Brits looking for the X-tra factor
By John Dickinson on 10th Apr 19
Jack Price (Gas Gas) and Toby Martyn (Beta) will be the youthful representatives of Great Britain in the 2019 X-Trial of Nations, to be staged in Vende, France, for the first time on Saturday, April 13.
The dashing duo will be looking to at least match last year's third place on the podium. But of course Team Britain will face previously unbeaten Spain, who will be defending the title they retained in Nice last season.
And with 13-times X-Trial World Champion Toni Bou (Repsol Honda) and Jaime Busto (Gas Gas), who returns to the selection after missing out on a place in 2018, it will be a tough ask.
Two teams remain unchanged from their 2018 line-ups.
Toby Martyn will be going for glory in France
Host nation France will again go with with the up and coming Benoit Bincaz (Beta) and the more experienced Alexandre Ferrer (Sherco). France threatened a surprise result last year, actually leading after the opening two rounds, before being relegated to silver in the final by Spain.
Neighbours Italy will once again field Matteo Grattarola (Honda) and Luca Petrella (Beta), who will hope to improve on last seasons fourth place.Meanwhile Norway return to the X-Trial of Nations for the first time sincetheir debut appearance in 2012.
They Hkon Pedersen (Gas Gas) now partnered by rising youth star Sondre Haga (TRRS).Haga recently made his debut at X-Trial World Championship level and the enthusiastic Norwegians will give it 100 per cent.
More like this…
X-Trial des Nations 2019: Another world title for Toni Bou
Toni Bou, rider for the Repsol Honda Team, was part of the winning team in the 2019 X-Trial des Nations competition which took place this weekend in Vendée, France.
