2023 TrialGP of San Marino Round 4 Results

Cycle News Staff | June 13, 2023

Toni Bou (Montesa) came from behind on Sunday to secure his first double win of the 2023 Hertz FIM Trial World Championship—the TrialGP of San Marino—at Baldasserona, June 10-11.

Toni Bou at 2023 TrialGP of San Marino — **Toni Bou took his first double win of the season and is now the solo leader of the FIM TrialGP Championship.**

Bou and Jaime Busto (GasGas) have been locked together since the start of the season in a game of cat and mouse that has seen the pair exchange wins and second-placed finishes with neither being able to break free, but on a super-tough day at Baldasserona the 16-time Champion, Bou, put in a dominant performance.

Saturday, Bou established a clear lead as early as section four on the opening lap, and from then on, the 36-year-old looked in complete control.

With time tight toward the close of lap one, Bou opted to take a maximum on section 12, but even so his first-lap total of 10 on observation was increased by an additional three time penalties. However, Busto, Gabriel Marcelli and Adam Raga (TRRS) all had a further three on time added to their totals, and at the halfway point of the weekend, Bou sat on 13 with Busto and Marcelli neck and neck on 27 and Raga one mark behind for the day’s win.

Torrential overnight rain added more water and grip was very hard to find. Following a tough day when he slipped to third, Busto looked to be back to his brilliant best in the morning and the 26-year-old led on 21 at the halfway point of the day with Bou a full nine marks behind and tied for second with Italy’s Matteo Grattarola (Beta).

Section two provided the first major test of the day catching out everyone apart from Busto on the opening lap. However, second time around, the leader could not match the sensational clean he produced at his first attempt and he added five to his score.

Bou’s fight back began here with an amazing faultless ride, and for the rest of the lap Bou continued to pile the pressure on with the turning point coming at section 10 where Busto incurred a maximum, and Bou sailed through for a single mark to finally take a lead that he held to the end to win by two marks.

Grattarola dug deep to claim his first podium of the season, 12 marks behind Busto and two ahead of Raga with Aniol Gelabert (Beta) taking fifth on a tie-break from the previous day’s runner-up Marcelli.

Bou now leads the championship over Busto by eight points, 151-143. Marcelli is third with 111. CN