02/02/18 – Italy’s current leading top-level Trial rider Matteo Grattarola – Montesa who celebrates his thirtieth birthday today will be targeting the Trial2 title during the 2018 season. The Italian poster boy finished tenth overall in last year’s TrialGP campaign with seventh spot at TrialGP Great Britain being his best result during 2017.
The former European champion and eight times winner of his native national championship, without doubt has the pedigree to confirm himself as a real contender in what is perhaps the most hotly contested class in the new look TrialGP series. Since moving up to the premier division back in 2010 Matteo has never placed outside the top ten rankings each season he has competed, although he was absent from the FIM Trial World Championship during 2015.
A close friend and welcomed training partner of reigning TrialGP Champion Toni Bou – Repsol Honda, Grattarola will also be four-stroke mounted in 2018 having made the switch to riding a Montesa Cota 4RT during this winter.
Whilst there is no questioning Matteo’s ability and potential to capture the Trial2 title, which since last season carries full FIM World Championship status, he will face stiff opposition in a class packed with talent and where consistency is everything as last year’s eventual Trial2 Champion Iwan Roberts confirmed.
Reinforcing the importance of the Trial2 class Matteo will be joined by fellow ex-TrialGP rider Loris Gubian – Gas Gas, as they look to fight off last year’s vice-champion Gabriel Marcelli – Montesa and other top five ranked riders Francesc Moret – Montesa, Toby Martyn – Montesa and Dan Peace – Gas Gas plus 2017 Trial125 Champion Lorenzo Gandola – Scorpa.
With Trial2 entries having already reached 80% of capacity – it looks odds on that this class will be oversubscribed by the time Grattarola and co kick off their respective campaigns come the opening TrialGP Spain event on 19-20 May.
