Spanish domination at X-Trial Cahors
By Team TMX on 24th Mar 25
While GASGAS Factory Racing’s Jaime Busto claimed victory in a final section showdown at X-Trial Cahors, there was no stopping Toni Bou (Repsol Honda) from capturing his 19th Indoor World title taking his grand total to 37 FIM World Championship wins.
The trial started with Bou claiming victory in Q1 with Busto and Gabriel Marcelli (Repsol Honda) also booking their place in the Main Event. The only clean ride in Q2 saw Sherco’s Arnau Farre making it an all-Spanish final as French hero Benoit Bincaz (Sherco) destroyed his chances by dropping a dab in the third section to add a catastrophic 10 seconds to his time. He’d have to be content with fifth on the night ahead of teammate – for now, Jack Peace. Sondre Haga (GASGAS) and Hugo Dufrese (Beta) rounded out the top eight.
Super Pole saw Bou take victory ahead of Busto despite both riders losing a mark in the third section. Marcelli managed to stay feet-up but that additional effort cost him time and even with no time penalties, he was only ranked third with Farre fourth. This meant Farre would ride the sections first in the final followed by Marcelli, Busto and then Bou.
The first section claimed five from the first three riders through with Bou managing a clean ride which gave him the early advantage. Section Two was too tough for everyone with the third also taking five for Farre and twos from Marcelli and Busto. Bou stayed clean to carry a seven-mark advantage over Biston and Marcelli into the second half of the final.
With the final sections proving too tough for Farre he was out of the running and Marcelli dropped behind Busto with a three in Section Four which Jaime and Bou both cleaned.
Another three for Marcelli in Section Five dropped him out of contention for anything other than a third-place finish as Busto escaped for a two as Bou was stopped in his tracks meaning the last section was vital as Busto could still snatch victory if he stayed clean and Bou fived it. Farre and Marcelli both failed to make the end cards while Busto somehow stayed clean. All eyes were on Bou who just had to make it out of the end cards but it wasn’t to be – a five gifted victory on the night to Busto although Bou could be content with claiming the world title.
“I might have only needed two points today to be World Champion, but I fought for the win right to the end,” said Bou. “Of course, I would have liked to win the title with a victory, but perhaps I lost a bit of concentration in the last two sections and I took unnecessary risks. This has been another dream season and I am very proud, pleased and satisfied with my job and the team’s hard work.”
The final word goes to the winner on the night – Jaime Busto. “I am very pleased with this second win of the season I managed to claim in the last section. I felt very good on the bike, I rode well and consistently throughout, despite a mistake in Section One of the Final, keeping open the possibility of victory to the end.”
