History was made on day one of the TrialGP of Japan – the opening round of the 2026 Hertz FIM Trial World Championship – earlier this month when an electric motorcycle was used for the very first time in the premier TrialGP category.

Ridden by Spain’s Miquel Gelabert to sixth overall on the first day of competition, Honda’s RTL Electric machine proved itself to be extremely capable over the huge rocks, steep climbs and giant logs that comprised much of the course at the Mobility Resort Motegi.

The following day the twenty-eight-year-old from Barcelona improved to fifth to underline the message that electric machines can compete on an equal footing against petrol-powered motorcycles over the toughest, most challenging sections.

A regular in the TrialGP class from 2016 to 2024 before he dropped down to Trial2 last season to help develop the RTL Electric, Gelabert’s performance in 2025 when he narrowly missed out on the title was good enough to prompt his return to the sport’s top-flight with the mission to continue to improve and refine the performance of the cutting-edge machine.

“After last season in Trial2, where we saw that the bike could compete for top positions in every race, we felt that the next step was to move up to TrialGP to keep developing the project,” explained Honda Montesa Team Manager Carles Barneda. “During the winter, we worked intensively to further develop the bike and the goal for the 2026 season is to be able to fight for the podium.

“HRC and Honda are completely committed to this project and are approaching this new stage with great motivation, giving us their full support to achieve the best results throughout the season.”

Gelabert was very much on home turf when he made his debut in the premier class on the RTL Electric at X-Trial Barcelona in February where, although he failed to make the Final, he demonstrated that electric motorcycles were competitive at the sport’s highest level.

Just over three months later, Gelabert made history in Japan when – with the event format undergoing a comprehensive revision for 2026 – he piloted the RTL Electric to fifth in the first-ever Super Pole competition the day before the first points-scoring action of the season and he also made the cut for the new Super Final on both days.

“That’s the first weekend of the season done,” said Gelabert. “We know that we have to keep improving little by little, race after race, so I’m happy. I’m very grateful to the team for all the hard work and in Andorra we will look to make a step forward.”

“Our debut in the top class was a positive experience,” added Barneda. “We made a few mistakes, but we learned from them and will improve. We see that Miquel and the RTL Electric have the potential to be at the front and fight for a podium.

“In the Super Final the level of the sections was more demanding and we struggled a bit more, but we’ve identified areas for improvement and will try to fight harder at the next race.”

Round two of the 2026 Hertz FIM Trial World Championship – the TrialGP of Andorra – is scheduled to run from 12-14 June at Sant Julià de Lòria.

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Defending champion Toni Bou (Montesa) tightened his grip on the 2026 Hertz FIM Trial World Championship when he continued his domination of the premier TrialGP class with another pair of victories on day two of the opening round – the TrialGP of Japan – but in TrialGP Women, following her clean sweep yesterday, Berta Abellan (Scorpa) tasted defeat for the first time this season after a faultless performance in her opening race. Brilliant Toni Bou dominates TrialGP class at Mobility Resort Motegi Reigning champion Berta Abellan on top in TrialGP Women British lion Billy Green takes hard-fought win in Trial2 In Trial2 the final positions were as unpredictable as yesterday with Britain’s George Hemingway (Beta) and Billy Green (Scorpa) sharing the wins, although inconsistent finishes from both riders over the two races ensured the overall was incredibly close with Green – champion in 2023 – just getting the verdict ahead of Italy’s Francesco Titli (Montesa). With the sun once again beating down on the Mobility Resort Motegi, conditions were ideal for the second consecutive day and Bou – who is bidding to win his twentieth consecutive title this season – started the opening race strongly, although not as well as his fellow Spaniard Gabriel Marcelli (Montesa) who remained clean until section seven where he needed a two. This allowed Jaime Busto (Beta) to draw level as Bou and Italy’s Matteo Grattarola (Beta) shared third, just a single mark further adrift. Section ten, featuring a series of imposing steps before the exit, proved to be pivotal for Busto who incurred a maximum as Bou parted with just an additional mark to tie Marcelli – who needed two dabs – for the lead on four and Grattarola slipped to third on a total of five. A clean and a single mark in the final two sections were good enough for Bou to claim another win, but a maximum on the boulders of section eleven dropped Marcelli to fourth on a score of nine as Grattarola took second on seven which put him two behind Bou and one ahead of Busto. Making it four Spaniards in the top five, Miquel Gelabert (Honda) recorded an impressive score of thirteen on the electric machine before a big gap to British riders Harry Hemingway (Beta) and Jack Peace (Sherco). Bou then produced the best performance in the timed Super Pole section ahead of Marcelli and Hemingway before the Final got under way with Busto seizing the advantage to skip through the five sections for a score of just one – four ahead of Bou and Marcelli – as for the second time Hemingway and Peace were eliminated. However, with the scores reset to zero for the deciding Super Final, Bou – as we have seen so many times before – soaked up the pressure to produce a true champion’s performance. With Grattarola and Gelabert both taking maximums on section one that featured a huge double step at the start and an incredibly technical exit, Bou went clean along with Busto and Marcelli to share the early lead. The next section stopped everyone before Busto dropped off the pace on section three with a maximum after getting off-line on the steep climb out over rocks where both Bou and Marcelli remained feet-up. With two to go there was nothing to choose between the leading pair, but Bou’s clean on section four gave him the advantage after Marcelli needed two marks and the thirty-nine-year-old then put the result beyond question with a faultless performance on the final section. Marcelli’s total of eight, including a single time penalty, saw him safely in second with a three-mark gap to Busto with Grattarola fourth on twenty, five ahead of Gelabert. “The Super Final was very difficult because there was so much pressure,” said Bou, “but the weekend has been amazing for the team and it is amazing to be here.” Following on from her double win yesterday, reigning TrialGP Women champion Abellan started the day in untouchable form with a faultless performance putting her thirteen marks clear of Andrea Sofia Rabino (Beta) from Italy who took second on a tie-break from her compatriot Alessia Bacchetta (GASGAS). Czech rider Denisa Pechackova (TRRS) recovered from a maximum on the first section of the day to take fourth on eighteen, two ahead of Britain’s Kaytlyn Adshead (Vertigo), but it was all-change in the concluding race when twenty-one-year-old Bacchetta – in just her third season in the premier class – produced the best form of her career to win on six. Abellan dropped her first marks of the day on section four when she collected a maximum and this score, combined with four more single marks, took her total to nine which forced her into a tie-break with Alice Minta (Beta) for second that she won on a tie-break to post the day’s best overall performance. “My first lap today was amazing,” said Abellan. “I made a mistake on the second lap and scored a five that was too difficult to recover from, but I’m so happy to start the season like this.” Rabino ended the race a further mark adrift in fourth with Adshead taking another solid fifth-placed finish on fifteen. A lack of consistency once again proved to be expensive for George Hemingway (Beta) who won today’s opening Trial2 race – matching his race two victory yesterday – before failing to capitalise in the deciding race with a disappointing thirteenth as Green took his first victory of the year after finishing sixth first time out. With his rivals also struggling to put two solid rides together, Green was the best overall performer on the day, although it was incredibly close with Titli just two points behind after carding five-two finishes on a very low scoring day when the smallest mistake proved decisive. “I’m super-happy to get a win on day two,” said Green. “I eliminated a few mistakes in the second race and it’s a great feeling.” Ranked eleventh at the end of last season, Norwegian rider Jarand Gunvaldsen (TRRS) was a stand-out second in the opening race and he backed this up with a solid sixth for third overall, a huge improvement after finishing outside the top ten the previous day. Proving that consistency is key, a four-five scorecard may not have threatened the top step of today’s podium, but it was good enough for Alex Canales (Montesa) to retain his series lead as Spain’s Arnau Farré (Sherco) and Britain’s Jack Dance (GASGAS), who finished second and third overall on Saturday, lost ground in the championship after slipping to eighth and ninth today. The world’s best Trial riders now face a nervous four-week wait before round two – the TrialGP of Andorra – on 12-14 June when Trial3 competitors will join the action.

