Cycle News Staff | June 20, 2023
Repsol Honda’s Toni Bou dominated the Andorra round of the FIM Trial World Championship, June 17-18. The Spaniard topped both days of competition.
Toni Bou was a double winner in Andorra.
On Saturday, Bou took an early lead and never looked back, taking the win by 22 marks over his nearest rival in the championship, Jaime Busto (GG), 23-45.
“I felt very good on the bike, and we only had a small problem at the end of the first lap because we were very tight for time,” Bou said. “On the second lap, we refocused, and this has given us this great victory.”
Third on the day went to Beta’s Matteo Grattarola with 54 marks. Jorge Casales (Scorpa) and Bou’s teammate Gabriel Marcelli rounded out the top five.
Overnight rain made the sections slippery for Sunday’s day two, but that didn’t matter to Bou who was again dominant. Although the margin between him and runner-up Busto was slightly closer, Bou was still in complete control, winning by 18 marks, 25-43.
“I’m very happy,” Bou said. “It has been a great weekend for us, not only because of the victories, but also because of how I felt on the bike. The team have done an incredible job; in Andorra it is always difficult because of the altitude.”
Like the day before, Busto and Grattarola were left to fight over second place, with Busto again finishing just ahead of Grattarola.
Casales and Marcelli made it a mirror image of Saturday’s top-five results, going 4-5.
After a close battle to start the season, Bou is beginning to ease away. He now leads Busto by 14 points in the championship. Marcelli is a distant third with Grattarola hanging in there in fourth. Adam Raga rounds out the top five. CN
SATURDAY
- Toni Bou (Mon) 23
- Jaime Busto (GG) 45
- Matteo Grattarola (Bet) 54
- Jorge Casales (Sco) 59
- Gabriel Marcelli (Mon) 63
SUNDAY
- Toni Bou (Mon) 25
- Jaime Busto (GG) 43
- Matteo Grattarola (Bet) 53
- Jorge Casales (Sco) 65
- Gabriel Marcelli (Mon) 65
