FIM World Championship: What’s new for 2018
TrialGP
Jaime Busto (Gas Gas-ESP): Right at the cutting edge of the sport is the Jaime Busto move from the Repsol Honda team to Gas Gas. Jeroni Fajardo (Gas Gas-ESP): Maybe the move from Vertigo to the Gas Gas where Jeroni first made his mark can deliver the goods. James Dabill (BetaGBR): Moving back to Beta is very much a move back home as this is where he made his mark in the TWC many years ago. He is still Great Britain’s un-disputed number one. Albert Cabestany (Beta-ESP): The ‘Shock’ move from Sherco was very much unexpected as he has been the main stay of the Sherco team for the majority of his successful career. Could a re-motived ‘Cabers’ challenge for the wins again, we will see. Jorge Casales (Vertigo-ESP): One of the most under-rated riders in TrialGP Jorge knows on his day he challenge the top five. Arnau Farre (Vertigo-ESP): After a tough year in TrialGP on the Gas Gas Arnau will be looking to move into the top ten in 2018. Iwan Roberts (TRRS-GBR): The 2017 Trial2 World Champion will compete in selected rounds with the backing of TRRS.
Trial2
With the TrialGP rider paired with the Trial2 rider to compete for the coveted manufacturers’ title the choice of rider pairing becomes much more critical. The majority of the title challengers in Trial2 will remain with the same teams and machinery for 2018.
The main mover is Toby Martyn (Montesa-GBR); winning the final round of 2017 gave Toby the extra level of confidence required to challenge for a title. Moving up into the class will be the Trial 125 winner Lorenzo Gandola (Scorpa-ITA).
Trial125
2018 will see Trial125 become a full FIM World Championship (promoted from FIM World Cup) alongside Trial2 that was elevated to the same level in 2017 and the longer established blue ribbon TrialGP and TrialGP Women’s classes.
This prestigious recognition comes after the huge success of the five-round series in 2017 that saw a large increase in the number of riders who contested the entire championship. Speaking on behalf of Sport7 the TrialGP Championship Director Jake Miller said. “We would like to thank the FIM for recognising Trial125 as a true World Championship and as a highly important platform for developing the next generation of champions.”