TrialGP of France - Day Two
By Team TMX on 2nd Jun 25
Toni Bou (Montesa) maintained his vice-like grip on the premier TrialGP class on the concluding day of the TrialGP of France – round four of the 2025 Hertz FIM Trial World Championship – at Calvi on the island of Corsica as Miquel Gelabert (Honda) enjoyed a double win of his own in Trial2 and Ryon Land (Sherco) also remained unbeaten in Trial3.
It was another hot, sunny day on the north-west tip of the Mediterranean island, but defending champion Bou kept his cool in a tense opening race despite relentless pressure from fellow Spaniard Jaime Busto (GASGAS).
With the rest of the field collecting early maximums, 38-year-old Bou and his 27-year-old rival went head-to-head with only a single mark separating them until Busto incurred a five on section eight, situated on the steep and rocky mountainside overlooking the town, when he slipped off the side of a sharp-tipped boulder.
With the pressure off, Bou cruised to victory on just three marks lost as Busto’s maximum threatened to put him within striking distance of third-placed Matteo Grattarola (Beta), but he held his nerve to take second on 14, three ahead of the veteran Italian.
All-action Spanish rider Gabriel Marcelli (Montesa) started the day third in the points table, but he was forced to concede more ground to second-placed Busto in the championship when he came home fourth on 21, just two ahead of Britain’s Jack Peace (Sherco) who was riding with a new-found confidence following his solid performance on Saturday.
Bou started race two in dominant fashion and after the first nine sections he looked in complete control with just two marks lost compared to Busto’s total of eight at this point. However, uncharacteristic back-to-back maximums from the 18-time champion reduced the deficit to a single mark with just section 12 left to ride.
A long and twisting hazard plotted on Calvi’s rocky coastal defences, Busto went clean to shift the pressure back on Bou before the sport’s most decorated rider of all time put the result beyond doubt with a precise clean of his own.
Holding a solid third with three sections remaining, a five on section 10 threatened to spoil Grattarola’s second race of the day, but he held his nerve to take another third-placed finish ahead of Marcelli, although this time it went to a tie-break after both riders finished on a total of 21.
Also going down to a tie-break, Peace continued his run of great form in fifth after ending the day on 28, the same total as Spanish rider Aniol Gelabert (TRRS).
The day ended with the Power Section – an against-the-clock race over a series of concrete blocks – where Busto secured the extra championship point up for grabs.
“This weekend has been close to being perfect,” said Bou. “I have lost just a point in the Power Section so I am super-happy. It has been an amazing weekend.”
The competition in Trial2 has been fiercely fought all season with Britain’s Harry Hemingway (Beta) able to pull out a slim advantage heading into Corsica, but today belonged to Gelabert who swept both races on the all-new RTL Electric machine.
The 27-year-old from Barcelona won yesterday’s second race and on Sunday morning he picked up where he left off with his first race total of just four earning him victory from compatriot Arnau Farré (Sherco) by three marks with Italy’s Francesco Titli (TRRS) third on eight.
Home favourite Benoit Bincaz (EM) maintained his run of good form in fourth on 10, one mark ahead of Hemingway, but 2023 champion Billy Green (Scorpa) – who started the day in second in the championship – lost ground on the series leader when he ended the race in eighth on 14.
Race two was a four-rider fight with Hemingway holding the advantage after staying clean through the first eight sections with Gelabert and Spanish rider Gerard Trueba (Beta) on one and Farré on four. With the leaders’ scores remaining incredibly low, the slightest lapse in concentration would prove pivotal and it was Hemingway who faltered when he dropped two marks on section nine.
That was all Gelabert needed and he kept his composure to claim victory on just a single mark, one ahead of Hemingway and two clear of Trueba with Farré fourth on four before a seven-mark gap to Bincaz, but Green’s hopes of regaining his title suffered a body blow when he was unable to complete the race.
“Today has been unbelievable,” said Gelabert. “I have ridden very well and I couldn’t be happier with the team. This class is very tight and the pressure is intense so I am very happy.”
After running one-two in yesterday’s races, Trial3 championship leader Ryon Land (Sherco) dominated today with back-to-back victories extending his advantage at the top of the points table.
The American teenager claimed a comfortable win in the first race of the day with his score of two putting him six clear of Alessandro Ame (Beta) who was two ahead of his fellow Italian Fabio Mazzola (Beta).
Land then produced a faultless clean performance in race two to take his second win of the day with Britain’s Harison Skelton (Scorpa) finishing as runner-up on a single mark, one ahead of Norway’s Jonas Jorgensen (Beta) who maintains his second place in the championship chase.
“I told myself this morning that I needed to push as hard as I could and that’s exactly what I did,” said Land. “I felt incredible this morning and I knew I could do better, although I was shocked to go clean in race two.”
The action now shifts to Baldasserona this coming weekend (June 6-8) for the TrialGP of San Marino where TrialGP, Trial2 and Trial3 competitors will again be in action.
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