Cycle News Staff | March 18, 2024
Repsol Honda’s Toni Bou won round two of the FIM X-Trial World Championship in France. It was an exceptionally good outing for the Repsol Honda Team, with Gabriel Marcelli making it a 1-2 red (Honda/Montesa) sweep.
The top non-Repsol Honda Team bike was a factory GasGas ridden by Jaime Busto. Martyn Toby (Montesa) and Benoit Bincaz (Sherco) rounded out the top five.
Toni Bou topped round two of the FIM X-Trial Championship in France.
“The team worked really well, and I am very happy,” Bou said. “I felt very comfortable from the first lap, and I think that since Barcelona, we have been working in a very positive direction. Earning 22 more points is very good, but we cannot relax because our rivals are pushing very hard, and the key will be to not make mistakes.”
The first lap was a preview of what would happen throughout the day. Bou began by stringing together four consecutive perfect zones and completed the first go-around with just a single penalty point. On the second lap, he remained at the same level and qualified for the final, together with Marcelli and Busto. In it, he put in a peerless performance to claim his second win of the season.
Gabriel Marcelli made it a Repsol Honda Team 1-2 aboard the Montesa Cota 4RTs that the team competes with.
Marcelli fought intensely with Busto throughout the day. On the first lap, the young rider incurred four penalty points and moved into second place. On the second lap, the Repsol Honda rider made some mistakes that dropped him down a place, but it was enough for him to enter the final. After overcoming the closing obstacles with great precision, Marcelli took second.
“It was a very intense fight and I felt very comfortable with the bike and with the work done by the team,” said Marcelli. “I would have liked to give a little more, but a second position is good for the title race.”
“It was a night of mixed feelings for me,” Busto said. “I started the night riding good and got through rounds one and two without making too many mistakes. I started the final strong, but then things didn’t go to plan at all. I began to make too many mistakes, and we didn’t get the results we wanted. The good news is the bike was good tonight.”
Jaime Busto put the factory GasGas TXT GP 300 on the podium.
Bou maintains the lead in the overall standings with 44 points, as Marcelli moves into second with 27. CN
- Toni Bou (Mon)
- Gabriel Marcelli (Mon)
- Jaime Busto (GG)
- Toby Martyn (Mon)
- Benoit Bincaz (She)