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Sublime Spaniard Toni Bou (Montesa) began his bid to claim an incredible twentieth consecutive TrialGP title with a double victory and maximum points on day one of the opening round of the 2026 Hertz FIM Trial World Championship – the TrialGP of Japan – at Mobility Resort Motegi today. Exciting new event format is a big hit at TrialGP of Japan Toni Bou and Berta Abellan double up in TrialGP and TrialGP Women Consistent Alex Canales sets the pace on his return to Trial2 Matching her compatriot’s performance, defending TrialGP Women champion Berta Abellan (Scorpa) also emerged from day one with a perfect two wins from two races while in Trial2 Alex Canales (Montesa) – who is taking a step back from the TrialGP class this season – maintained the Spanish stranglehold on all three classes in action in Japan to move into an early series lead with super-consistent two-two finishes. A major revision of the event format for 2026 added even more excitement to the hotly-anticipated opening round and the changes helped to increase the flow of adrenaline, especially in the elite TrialGP class where new Super Pole, Final and Super Final elements heaped the pressure on the world’s best riders. The action got under way on Friday afternoon with the new timed Super Test to determine race one starting order for TrialGP and TrialGP Women, with Bou emerging on top ahead of Jaime Busto (Beta) and Gabriel Marcelli (Montesa) as Britain’s Alice Minta (Beta) led home the world’s best female riders chased by Abellan and Andrea Sofia Rabino (Beta) from Italy. With clear skies on Saturday and warm sun providing a welcome contrast to last season’s rain-lashed event, the sections – mostly laid out on steep, rock-studded bankings under trees – provided much more grip than they offered twelve months ago, allowing riders to showcase their skills to the large and appreciative audience. The champion every year since 2007, thirty-nine-year-old Bou moved into an early lead in race one, despite picking up a five on the imposing rocks and slabs of section three that also claimed maximums from his compatriot Busto and Italy’s Matteo Grattarola (Beta) along with Marcelli. Pulling clear of the chasing pack led by British class newcomer Harry Hemingway (Beta) at the halfway point, Bou extended his advantage and even two maximums late in the race could not prevent him from taking victory by four marks. Busto, making his debut for the Italian manufacturer, also picked up the pace in the second half of the race to overhaul Grattarola and Hemingway for second with the veteran Italian – the only rider to escape without a maximum from section eleven – ending the race third, one mark behind Busto and two clear of the twenty-year-old British rider. Never fully recovering from a run of three maximums in the opening three sections, Marcelli found his form in the second half of the race, but could only climb to fifth as he finished three marks adrift of Hemingway. With race two for TrialGP getting under way with the Super Pole section run against the clock to determine starting order, the Final – to decide the five riders qualifying for the Super Final stage – was held over five sections and saw Busto on top from Grattarola and Bou with Hemingway eliminated along with his compatriot Jack Peace (Sherco). Scores were then reset to zero and Bou, Busto and Marcelli shared the lead following the opening two sections with all three running clean-five before Marcelli slipped off the pace when he took a maximum on section three where his two rivals produced faultless performances. Completing the race locked together on ten following the final two sections, Bou took the decision from Busto on a tie-break with Marcelli another five adrift in third ahead of Grattarola and Spain’s Miquel Gelabert (Honda) who made his own entry into the Trial history books as the first rider to compete in TrialGP on an electric machine. “I’m super-happy to win here as it’s very important for the team,” said Bou. “To be honest, I have been under pressure all the first race and in the Final and Super Final so it has been very difficult for me, but I was fighting to the end and a start like this is amazing.” Beginning the day as pre-event favourite in TrialGP Women, Abellan started race one well and after moving ahead of early leader Alycia Soyer (TRRS) from France the twenty-six-year-old was never headed again – despite a five on section six that claimed maximums from every competitor apart from Italy’s Alessia Bacchetta (GASGAS) – to run out winner on a total of fourteen. Bacchetta got her campaign off to a rock-solid start in second on sixteen with Rabino, last season’s silver medallist, third on twenty-one after taking three maximums during the course of the race with Minta another five adrift in fourth, two marks ahead of the Czech Republic’s Denisa Pechackova (TRRS). Heading into race two fully dialled in, Abellan showed her class with a total of nine giving her a comfortable seven-mark win from Pechackova as Rabino made her second visit to the podium on seventeen, two clear of Bacchetta who in turn was four ahead of Soyer. “The first race was difficult for me because there was a lot of pressure, but I felt good,” said Abellan. “In the second race I felt confident and I’m so happy to start the season like this.” Trial2 is traditionally an incredibly closely-contested class and it lived up to its reputation with Spain’s Arnau Farré (Sherco) – a double winner at last season’s final round – taking victory in the opening race before George Hemingway (Beta), the younger brother of TrialGP’s newest competitor, recovered from a disappointing start to lead home race two. With Hemingway a lowly thirteenth in race one and Farré only able to manage sixth at his second attempt, the top performing rider on the day was Canales by virtue of his two second-placed finishes. “For me today has been super-special,” said Canales. “Last year I was riding TrialGP, but I’ve taken a step down to Trial2 and my results here today have been amazing.” Farré will start Sunday’s event sitting second in the standings, four points behind Canales, with Italy’s Francesco Titli (Montesa) a fine third thanks to his consistent four-three finishes that saw him tied on points with Britain’s Jack Dance (GASGAS) who ran three-four. With his second race result lifting him to fifth in the points table, Hemingway remains in contention, although the eighteen-year-old is already playing catch-up as he attempts to replicate his elder brother’s 2025 title-winning campaign. The action from Mobility Resort Motegi continues tomorrow at 09:00 (local time).

