After the start of the Trial World Championship three weeks ago in Japan, it was the turn of a traditional enclave on the calendar: the Andorra GP.
In Sant Julià de Loria, a few kilometres from where Toni Bou has his training centre, two days of competition took place with changing and more demanding weather conditions on Sunday. In addition, the fact that a large part of the areas were located at an altitude of more than 1,500 meters implied extra work in the tuning of the motorcycles, which at these levels lose performance.
Toni Bou arrived in Andorra with the peace of mind of having done his homework well in Japan, with a double victory and taking into account that Jaime Busto, one of his three most direct rivals, had had technical problems. For Marcelli it was a challenge, as he was obliged to do a good GP to keep the pulse of the title, although he had the statistics of Andorra against him.
The protagonists on both days were Toni Bou, who swept his rivals, as well as Marcelli and Busto, who alternated the second and third steps of the podium.
TONI BOU, IN ANOTHER GALAXY
On Saturday, with the dry terrain, the riders faced a technical and difficult race, as well represented by the riders between second and fifth position, who scored more than 55 points.
Toni Bou dropped 12 points in the first passage through the zones, while Jaime Busto, his closest pursuer, added 28 points, to 30 for Miquel Gelabert and 33 for Matteo Grattarola. Behind, Marcelli with 35 points, Casales with 36 points and Raga with 37 points. In the second passage through the zones, Toni Bou improved his previous partial by one point and scored a resounding victory with a 35-point advantage over his closest rival, Marcelli, who in turn tied with the third-placed team, Jaime Busto. Behind them, just two points behind, Miquel Gelabert and Matteo Grattarola.
On Sunday the rain appeared intermittently and the areas were duly modified to adapt to the level. Although it is true that it was during the first lap when the areas presented that water and humidity, giving way to a second lap with drier terrain where the scores dropped a lot and the race was completely different.
Toni Bou was once again the best by far. He recorded 18 points on the first lap and did not add any penalties on the second lap, records that gave him a 20-point advantage over Jaime Busto, who started in the front group and drove more efficiently. The podium was completed by Marcelli, followed by Raga and Grattarola.
With this panorama, Bou remains unbeaten at the top of the table, followed by Marcelli at 16 points and Raga at 25 points. Distances that, without being insurmountable, leave Toni in a very comfortable position for the rest of the short season.
Alex Canales, new leader of Trial 2
Maximum excitement in Trial2, a very tight category with great oscillations in the standings. The best on Saturday was Arnau Farré, who achieved an important victory to get into the fight for the title, a position he completed with a fifth place on Sunday.
Billy Green was more consistent with his Scorpa, signing two second positions that allow him to amend the disaster of the race in Japan. Saturday’s podium was completed by Jack Peace, who could not finish off with a good Sunday race, but maintains second place overall.
On Sunday, Alex Canales was the protagonist, who stands out at the head of the general standings with 8 points over Peace. Sunday’s podium was completed by a masterful Gerard Trueba, who achieved his first podium in this demanding category.
HEMINGWAY RULES IN TRIAL3
The great protagonist of Trial3 was Hemingway, who achieved a double victory in Andorra. The next two steps of the podium were alternated by Euan Sim and Romeo Piquet.
The next race will be held in Valsassina (Italy) this coming weekend.
TRIAL-GP CLASSIFICATION Andorra 2024
TRIAL GP ANDORRA · D1 · 2024
- TONI BOU (MONTESA)
- GABRIEL MARCELLI (MONTESA)
- JAIME BUSTO (GASGAS)
- MIQUEL GELABERT (VERTIGO)
- MATTEO GRATTAROLA (BETA)
- ADAM RAGA (SHERCO)
- JORGE CASALES (TRRS)
- ANIOL GELABERT (TRRS)
- TOBY MARTYN (MONTESA)
- LUCA PETRELLA (GASGAS)
- HUGO DUFRESE (GASGAS)
- BENOIT BINCAZ (SHERCO)
- LORENZO GANDOLA (BETA)
TRIAL GP ANDORRA · D2 · 2024
- TONI BOU (MONTESA)
- JAIME BUSTO (GASGAS)
- GABRIEL MARCELLI (MONTESA)
- ADAM RAGA (SHERCO)
- MATTEO GRATTAROLA (BETA)
- MIQUEL GELABERT (VERTIGO)
- BENOIT BINCAZ (SHERCO)
- JORGE CASALES (TRRS)
- HUGO DUFRESE (GASGAS)
- ANIOL GELABERT (TRRS)
- LORENZO GANDOLA (BETA)
- LUCA PETRELLA (GASGAS)
- TOBY MARTYN (MONTESA)
