Cycle News Staff | August 28, 2024
With one round still on tap, Repsol Honda rider Toni Bou clinched his 18th outdoor FIM TrialGP title in France on August 25. The Spaniard earned his ninth victory of the season to confirm the title.
Toni Bou clinched the FIM TrialGP in France.
Bou took the lead on the first lap after collecting seven penalty points, one for time, on Zones 1 and 10. For the second run, the Repsol Honda Team rider was able to improve in places where he had made mistakes and finally, with an advantage of eight points, took the overall win.
With this victory, the Montesa Cota 4RT rider won the TrialGP World Championship for the 18th time. In total, Bou has a total of 35 titles, including 17 in X-Trial and 18 in the outdoor discipline. He has 152 race victories and 208 podiums in TrialGP.
Toni Bou
“First of all, I would like to thank the team for the incredible work they have done this season,” Bou said. “When there is a chance to win the title, there is always more pressure and the possibility of making a mistake, as was the case on the first section, but after that I was able to ride at my best and we got a great victory. If we can win the title by winning the race, then it’s even better. It has been a very good season in which we have worked very well. It is one of the best seasons of my professional career, and I am very happy.”
Second on the day was GasGas factory rider Jaime Busto who kept the pressure on, especially heading into the second lap but would fall short at the end. Busto finished out the day with 23 points to Bou’s 15.
“A good day for me here at the TrialGP of France,” Busto said. “I enjoyed the sections, and the fans here were great. I made a couple of mistakes on the first lap but regrouped and delivered an excellent second lap. Now, [I’m] looking ahead to the final round in Spain.”
Jaime Busto was second in France and is battling for championship runner-up honors with one round to go.
While the overall title is now sealed, the battle for runner-up honors is still wide open between Busto and Bou’s teammate Gabriel Marcelli, who was third on the day. Marcelli leads Busto by just seven points with one round to go, which is a doubleheader in Spain.
Gabriel Marcelli finished in third and leads Busto by just seven points with one round to go
Sherco’s Adam Raga was fourth on the day, just one point behind Marcelli, 32-33. Raga is also fourth in points, 16 behind Busto and 12 ahead of Beta’s Matteo Grattarola, who was ninth in France.
The final round of the TrialGP World Championship season will be held from September 13-15 in Ripoll, Spain. CN
OVERALL (Top 5)
- Toni Bou (Mon) 15
- Jaime Busto (GG) 23
- Gabriel Marcelli (Mon) 32
- Adam Raga (She) 33
- Jorge Casales (TRRS) 62
