The announcement of Takahisa Fujinami’s retirement has not caught the Trial World Championship paddock off guard. In fact, what happens with the Japanese rider’s bike in the 2022 season will trigger the possible rider dances between the brands.
At the moment there is no official information, so these statements are mere rumours and could not be true, although they are substantiated and are heard in conversations in the paddock.
Gabriel Marcelli is the leading candidate to take Fujinami’s place at the Repsol Honda factory team. Already last year it was expected that he would be able to move up from the satellite team to the main team, although the fact that Fujinami decided to continue for another season made Gabriel decide his future very late, even running the risk of being left without a team waiting for the response of the first team.
This year the situation is different and Fujinami’s vacancy is a reality, although he is not the only rider to apply for the Japanese bike. At the moment, neither party has confirmed this possible alliance, although Marcelli obviously has this option as preferred, although he is also an attractive driver for other teams due to his driving and evolution.
Another similar case is that of Miquel Gelabert. He arrived at GASGAS almost as a favor from the official team, which welcomed him into the factory structure, and he has earned not only a place in the GASGAS team, but he is on the list of most desired riders by the rest of the brands. With no official confirmation that he will renew for GASGAS, which would be the natural option, his future would be neither at Sherco nor Vertigo, but he could be attractive to others such as Beta or even Montesa.
It also remains to be seen if Montesa decides to keep the satellite structure where Marcelli currently plays, or if he moves up to the official team, it is no longer interesting to maintain the double structure.
Jorge Casales, Gelabert’s teammate, has more uncertainty about his future. It is not clear that GASGAS will continue to count on him and, given the results of this season, his appeal in the market is not the same as in 2020, where he was, along with Busto, the best of the youngsters. In case of not continuing with GASGAS, there could be options in Beta, Sherco and, why not, Montesa.
As for Sherco, it seems that there are no doubts about the continuity of Jeroni Fajardo, although his season has not been positive. Its seniority and the endorsement of the good seasons harvested in GASGAS are its main attraction.
At TRRS there will be no changes to the first team. In Beta, on the other hand, it could be that Bincaz did not continue in the official structure; The French rider is coming back from a serious injury and his season has been practically blank, but no one doubts his talent.
As for Vertigo, the natural course is the continuity of Jaime, who will once again be, presumably, third in the world and his results allow him to aspire to the title in 2022.
Either way, these are cabals and at the moment there are no official confirmations.
