Reigning champion Toni Bou (Montesa) extended his TrialGP lead with a maximum points haul from the opening day of competition at the TrialGP of Portugal – round two of the 2025 Hertz FIM Trial World Championship – while Berta Abellan (Scorpa) gained a narrow advantage over Andrea Sofia Rabino (Beta) in TrialGP Women as the best riders on the planet were made to work hard on a tough and technically testing course.
- Hertz FIM Trial World Championship pays first visit to Viana do Castelo
- Unbeatable Toni Bou takes maximum TrialGP points from opening day in Portugal
- Power Section win sees Berta Abellan extend her TrialGP Women advantage
The intense battle in Trial2 picked up where it left off in Spain last weekend with Miquel Gelabert (Honda) hitting top form on the new RTL Electric model to run two-one over the day’s pair of points-scoring races and American series newcomer Ryon Land (Sherco) topped both races in Trial3, but in Trial2 Women inconsistent performances meant no single rider was able to dominate.
Following its debut at the TrialGP of Spain, the ‘Power Section’ returned to add a dramatic final twist to the action for riders in the elite TrialGP and TrialGP Women classes and with valuable championship points up for grabs, the sizeable crowd assembled for the competition’s climax were treated to a string of all-action runs against the clock.
Heading to Viana do Castelo with a ten-point lead, thirty-eight-year-old Bou seized control of the day’s opening race at section five. Rain leading up to the event ensured grip was in short supply and with the majority of sections plotted on a steep, rock-strewn wooded hillside, the sublime Spaniard had already incurred two maximums before his stunning clean on the fifth that took fives from the rest of the TrialGP field.
Further increasing his lead on section six, Bou could afford a late failure on section eleven to still win by five marks from Jaime Busto (GASGAS), but his total of twenty-three was a good indication of how tough conditions were as Italy’s Matteo Grattarola (Beta) took third from Gabriel Marcelli (Montesa) on a tie-break on thirty-four, three clear of Alex Canales (Montesa).
Race Two followed a similar course with Bou gaining an early lead before Busto applied pressure in the closing stages, but Bou appeared to have his second victory of the day sewn up until another maximum on the man-made section eleven – where Busto remained feet-up on both his visits – threatened to shake up the standings.
However, the eighteen-time champion kept his composure and made no mistake over section twelve’s giant wooden crates to ensure victory before a surprise five by Busto gave Bou a slightly flattering six-mark winning margin with his total of twenty-five clear evidence of another hard race.
“The second race was more difficult,” said Bou, “and I am super-happy with both victories as they are very important for the championship.”
Behind the leading pair it was too close to call until the final section with Aniol Gelabert (TRRS) finishing third on thirty-two – one ahead of Grattarola – with Canales completing the top five on thirty-nine as Britain’s Jack Peace (Sherco), in his debut season in the class, dropped from third to sixth with maximums in the final two sections.
Marcelli had been in contention for a podium finish until a crash on the final step of section ten damaged his clutch and a further maximum on section eleven plus eight time penalties pushed him down to seventh.
Leading the TrialGP Women class by a slender four points following the TrialGP of Spain, Abellan had no answer to Rabino’s form in the day’s opening race with the eighteen-year-old Italian parting with nine to come home two ahead of the twenty-five-year-old Spaniard.
Britain’s Alice Minta (Beta) was third on eighteen, one clear of Denisa Pecháčková (TRRS) from the Czech Republic with Kaytlyn Adshead (Sherco) fifth on twenty-four.
Just as she had on the opening day in Spain, Abellan fought back in Race Two and after taking the lead on section four that twisted around and over rocks set into an imposing slippery banking she maintained her concentration until the end with her final score of nine giving her an eventual eight-mark cushion over Rabino.
“I didn’t start too well,” said Abellan. “My body positioning and throttle control were not right, but the second race went much better and I felt very good on the bike.”
A disappointing sixth in Race One, Naomi Monnier (Beta) improved to third at her second attempt on a score of twenty-three after winning a tie-break with Pecháčková with Adshead fifth on twenty-four.
Run against the clock and with three points for victory, two for second and one for third, while providing a hugely entertaining finale for fans the Power Section ensured no let-up in the tension for TrialGP and TrialGP Women competitors.
With just Bou and Busto left to go, Grattarola led the TrialGP class after skipping his way across the wooden blocks and crates with a time of 28:83 before Bou recorded a time of 25:81, narrowly ahead of Busto who slotted into second with a 26:21.
In TrialGP Women it was Abellan who took the three points with a time of 25:01 to extend her series with Adshead in second with 25:14 and Italy’s Alessia Bacchetta (GASGAS) who posted 25:16 in third.
After dropping down from TrialGP to Trial2 for 2025, Miquel Gelabert looked tentative first time out in Spain last weekend, but in Portugal he showed his class and after finishing two marks behind Harry Hemingway (Beta) in Race One on a score of ten he dominated Race Two with a total of five seeing him come home eight clear of George Hemingway.
“I’m super-happy,” said Gelabert. “After last weekend I was not pleased with myself so today’s results have been great and I want to keep going like this.”
In possibly the series’ most competitive class, the slightest loss of concentration can prove pivotal and in the opening race just two marks separated third-placed Mattia Spreafico (GASGAS) on fourteen from former champion Billy Green (Scorpa) – who led after the opening round – and his fellow British rider Harry Turner (Sherco) who tied on sixteen.
It was even closer in Race Two with Britain’s Jack Dance losing a tie-break with George Hemingway for second, one mark ahead of new championship leader Harry Hemingway and two clear of Norway’s Sondre Haga (GASGAS).
With riders’ fortunes varying significantly from race to race in Trial2 Women, Norway’s Wilde Moi (Beta) won the day’s overall on a tie-break with five-two scores giving her the edge over Britain’s Sophie Bailey (GASGAS) who recorded four-three finishes.
Championship leader Sara Trentini (TRRS) from Italy backed up a second in Race One with sixth in Race Two to increase her advantage over Race One winner Margaux Pena from France (Electric Motion) by a point as Spain’s Daniela Hernando (Beta) took victory second time out.
Renewing their battle from the previous weekend, Trial3 pace-setters Land, Jonas Jorgensen (Beta) from Norway and Japan’s Jin Kuroyama (Sherco) filled the top three positions in both races. Land was seven clear of series leader Jorgensen in Race One and two clear of Kuroyama – the nephew of former Japanese star Kenichi – in Race Two as a pair of fourth-placed finishes kept Britain’s Harison Skelton (Scorpa) in contention.
“I feel like my dreams are coming true,” said Land. “My first race was amazing so I went into Race Two full of confidence.”
Taking the 2025 Hertz FIM Trial World Championship to a global audience, FIM-MOTO.TV will stream all rounds LIVE including behind-the-scenes footage, interviews and expert analysis with a season pass covering all seven rounds and the FIM Trial des Nations priced at €34.90.
In addition, for all 2025 rounds the opening race in Trial2 on all scoring days will be streamed free on FIM-MOTO.TV and TrialGP and TrialGP Women action from race two on all scoring days will be available via a pay-per-view pass.