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The 2026 Hertz FIM Trial World Championship gets under way this coming weekend (15-17 May) when the TrialGP of Japan takes place at the immaculate Mobility Resort Motegi, situated around one-hundred-and-fifty kilometres north of Tokyo. New framework adds to excitement as TrialGP of Japan gets 2026 series under way World’s best Trial riders converge on Mobility Resort Motegi for round one Toni Bou and Berta Abellan begin defences of TrialGP and TrialGP Women titles The venue for every TrialGP of Japan staged since the nation first hosted a round of the series in 2000, Mobility Resort Motegi has featured on the championship calendar every year since apart from a brief period from 2020 until 2022 due to restrictions caused by the pandemic. The start of a new season is always an exciting time and the eagerly-anticipated annual return to such a beloved venue combined with the mix of new riders, changes to team line-ups and a comprehensive revision to the event format means there is an incredibly strong sense of anticipation leading into the weekend. With the premier TrialGP and TrialGP Women classes competing alongside Trial2 riders who, for the first time, will share fifty per cent of the sections with TrialGP, the expected big turn-out of fans will be treated to elite-level riding and the new framework means there will be even more action for spectators to enjoy, whether in person at Mobility Resort Motegi or watching LIVE on FIM-MOTO.TV from the comfort of their own homes. A new Super Test on Friday will determine race one starting order for TrialGP and TrialGP Women and all classes, apart from TrialGP, will contest two races on each day of points-scoring competition. After completing their opening race of the day, TrialGP riders’ second race will be composed of Super Pole, Final and Super Final elements. Super Pole will be staged over one speed section to determine the order of the Final that will then be held over between four and six grouped sections for all competitors. The Super Final for the top five TrialGP riders will then take place over between four and six grouped sections. Bidding to win an incredible twentieth consecutive TrialGP title, superstar Spaniard Toni Bou (Montesa) has won five of the six points-scoring days staged in Japan since its return to the calendar in 2023 and will start the weekend as favourite, although the thirty-nine-year-old knows he faces a fierce battle with his main opposition likely to come from his compatriots Jaime Busto (Beta) and Gabriel Marcelli (Montesa). Busto has very fond memories of the TrialGP of Japan, having claimed his debut top-flight victory there in 2019 with another win following in 2023. However, while he hasn’t dropped out of the top three in the world since 2020, the three-time silver-medallist is still chasing FIM gold. Adding to the intrigue, this weekend will be Busto’s outdoor debut for the Italian manufacturer and his form on the new machine is at present relatively unproven. Bou’s team-mate, Marcelli has excelled in the TrialGP class since winning the Trial2 title in 2019 and has been a firm fixture in the top three for the previous three seasons with a best finish of second in 2024. Having claimed a first-ever overall day win on day two of the penultimate round of last year’s series, the twenty-six-year-old will be hungry to add more victories to his racing résumé and Japan would be the perfect place to start. Of course, last year’s top three are by no means the only podium contenders this weekend and strong showings are also expected from riders including veteran Italian Matteo Grattarola (Beta) alongside the British pairing of Jack Peace (Sherco) – who was fifth last year on his debut in the class – and reigning Trial2 champion and class newcomer Harry Hemingway (Beta). History will also be made in Japan when Spain’s Miquel Gelabert (Honda) debuts an electric motorcycle in the premier class, a high-pressure occasion for the twenty-eight-year-old who will be aiming to rise to the occasion at the Honda-owned facility. The entry in TrialGP Women is led by defending champion Berta Abellan (Scorpa) who will have to contend with stiff opposition from last year’s silver medallist Andrea Sofia Rabino (Beta) and third-placed Denisa Pechackova (TRRS) from the Czech Republic. Having finished second on five previous occasions, 2025 was a breakthrough season for the twenty-six-year-old Spaniard, but she was pushed all the way by Italy’s Rabino and their fierce rivalry is expected to continue in Japan. Still aged just eighteen, Pechackova – Trial2 Women champion in 2022 – secured a string of podiums last season as she emerged as the main challenger to the dominance of the leading pair, although her worst result came in Japan where she finished tenth on day two. In an entry packed with riders with podium potential, other names to watch out for include, but are not limited to, British competitors Kaytlyn Adshead (Vertigo) – who has changed teams this season – and Alice Minta (Beta) who finished fourth and fifth last season, along with Italian Alessia Bacchetta (GASGAS) and Alycia Soyer (TRRS) from France. With Harry Hemingway and Gelabert – last year’s top two Trial2 riders – moving up to TrialGP the class has been thrown wide open and the contenders are lining up, led by last season’s bronze medallist Arnau Farré (Sherco) who claimed a double win at the final round of 2025. Ending last season just two points behind the talented Spaniard, Britain’s Billy Green (Scorpa) is back for another attempt at regaining the title he won in 2023 while George Hemingway (Beta), the younger of the British brothers and a double Trial3 champion, is a hot tip to improve on his sixth-placed finish in 2025 in his debut year in the class. Although not expected to launch a strong challenge at the beginning of his first year in the class, American teenager Ryon Land (Sherco) – Trial3 champion last season – will be hoping to build momentum throughout the early rounds as he gains vital experience at this level. The action from Mobility Resort Motegi begins on Friday (15 May) with the Super Test scheduled for 15:30 (local time) before the opening race of the season gets under way the following day at 09:00 (local time).

