QUALIFYING

The changes to the 2019 qualification process, which meant that the riders would make two separate laps of the chosen hazard without a practice lap as they had had in 2018, was proving a success with some spectacular action. A ballot decides the starting order for the Q1 timed lap, after which the finishing order in Q1 determines the starting order for Q2. The two lap times are then put together and the best average time, also taking into account any marks lost on observation, decides the starting orders, with the quickest average time determining the last starting position in the competition. The action in the early evening in Portugal was sensational – a good crowd, the music, the lights and the action were by far the best of the best qualifying action ever, and yes, it was electrifying!

2019 The Fastest

TRIALGP: No result recorded for Italy, start order was by ballot. Toni Bou (Repsol Honda-ESP) 4; Adam Raga (TRRS-ESP) 1.

TRIAL2: Toby Martyn (Beta-GBR) 4; Matteo Grattarola (Honda-ITA) 1; Aniol Gelabert (Scorpa-FRA) 1.

TRIAL125: Kieran Touly (Scorpa-FRA) 2; Alex Canales (Gas Gas-ESP) 2; Pau Martinez (Vertigo-ESP) 1.

Portugal

If the Portuguese round is repeated at Gouveia in the 2020 calendar, put it in your diary. The location in the river in the middle of the town is what trials is all about, how it used to be – fun! With good observation points along the edge of the river in the gorge on the edge of the town centre the stage was set. The commitment from all the riders across the classes was unbelievable, really on the limit; it was spectacular. Yes Toni Bou won, but the water crossing at the end was deep and full of action especially when Great Britain’s James Dabill went for gold in TrialGP! In Trial2 the action was just as hot and we are sure the cooling water effect kept Toby Martyn ready for Q2, as just like Toni Bou he just went for it – pure edge-of-the seat action. He knew what he had to do to secure pole and he hit the ‘Mad’ button in a style never seen before in this class, and he nailed it! Toby Martyn has had a tough year but talk about entertain – we loved it.

TRIALGP: 1: Bou 0 + 22.23; 2: Dabill 0 + 23.42; 3: Fujinami 0 + 23.50; 4: Casales 0 + 24.56; 5: Kadlec 0 + 25.13; 6: Bincaz 0 + 25.65; 7: Miquel Gelabert 0 + 26.49; 8: Fajardo 0 + 26.52; 9: Dan Peace 0 + 28.13; 10: Price: 0 + 29.28.

TRIAL2: 1: Martyn 0 + 19.28; 2: Grattarola: 0 + 20.92; 3: Moret 0 + 20.95; 4: Aniol Gelabert 0 + 21.44; 5: Marcelli 0 + 23.37; 6: Haga 0 + 24.08; 7: Gandola: 0 + 24.30; 8: Suarez: 0 + 24.98; 9: Gunvaldsen: 0 + 25.11; 10: Green: 0 + 25.22.

France

After the madness of Portugal things calmed down a little in France but the results were still the same. Toni was very calm and calculated, just like an executioner; he knew what he had to do and just did, as calm as anything, bang on the money in both Q1 and Q2. The biggest loser was his fellow Repsol Honda team rider Takahisa Fujinami; second fastest in Q1, he crashed out in Q2 in a nasty accident but fortunately without injury. Both Jeroni Fajardo and Jaime Busto set quick times, but not as quick as the ‘King’ of qualifying: that man Bou. In Trial2 it was that man Martyn again who, like Bou, just went out and blitzed it. Gabrielle Marcelli was a happy man, having the option awarded to him to start behind the championship leader Matteo Grattarola. On home soil Kieran Touly wanted pole in Trial125 desperately, but it was Alex Canales who was the man with the fastest throttle who edged out the French rider

TRIALGP: 1: Bou 0 + 26.64; 2: Fajardo 0 + 28.20; 3: Busto: 0 + 28.31; 4: Raga: 0 + 28.69; 5: Casales 0 + 29.01; 6: Miquel Gelabert 0 + 30.52; 7: Dabill 0 + 31.40; 8: Fujinami 0 + 31.66; 9: Dan Peace 0 + 31.77; 10: Bincaz 0 + 32.43.

TRIAL2: 1: Martyn 0 + 25.68; 2: Marcelli 0 + 27.69; 3: Petrella 0 + 27.99; 4: Haga 0 + 28.59; 5: Grattarola 0 + 28.72; 6: Moret 0 + 28.89; 7: Petersen: 0 + 29.42; 8: Miguel: 0 + 30.33; 9: Aniol Gelabert 0 + 30.73; 10: Green 0 + 31.15.

TRIAL125: 1: Canales 0 + 21.15; 2: Touly 0 + 22.32; 3: Rabino: 0 + 22.52; 4: Rovery: 0 + 22.52; 5: Martinez 0 + 22.70.

Toni Bou (Repsol Honda-ESP): In France, one word springs to mind: ‘Executioner’ Toby Martyn (Beta-GBR) – ‘Racing’ to the pole position in France. Toni Bou (Repsol Honda-ESP): The ‘King of qualifying’ hits the water in Portugal. Toby Martyn (Beta-GBR): A very confident ride gave him pole in Portugal.

We all love the ‘Dibsta’, a good all-round guy, talk about entertain. Never frightened to open the throttle, he wiped out the qualifying tent in Portugal before enquiring on his time – James Dabill is some boy! Alex Canales (Gas Gas-ESP): An all-aggression style has given him two pole positons in 2019 as the season closes on the little Trial125 machines. Jaime Busto (Vertigo-ESP): All he wants to do is be fast and able to fight for the victories at the back of the entry with Toni Bou; in Portugal it all went waist-deep wrong.