd career X-Trial victory. Not bad for a man who admitted he’s still not at full fitness.
Marcelli, meanwhile, continued his superb start to the season. After missing the Madrid final last year, the Galician was back with a bang – clean, confident, and fast. Three marks on lap one saw him level with Busto, but a quicker time put him into the final, where he maintained his momentum to claim second overall and another big haul of points.
With two rounds down, Bou now leads the series on 40 points, with Marcelli second on 30, giving the Repsol Honda riders a healthy early-season cushion over Jaime Busto in third.
Britain’s Harry Hemingway once again impressed on his Beta. The reigning Trial2 World Champion continues to settle into life among the sport’s elite and showed flashes of real class under the Madrid spotlights. Clean through some of the trickiest hazards and cheered on by the vocal Spanish fans, Hemingway’s measured approach and fearless attitude caught plenty of attention on his way to fifth place. The 18-year-old Yorkshireman’s performance hints at big things to come.
Next up for the X-Trial World Championship is Reunion Island on November 8, as the series returns to the Indian Ocean venue after a long break. With Bou flying, Marcelli on form, and the young guns finding their feet, expect more fireworks next time out.
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Motorcycle Trials Late November 2025
Our regional list of trials around the UK in the second half of November 2025 with links to find out more.