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The provisional calendar for the 2026 Hertz FIM Trial World Championship has been released, comprising seven scheduled rounds and thirteen days of points-scoring competition with the series returning to the Netherlands for the first time since 2019, revisiting an Italian venue last used in 1992 and stopping off at an all-new venue in Great Britain.

In a repeat of 2024, the championship will get under way with the TrialGP of Japan that will be staged at the hugely-popular Mobility Resort Motegi on 15-17 May before the action heads to Europe with round two scheduled for 12-14 June at Sant Julià de Lòria in Andorra.

The following weekend sees the TrialGP of Italy at Camerino – a venue that was last used in 1992 when the late Diego Bosis claimed an incredibly popular home victory ahead of Finnish champion-elect Tommi Ahvala – before the action resumes five weeks later on 24-26 July with the TrialGB of Great Britain at Trac Mon Circuit, an exciting new venue on Anglesey, an island lying off the coast of north Wales.

Following the traditional summer break, round five takes place on 29-30 August with a single day of points-scoring competition at Cahors for the TrialGP of France and the series then heads north for the TrialGP of the Netherlands – back on the calendar for the first time since 2019 – at Zelhem on 4-6 September.

The championship will conclude on 18-20 September with the TrialGP of Spain at Pobladura de las Regueras, a venue last used for the FIM Trial des Nations in 2024.

Trial2 competitors will once again join TrialGP riders at all seven rounds. TrialGP Women competitors will only sit out France and the Netherlands and Trial3 riders will miss just Japan and Spain. The Trial2 Women title will be decided in Italy, Great Britain and Spain.

The 2026 FIM Trial des Nations will take place on 26-27 September at Arteixo in Spain, scene of the opening round of the 2023 Hertz FIM Trial World Championship.

A date and venue for the FIM Trial Vintage Trophy and FIM Trial Vintage Motorcycle Trophy is still awaiting confirmation.

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The Spanish men’s and women’s teams claimed the two biggest prizes up for grabs at the 2025 FIM Trial des Nations (TdN) at Tolmezzo in Italy today and there was victory for the United States in the second-tier International Trophy as Norway regained the Challenge des Nations title.

