2018 TRIALGP WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Taking her fifth consecutive world title, Great Britain’s Emma Bristow never gave anyone else a look-in at the 2018 TrialGP Women’s Trial World Championship. Very much the ‘Queen’ of the two-wheeled motorcycle world, she has dominated the three-round series with a clear win at every round. The expected challenges from her rivals never materialised as they were left to battle for the positions lower down the order.
In the final round in Great Britain she very much wanted to put another dominant performance on for the home crowd, but once again in qualifying she was not at her very best. Spain’s Sandra Gomez led the way as Bristow parted with a single mark to push her closer to the front for the day of competition. Greeted by a very supportive crowd she started – in her own words — a little ‘wobbly’. On her opening lap she conceded a five in section seven, which must have settled any early nerves as she closed the lap on seven marks lost. Her nearest challenger was the eventual runnerup Ingveig Hakonsen from Norway on 14, with Spain’s Berta Abellan next on 19.
As the sun shone through on the second lap Bristow moved her game plan up a gear and was once again on for a single score until a stop in section 14 pushed her into double figures. No one else could take the battle to her though and she was a clear winner in front of Hakonsen. On the second lap many of the other competitors settled down to the formidable rocky terrain with Neus Mercia the closest to Bristow on 17 and Great Britain’s ‘Wild Card’ rider Donna Fox on 19. It was a very proud Emma Bristow who stood on the podium — and quite rightfully so — as the trial and world championship winner. Queen Emma still rules the world!
ROUND 3, GREAT BRITAIN
QUALIFYING: 1: Sandra Gomez (Gas Gas-ESP) 34.32; 2: Theresa Baeuml (Montesa-DEU) 39.31; 3: Donna Fox (Montesa-GBR) 40.39; 4: Maria Giro (Montesa-ESP) 40.49; 5: Sara Trentini (Montesa-ITA) 40.66; 6: Ingveig Hakonsen (TRRS-NOR) 41.16; 7: Neus Mercia (Beta-ESP) 43.58; 8: Emma Bristow (Sherco-GBR) 31.61 + 1; 9: Jule Steinert (TRRS-DEU) 48.08 + 1; 10: Jess Bown (Scorpa-GBR) 40.10 + 2; 11: Berta Abellan (Vertigo-ESP) 5.
RESULTS: 1: Emma Bristow (Sherco-GBR) 19; 2: Ingveig Hakonsen (TRRSNOR) 38; 3: Berta Abellan (Vertigo-ESP) 41; 4: Donna Fox (Montesa-GBR) 42; 5: Maria Giro (Montesa-ESP) 45; 6: Sandra Gomez (Gas Gas-ESP) 46; 7: Neus Mercia (Beta-ESP) 47; 8: Jess Bown (Scorpa-GBR) 48; 9: Theresa Baeuml (Montesa-DEU) 55; 10: Sara Trentini (Montesa-ITA) 72; 11: Jule Steinert (TRRS-DEU) 82.
2018 TRIALGP WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
POSITIONS: 1: Emma Bristow (Sherco-GBR) 80; 2: Berta Abellan (Vertigo-ESP) 58; 3: Sandra Gomez (Gas Gas-ESP) 51; 4: Ingveig Hakonsen (TRRS-NOR) 49; 5: Neus Mercia (Beta-ESP) 47; 6: Maria Giro (Montesa-ESP) 43; 7: Theresa Baeuml (Montesa-DEU) 39; 8: Jess Bown (Scorpa-GBR) 30; 9: Huldeborg Barkved (Gas Gas-NOR) 28; 10: Sara Trentini (Montesa-ITA) 25; 11: Jule Steinert (TRRS-DEU) 18; 12: Donna Fox (Montesa-GBR) 13; 13: Sarah Bauer (Sherco-DEU) 11; 14: Aya Nishimura (Beta-JPN) 6.