PAU’S VERTIGO POWER

TRIAL125

It has been a pleasure to watch this very young talent turn into an FIM Trial125 World Champion. In a day for a double celebration for the relatively new Spanish motorcycle trials manufacturer, Vertigo secured its first-ever FIM World Championship title. In truth, Pau Martinez has dominated the series, showing a very high level of mature riding and on a very good machine, and the success is well deserved. With five wins, two seconds and a fourth in Italy on the final day, it may well look like he has had an easy victory, but this has not been the case. Pau has fought for the victories in a very competitive class which has seen three new winners. On day one, in Andorra, we had Leo Guiraud (Beta-FRA) with Scotsman

Ben Dignan (Vertigo) on day two with another opportunity to play the national anthem for Great Britain when Jack Dance (GASGAS) won the final round on the second day in Italy.

At the series-opener in the French sunshine, Pau Martinez immediately locked horns with Leo Guiraud (Beta-FRA). Pau took a good win on both days to gain the physiological advantage as Guiraud finished with two third-place finishes. David Fabian (Beta-CZE) and Alex Canales (TRRS-ESP) showed their championship aspirations with consistent riding. Both scoring valuable early-series points as Great Britain’s Harry Turner (GASGAS) took a very confidence-inspiring sixth position on day one.

Moving to Spain, on day one Pau and Pau Dinares (Vertigo-ESP) made it a Vertigo one-two as Great Britain’s Harry Hemingway made his first trip to the podium in third position. For Jack Dance (GASGAS-GBR) his championship hopes were dented when he was forced to retire.

On day two, as Pau took a decisive tie-break win from his closest challenger Leo Guiraud, Ben Dignan found his way to the third step on the podium and Dance made up for day one with fourth position. For Alex Canales, his championship dream was over as he had to miss both days due to illness.

In the high altitude rounds in Andorra, Guiraud turned the tables on Martinez with a clear ten-mark victory on day one. On day two, it was a very proud moment for Scotland and Ben Dignan as he took his first victory to carry on the Vertigo-winning trend; he was delighted! Focussed on the world championship, Martinez was, once again, second. With the fight for the podium positions,

Pau Martinez went to Italy knowing what he had to do to secure the title after building up a strong haul of championship points.

VERTIGO’S VICTORY

With the trials legend and Vertigo team manager, Dougie Lampkin watched from the shadows as Pau Martinez went out to take his first-ever FIM World Championship the way it should be won — with another victory. With his mother, father and sister in attendance, it was a very much-treasured family moment; a Spanish winner on a Spanish machine welcomed with a proud handshake from Lampkin.

Alex Canales came fighting back to the championship with a second place in front of Jack Dance. With Leo Guiraud securing second position in the championship, the fight for the bronze medal would become a battle of Great Britain between Ben Dignan and Jack Dance.

JACK ATTACK

It was to be a superb day of action in Italy on day two seeing the top seven riders separated by just 10 marks. The day opened with Martinez became the early leader, with the only clean on section two showing his championship-winning confidence shining through. As the lap closed, both Dance and Digna were way off the pace on 24 and 26 marks lost. On the second lap, these two were locked in a battle to fight for that vital third place in the championship with the best lap scores, both in single figures, as Martinez maintained his lead by just two marks from Leo Guiraud; the gap was closing.

On the third and final lap, it was Dignan who made his push for the victory with a stunning lap of just seven marks lost, but it was not just enough as a jubilant Jack Dance was announced the winner. With Jack Dance on the top step, Ben Dignan on the second and Harry Hemingway in fifth it was a very proud moment for Great Britain when the national anthem played once again after Toby Martyn’s earlier victory in Trial2. For Dignan the huge smile told its own story as he secured third position overall in the championship. Well done, that man!.

2020 TRIAL125 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

POSITIONS: 1: Pau Martinez (Vertigo-ESP) 147; Leo Guiraud (Beta-FRA) 115; 3: Ben Dignan (Vertigo-ESP) 98; 4: Jack Dance (GASGAS-GBR) 95; 5: Harry Hemingway (Beta-GBR) 85; 6: David Fabian (Beta-CZE) 83; 7: Alex Canales (TRRS-ESP) 2: 72; 8: Pau Dinares (Vertigo-ESP) 59; 9: Rodney Bereiter (Beta-DEU) 54; 10: Enzo Rossi (ScorpaFRA) 52; 11: Harry Turner (GASGAS-GBR) 52; 12: Jonas Schiele (Beta-DEU) 47; 13: Audry Agnolin (Beta-FRA) 35; 14: Milosz Zynzowski (Beta-Poland) 23; 15: Philipp Eberharter (TRRS-AUT) 10.

MACHINES TOP 15: 1: Beta 7; 2: Vertigo 3; 3: GASGAS 2; 4: TRRS 2; 5: Scorpa 1.

ITALY: LAZZATE, ROUND 7

POSITIONS: 1: Martinez 37; 2: Canales 41; 3:

Dance 57; 4: Guiraud 75; 5: Dignan 80; 6: Turner 80; 7: Dinares 82; 8: Fabian 84; 9: Hemingway

86; 10: Schiele 89; 11: Rossi 90; 12: Agnolin 102; 13: Zynzowski 103; 14: Cristian Bassi (Beta-ITA) 106; 15: Bereiter 107.

ITALY: LAZZATE, ROUND 8

POSITIONS: 1: Dance 40; 2: Dignan 41; 3: Canales

41; 4: Martinez 43; 5: Guiraud 47; 6: Bereiter 47; 7: Hemingway 50; 8: Schiele 54; 9: Fabian 58; 10: Bassi 69; 11: Turner 69; 12: Dinares 72; 13: Luca Ruffoni (Beta-ITA) 73; 14: Agnolin 77;

15: Zynzowski 78.

Leo Guiraud (Beta-FRA): As we have seen in the past, it takes good riders to push one another to achieve the best results. We will be seeing much more of this French Federation rider who is most definitely a talent to watch.

Ben Dignan (Vertigo-ESP): Working hard towards a career in trials, the final touch came with the experience from a past 125cc World Champion Alexz Wigg as his minder. Ben needed the edges polishing on his riding, and the world-round win was just reward for his efforts on his way to third in the final world championship standings.

Jack Dance (GASGAS-GBR): Very much a family team effort in the world championship, the DNF in Spain stopped Jack from challenging for the title. A strong, mature, young rider, keep your eye on the name Jack Dance in the future, as no doubt more success will be coming his way.

Harry Hemingway (Beta-GBR): Growing in strength and character all the time and with every ride, Harry has shown that he can make it to the podium as he did in Spain on day one. Expect to see more success come his way as next year he will have one eye on the Trial125 title.

David Fabian (Beta-CZE): Sixth overall in the championship was a good performance and no doubt bodes well for the future.

Harry Turner (GASGAS-GBR): Small in stature and large on ability, Harry has done himself proud with two sixth places. Growing and learning all the time Michael Brown came on board with the team in Italy where Harry was all ears, listening and learning, which he did at all times.

Alex Canales (TRRS-ESP): Missing three world rounds through illness meant that his championship aspirations were over for the young Spanish rider. He will return as a real championship contender in 2021.

Enzo Rossi (Scorpa-FRA): It was good to see the Rossi and Scorpa combination in the championship, where the French rider showed the potential of the orange machine on the world stage.

Pau Dinares (Vertigo-ESP): Another young rider finding his way in the world championship, he was delighted to be on the podium with Pau Martinez on day one in Spain.