• Toni Bou, Jaime Busto and Gabriel Marcelli dominate men’s category
• Berta Abellan, Daniela Hernando and Laia Pi take women’s title on a tie-break
• United States win International Trophy and Norway regain Challenge des Nations title

An annual competition to determine which country has the right to call itself the sport’s undisputed number one for the next twelve months, this year’s TdN returned to the scene of its 2011 edition where a technical and testing course of fifteen sections – the majority of which were plotted in an imposing dry riverbed and on steep, rock-strewn bankings – was tackled twice.

Winners of the men’s competition for the previous twenty consecutive editions, Spain fielded Toni Bou (Montesa), Jaime Busto (GASGAS) and Gabriel Marcelli (Montesa) – who have dominated the top three of the Hertz FIM Trial World Championship since 2023 – and started as clear favourites, but the remaining podium positions were too close to call with the home nation vying with France and Great Britain.

With a team’s two best scores from three attempts at each section counting towards the final result, it was Jack Peace (Sherco) and brothers Harry Hemingway (Beta) and George Hemingway (Beta) who seized an early advantage for Great Britain after the Spanish trio added five to their total in section four, but their lead only lasted until section six – the last hazard set among the massive riverbed boulders – before the reigning champions assumed control.

Despite adding a further six to their score on the final section that twisted up, down and around a steep bank with a series of big concrete steps, Spain’s total of twenty-one at the halfway mark – that included three time penalties – saw them nineteen clear of Great Britain in second.

Tied on observation with Great Britain, but with three additional time penalties, the Italian team of Matteo Grattarola (Beta), Lorenzo Gandola (Beta) and Francesco Titli (TRRS) had improved throughout the opening lap to pull clear of France’s Hugo Dufrese (Beta), Benoit Bincaz (Electric Motion) and Alexandre Ferrer (Montesa) who ended the lap on fifty-six.

As the Spanish began to tighten their stranglehold, Italy – silver medallists in 2024 – briefly moved ahead of Great Britain before back-to-back maximum scores of ten on sections four and five dropped them back to third, a position they could not improve on despite some heroic performances in front of their passionate home fans.

Following a second lap score of just nine that took their total to thirty, the jubilant Spanish team’s winning margin of forty-nine was an accurate reflection of their dominance, however, spirits were almost as high under the British awning where Peace and the Hemingway brothers – who were both making their TdN debuts – were celebrating snatching silver from Italy by just six marks.

“It has been fantastic to be here and to ride with this amazing dream team,” said Bou, “and, of course, I am so happy to win the FIM Trial des Nations again.”

Just to underline how tough the trial was, fourth-placed France finished on one-hundred-and-thirty-eight and that was forty ahead of a determined effort by the Norwegian trio of Sondre Haga (GASGAS), Jarand-Matias Vold Gunvaldsen (TRRS) and Jone Sandvik (Sherco).

While their male counterparts’ victory was hardly a surprise, the Spanish women started the day with a point to prove after finishing third last season and newly-crowned TrialGP Women champion Berta Abellan (Scorpa) along with Daniela Hernando (Beta) and Laia Pi (Beta) did not disappoint.

Last year’s silver medallists, the home team of Andrea Sofia Rabino (Beta), Alessia Bacchetta (GASGAS) and Martina Gallieni (Sherco) took an early lead from the British team aiming to take their third consecutive win, but by section six the Spanish held a slim advantage that they gradually extended as the lap progressed.

At the halfway mark Spain led on a total of twenty-six – that included three time penalties – from the British trio of Kaytlyn Adshead (Sherco), Alice Minta (Beta) and Alicia Robinson (Beta) on thirty-two and Italy on thirty-three.

Lap two saw a very competitive Italian team stage a spirited fightback as they clawed their way into contention. The British team did their best to stay with the leaders, but their challenge slowly fell away leaving Spain and Italy to fight it out at the front and after both nations cleaned the final section the scores were level with the Spanish taking the title on a tie-break.

“It’s a young team and we have made history and I’m so, so proud,” said Abellan. “I’ve enjoyed it like always – it has been an amazing event for us.”

With their total of sixty-two placing them eight behind, Great Britain took the bronze medal with a seventeen-mark cushion back to Denisa Pechackova (TRRS) and Petra Budínová (TRRS) representing the Czech Republic who in turn were just two clear of a French team comprising Marine Aurieres (Beta), Margaux Pena (Electric Motion) and Alycia Soyer (TRRS).

Japan has dominated the International Trophy for the last two years, but time around their team of Tsuyoshi Ogawa (Beta), Shinya Hirohata (Montesa) and Jin Kuroyama (Sherco) were forced to settle for second following an impressive performance from a United States team comprising Josh Roper (GASGAS) and brothers Alex Myers (Scorpa) and Will Myers (Sherco).

On a low-scoring day where the ability to soak up pressure was vital, the US – last year’s silver medallists – shared the lead at the halfway stage on a total of four with the German trio of Jonathan Heidel (Beta), Johannes Heidel (Beta) and Paul Reumschuessel (TRRS) with Japan another mark behind in third.

Remaining incredibly calm and collected, on their second lap the US team dropped their score by a mark to finish on a total of seven, leaving them four ahead of a two-way tie for second with Japan getting the decision over Germany on a tie-break.

“It’s been an amazing weekend and we have had such a good day today,” said Roper. “We rode phenomenal all day and were able to cover for each other, even on sections we messed up, so that really helped our score.”

Contested by two-rider, mixed-gender teams, the fourth edition of the Challenge des Nations was won by 2023 champions Norway represented by Jonas Jørgensen (Beta) alongside Maria Ersland (Vertigo).

After parting with ten marks on the opening lap to establish a six-mark advantage over second-placed Harison Skelton (Scorpa) and Sophie Bailey (GASGAS) representing Great Britain, the Norwegians completed their second lap on eighteen with their final total of twenty-eight placing them ten ahead of the British pairing.

“It has been a great day,” said Ersland. “Me and Jonas did our best and it went very well. It was not very hard, but that meant it was important to stay focussed.”

Following a fierce fight for the final step of the podium, Poland’s Wojciech Walczak (GASGAS) and Justyna Lonycz (GASGAS) finished on a total of seventy-five, one ahead of Italy’s Fabio Mazzola (TRRS) and Laia Pichler (TRRS).

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An annual competition to determine which country has the right to call itself the sport’s undisputed number one for the next twelve months, the FIM Trial des Nations (TdN) – that takes place this coming weekend (20-21 September) at Tolmezzo in north-east Italy – is much more than just another date on the calendar, it is a global celebration of the sport we all share so much passion for.

Of course, the competition is deadly serious – we are, after all, talking about athletes whose lives revolve around performing at their very best – but the TdN enjoys a unique atmosphere. Partly due to its end-of-season position in the calendar, what really makes the event so special is the way riders who for the majority of the season are fierce rivals come together, forging incredible team spirits that permeate the entire paddock.

Take the Spanish men for example. The odds-on favourites to win the TdN this year for an incredible twenty-first consecutive time, the trio of Toni Bou (Montesa), Jaime Busto (GASGAS) and Gabriel Marcelli form an absolute powerhouse of a team comprising the top three performers for the last three years in the Hertz FIM Trial World Championship.

For seven rounds this season the riders have done their utmost to defeat each other – and the dynamic is further complicated by the fact Bou and Marcelli are also team-mates – yet this Sunday they will work together as a single unit, sharing lines, shouting encouragement and inspiring each other to perform at their very best.

The Spanish men’s team is also inter-generational and that adds yet another dimension to the event. The undisputed King of Trial, in 2007 when Bou won his first TrialGP title Marcelli was only seven years old and Busto was just nine and the thirty-eight-year-old – who this year could set a new record for being on the winning side for twenty consecutive TdNs – will share his wealth of experience with his younger team-mates. Although hugely-skilled, this edition will only be Busto’s sixth appearance in the event while Marcelli is competing for just the third time so having Bou as the senior member is a priceless advantage.

The same is true for the Spanish women where Berta Abellan (Scorpa) is representing her nation for the tenth consecutive time. A four-time winner, for the second year in a row the twenty-five-year-old will assume the ‘senior’ role and help guide her much less experienced team-mates Laia Pi (Beta) and Daniela Hernando (Beta) who are both making only their second appearances in the competition.

This ‘family’ feel is taken to a more literal level this season by Great Britain’s team of Jack Peace (Sherco) and brothers Harry and George Hemingway (Beta). Both nineteen-year-old Harry and seventeen-year-old George will be representing their country for the very first time while in the International Trophy competition brothers Alex and Will Myers are in action for the USA, but having siblings competing alongside each other is nothing new.

In fact, the inaugural TdN in 1984 was won by a French team that included Thierry Michaud – the current Director of the FIM Trial Commission – and his elder brother Fred and the following year Belgium went one better when they fielded brothers Eddy, Eric and Jean Marie Lejeune alongside Bernard Cordonnier.

The introduction of a women’s class in 2000 added yet another dimension to the event – strengthening the family spirit of each nation with the different genders all pulling together – and since the Challenge des Nations category was introduced in 2021, giving mixed-gender teams of young riders the opportunity to be part of the TdN, this has been taken to a whole new level by providing a fourth platform for countries to compete upon for national honour.

So whether you’re a long-time follower of the TdN or a completely new fan, whether you’re travelling to Tolmezzo or watching LIVE on FIM-MOTO.TV, enjoy the unique atmosphere as the world’s leading Trial nations come together on this very special occasion.

The points-scoring action at Tolmezzo gets under way at 08:30 (local time) on Sunday 21 September.

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Fielding the top three riders in this year’s Hertz FIM Trial World Championship, the Spanish men’s team of Toni Bou (Montesa), Jaime Busto (GASGAS) and Gabriel Marcelli (Montesa) start the 2025 FIM Trial des Nations (TdN) this coming weekend (20-21 September) as overwhelming favourites to secure a twenty-first consecutive victory, but results are much harder to call in the women’s class as well as in the International Trophy and Challenge des Nations categories.

• Spanish men start favourites to take twenty-first consecutive title
• Great Britain go for three in a row in women’s category
• Japan and Italy defend International Trophy and Challenge des Nations titles

Staged in Tolmezzo in north-east Italy close to the borders with Austria and Slovenia, the town – the venue for the 2011 TdN – was last used for top-flight competition in 2021 and competitors can expect a challenging mix of hazards plotted in riverbeds and on the surrounding steep hillsides.

Having dominated this season’s TrialGP competition, the Spanish trio – with Busto back in the team to replace Adam Raga – are unlikely to be troubled in their quest to extend their TdN win-streak to a record-breaking twenty-one, but the battle for the remaining podium positions is by no means as clear-cut with Italy defending their silver medal from 2024 against teams from France, Great Britain and Norway.

With home advantage and led by the world’s fourth-ranked rider Matteo Grattarola (Beta), on paper at least the Italians appear to have the upper hand over their rivals for the remaining medals, although Lorenzo Gandola (Beta) struggled in his sole TrialGP appearance this season in San Marino and Francesco Titli (TRRS) – who replaces Luca Petrella – only broke the top five once in his two Trial2 appearances.

Last season’s bronze medallists, France are pinning their hopes on Hugo Dufrese (Beta) alongside Benoit Bincaz (Electric Motion) and Alexandre Ferrer (Montesa), who takes the place of Gaël Chatagno. While Dufrese was a solid eighth in TrialGP in 2025 and Bincaz finished a fighting fifth in Trial2, there is a question mark over the form of Ferrer who broke the top ten just once in his sole Trial2 appearance at his home round on the island of Corsica in late-May.

Finishing two marks behind France on observation in 2024 before being disqualified for exceeding the event time limit, Great Britain will be looking to make amends and although only Jack Peace (Sherco) is returning this season, he has solid back-up in the shape of Beta-riding siblings Harry and George Hemingway.

A fighting fifth in his first year in TrialGP, Peace’s performance could prove pivotal and with newly-crowned Trial2 champion Harry and his younger brother George, who was an impressive sixth in his first season in Trial2, both aiming to impress on their TdN debuts the British team will be looking for their first medal since 2018.

The men’s category is completed by a Norwegian side led by former Trial2 champion Sondre Haga (GASGAS) who is joined once again by Jarand-Matias Vold Gunvaldsen (TRRS) with Jone Sandvik (Sherco) making his TdN debut.

Winners of the women’s category for the past two seasons, Great Britain will be without Emma Bristow for the first time since 2008, although Kaytlyn Adshead (Sherco), Alice Minta (Beta) have all acquitted themselves well in this year’s TrialGP Women class.

Ranked fourth, fifth and tenth, the British riders’ main opposition should come from a strong home side comprising Andrea Sofia Rabino (Beta), Alessia Bacchetta (GASGAS) and Martina Gallieni (Sherco) that remains unchanged from the team that took silver in 2024.

With Rabino finishing second in TrialGP Women in 2025, Bacchetta sixth and Gallieni ninth, it is far too close to call and it would be foolish to rule out the Spanish who once again will field newly-crowned TrialGP Women champion Berta Abellan (Scorpa) alongside Daniela Hernando (Beta) and Laia Pi (Beta).

Regarded as inexperienced last season with only Abellan having previously contested the event, Pi has now competed over almost a full season in TrialGP Women while this year Hernando has emerged as a title contender in Trial2 Women.

Represented by Denisa Pechackova (TRRS) – this season’s bronze medallist in TrialGP Women – and Petra Budínová, the Czech Republic finished fourth last year and will face increased opposition this time around with the entry swelled this season by teams from Andorra and Switzerland that join Germany, the USA, France, Norway, Australia and Canada who all contested the 2024 edition.

Competition is always fierce in the second-tier International Trophy class and with an unchanged team from 2024, Japan – represented by Tsuyoshi Ogawa (Beta), Shinya Hirohata (Montesa) and Jin Kuroyama (Sherco) – will look to make it three wins in a row.

A close second last season and hoping to go one better this time around, the American trio of Josh Roper (GASGAS), Alex Myers (Scorpa) and Will Myers (Sherco) should figure near the front with a strong challenge expected from, among others, the German trio of Jonathan Heidel (Beta), Rodney Bereiter (Beta) and Paul Reumschuessel (TRRS) who will be aiming to improve on last year’s bronze.

A total of seventeen nations from four continents will contest the International Trophy, making it a truly global competition with teams representing Austria, Andorra, the Czech Republic, Ireland, Poland and Sweden in action. Joining Japan and the USA on the ‘furthest travelled’ list are Canada and Australia while Tolmezzo is a lot closer to home for other European nations including Switzerland, Latvia, Portugal, Luxembourg and Greece as well as Belgium that returns to the competition this season.

Contested by two-rider, mixed-gender teams, the fourth edition of the Challenge des Nations will see last year’s winner Fabio Mazzola (TRRS) joined by Laia Pichler (TRRS) on the home team while Norway, champions in 2023, field Jonas Jørgensen (Beta) alongside Maria Ersland (Vertigo).

With Germany, the USA, Portugal, Great Britain, Belgium and Poland also entering teams, the Challenge des Nations continues to grow in popularity and this latest edition promises to be extremely competitive.

The points-scoring action at Tolmezzo gets under way at 08:30 (local time) on Sunday 21 September.

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Spain’s Berta Abellan (Scorpa) is the new FIM Women’s Trial World Champion after sewing up the title on the concluding day of the final round of the 2025 Hertz FIM Trial World Championship – the TrialGP of Great Britain – at Geddington today as rising American star Ryon Land (Sherco) ended his debut season in the series as FIM Trial3 World Champion and Sara Trentini (TRRS) from Italy clinched the FIM Women’s Trial2 World Cup.

• Berta Abellan strikes gold in TrialGP Women as series concludes in Great Britain
• Ryon Land takes Trial3 title and Sara Trentini clinches Women’s Trial2 World Cup
• Toni Bou wins TrialGP as Arnau Farré completes his Trial2 double

In the premier TrialGP class, having secured his nineteenth consecutive title on Saturday, Toni Bou (Montesa) signed off on top with hard-fought victories in both of today’s races, but home rider Harry Hemingway (Beta) – who claimed the Trial2 title yesterday – could only manage fourth overall as Arnau Farré (Sherco) completed a dynamic double weekend win.

With most of the action once again focussed in the narrow, wooded valley where a series of steep climbs and descents over imposing rock steps provided a suitable challenge for the best riders in the world, another sizeable crowd was entertained by some incredible performances as the superstars of the sport fought to find grip in the dry, loose conditions.

Abellan, a five-time vice-champion, was overjoyed to finally strike gold this season and, fittingly, the twenty-five-year-old ended her campaign on top after taking the overall decision on a tie-break with her main rival Andrea Sofia Rabino (Beta) from Italy following two close and competitive races that saw the pair exchange wins and second-placed finishes.

“Finally, my dream has come true,” said Abellan. “I’m very grateful for all the support I have had from my team, my supporters and my sponsors and I am so, so happy.”

With a commanding points lead, Abellan did not have to take any risks and her opening race score of twenty – two more than Rabino – was easily good enough for the title. However, champions rarely like to settle for second place and her score of just four in the final race of the season saw her finish twelve clear of the Italian teenager before, just for good measure, she raced to victory in the Power Section.

Britain’s Kaytlyn Adshead (Sherco) ended her championship on the podium with third overall after parting with twenty-three marks in each race to post three-four finishes, but third in the championship went to Denisa Pechackova (TRRS) from the Czech Republic who ended the day in fifth behind home rider Alice Minta (Beta).

Land held a thirty-three-point advantage in Trial3 heading into the final day of the championship and a third-placed finish in the first race on a total of eight – two behind Jonas Jorgensen (Beta) who won a tie-break with Jin Kuroyama (Sherco) from Japan – was good enough to secure the title.

Yesterday’s overall winner Harison Skelton (Scorpa), who slipped to seventh in the opening race, returned to the top in race two on four to secure second in the series with Kuroyama’s score of eleven giving him second on a tie-break with Italian Fabio Mazzola (TRRS) and earning him the day’s overall.

Land ended the race back in sixth on fifteen, but even fifth overall – his worst finish of the year – could not take the shine off a sparking first season in the series.

“I’m lost for words,” said Land. “To become only the second world champion from America feels amazing and we’re going to go full gas on 2026 and hope for the best. Thanks to Sherco and my family and everyone who has supported me.”

Starting the day with a commanding twenty-point lead in Trial2 Women, Trentini posted her worst overall finish of the season in fourth, but this was still easily good enough for her to take the title.

“I tried to win today and I liked the sections more than yesterday,” said Trentini. “It is a really good feeling to take the title and I am very happy.”

Victory on the day went to Britain’s Matilda Arbon (Sherco) who won the opening race on a score of ten from France’s Margaux Pena (Electric Motion) on twelve with Trentini losing a tie-break for third with Spain’s Daniela Hernando (Beta) after the pair parted with thirteen marks each.

Norway’s Maria Ersland (Vertigo) recorded the best finish in race two with a score of nine, three ahead of Trentini who in turn was two clear of series runner-up Pena as Arbon clinched her second overall of the season in fourth on sixteen.

With the championship heading home with him for another year, Spanish superstar Bou could afford to relax his grip on TrialGP, but that is simply not the thirty-eight-year-old’s style and despite a race-one maximum on the man-made jumble of rocks and huge concrete pipes that comprised the final section, his score of twenty-one saw him finish the opening race two ahead of his team-mate Gabriel Marcelli.

Jaime Busto (GASGAS), Bou’s main title rival this season, parted with twenty-seven to claim third on a tie-break with Italy’s Matteo Grattarola (Beta) and secure championship silver from Marcelli and Pablo Suarez took fifth on a tie-break with Aniol Gelabert (TRRS) after the pair finished on thirty-two, one ahead of Britain’s Jack Peace (Sherco).

Bou’s second race victory on thirteen – which he followed with the Power Section win – was three clear of Busto with Marcelli dropping to fourth on eighteen, one behind Grattarola, as Peace parted with twenty-eight for fifth – a result that gave him a fighting fifth in the championship following his season-long battle with Gelabert who ended the race in sixth on thirty-five.

“I am super-happy to end this season with wins in both races and the Power Section,” said Bou. “Thank you to my team for making it possible – I think it has been a fantastic season.”

Trial2 has been incredibly competitive all season and Britain’s Jack Dance (GASGAS) completed the opening race on a score of just six to win from his compatriot and former champion Billy Green (Scorpa) who took second on a tie-break with super-smooth Spaniard Farré after both finished on seven.

With scores close and the slightest mistake punished, Hemingway could only manage sixth on eleven marks, one behind Spain’s Miquel Gelabert (Honda) and two adrift of French rider Benoit Bincaz (Electric Motion).

Farré clinched overall victory and third in the title fight with his second race total of three giving him the win by four marks from George Hemingway (Beta) who pushed his older brother Harry back into third on a total of eight with Green taking fourth on a tie-break with Dance on a score of sixteen.

“It has been an amazing weekend and I can’t quite believe it,” said Farré. “Before I came here I thought it would be very difficult to take third, but I have felt so good this weekend and I am so happy.”

With the 2025 Hertz FIM Trial World Championship now concluded, focus shifts to Tolmezzo in Italy on 20-21 September for the FIM Trial des Nations.

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