The class structure of the Hertz FIM Trial World Championship is not there simply to split the entry up in terms of age, skill and engine capacity, it is a carefully considered career ladder designed to ensure progression through the ranks from Trial3 Junior to Trial2 and then up to the elite TrialGP category.

A rider who knows this better than most is twenty-year-old Harry Hemingway (Beta). The talented British star was Trial3 Junior champion in 2022 and Trial2 champion last year before graduating to the premier class this season. While he has had his fair share of ups and downs so far this year, he is proof that with the right skills – and enough motivation to put in the necessary hard work – an ambitious rider can progress to the sport’s top flight.

Hemingway is following a path already taken by Jaime Busto and Jack Peace and while his current position of seventh does not tell the full story in a class where just one lapse in concentration can be the difference between a podium finish and propping up the field, he feels the intensity of competition in Trial3 Junior and Trial2 has equipped him well for his first season as an elite rider.

“Trial2 is just as tight, if not tighter,” he said, “and this year just two or three marks can cost you five or six places, but that seems to be the case across the board in all classes, it’s just that in TrialGP with the sections being harder you have to be on form a little bit more.

“Trial2 has massively prepared me for TrialGP and Trial3 prepared me for Trial2 so it’s a class structure and career ladder that is really working. It’s a perfect step up between each class. The biggest difference for me was going from a 125cc bike in Trial3 up to the harder sections in Trial2 on a big bike, but it was still a reasonable step. It’s been just as reasonable moving from Trial2 to TrialGP, just the sections get a little bit longer with a few extra steps so it’s definitely not a ridiculous step up.”

A new framework introduced this year aimed at easing the transition between the sport’s elite levels has seen the top two men’s categories sharing fifty per cent of the sections and Hemingway feels that it has made his progression smoother. “Now there are six sections shared between TrialGP and Trial2 so, to be honest, the step up hasn’t been massive. At the start of the year I was not doing great, but I had a few good results – in Japan I had a fourth in a race – and after that I’ve just made a couple of mistakes to miss out on podium positions so it’s not been a disaster. “Hopefully I’ll be aiming for podium positions for the rest of the season. I haven’t been a million miles off so podiums are definitely within reach so I just want to see how high up I can get and keep trying to push Toni Bou off the top if I can, although it’s pretty difficult at the moment. “It does feel great to be in TrialGP. Since being a kid and going to watch world rounds, my goal has always been to be in TrialGP so for the first round in Japan, being able to pick my own two-digit number with the red background was a big thing for me. It felt like it was the right time.” With the next round – the TrialGP of Great Britain on 24-26 July – handing him valuable home advantage, Hemingway’s trademark smile remains as broad as ever. “I’m happy. Just to get into the TrialGP category is mega and to be mixing it up and pushing for podiums is a great feeling. I just need to pull it together and make it work, but I’m enjoying life and loving it.” Round four of the 2026 Hertz FIM Trial World Championship – the TrialGP of Great Britain – takes place at the Trac Mon Circuit Anglesey on 24-26 July.

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Day 1: Tightening his grip on the 2026 Hertz FIM Trial World Championship, Toni Bou (Montesa) extended his unbeaten streak to ten races in a row when he dominated the TrialGP class on day one of round three – the TrialGP of Italy – as his fellow Spaniard Berta Abellan (Scorpa) reasserted her control in TrialGP Women. Day 2: Defending champions Toni Bou (Montesa) and Berta Abellan (Scorpa) dominated the premier TrialGP and TrialGP Women classes on day two of the TrialGP of Italy – round three of the 2026 Hertz FIM Trial World Championship – at Camerino as Harry Turner (Sherco) swept the board in Trial2, Fabio Mazzola tightened his grip on Trial3 Junior and consistency paid off for Queralt Fontdevila (Beta) in Trial2 Women.

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Entries are now open for the 2026 FIM Trial des Nations (TdN) that this year will be held over the weekend of 26-27 September at Arteixo in the Galicia region of north-western Spain. An annual competition to determine the world’s leading Trial nation, the TdN was first staged in Poland in 1984 when a French team – that comprised current FIM Trial Commission Director Thierry Michaud and his brother Fred along with Philippe Berlatier and Gilles Burgat – claimed an historic inaugural victory. Since 2000 the event has featured separate classes for premier male and female teams. A second-tier FIM International Trophy was introduced in 1995 and the FIM Challenge des Nations – for mixed-gender, two-rider teams – made its debut in 2022. Apart from an enforced break in the competition in 2020 because of the pandemic, the premier male competition has been won every year since 2004 by Spain. Last year at Tolmezzo in Italy a team from the United States of America won the FIM International Trophy for the third time and victory in the FIM Challenge des Nations went to a Norwegian pairing for the second time. National Federations that registered teams last year can access their existing accounts by logging on with their credentials at www.trialgp-registration.com. The deadline for TdN team entries is sixty days prior to the event although entries will still be accepted up to thirty days before, but they will be liable for a late-entry administration fee. Once entered, National Federations have until thirty days before the event to name team riders. For further information and assistance email entries@trialgp.com.

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Defending champions Toni Bou (Montesa) and Berta Abellan (Scorpa) dominated the premier TrialGP and TrialGP Women classes on day two of the TrialGP of Italy – round three of the 2026 Hertz FIM Trial World Championship – at Camerino as Harry Turner (Sherco) swept the board in Trial2, Fabio Mazzola tightened his grip on Trial3 Junior and consistency paid off for Queralt Fontdevila (Beta) in Trial2 Women.

Defending champions Toni Bou and Berta Abellan on top again in TrialGP and TrialGP Women Harry Turner takes career-first Trial2 win with a dynamite double at Camerino Fabio Mazzola and Queralt Fontdevila extend their Trial3 Junior and Trial2 Women leads On another hot day in the central-eastern region of Italy, brilliant Bou stretched his win-streak to twelve consecutive race victories as he found grip that eluded his rivals on the near vertical climbs over loose shale that offered similar traction to riding on marbles, allowing the thirty-nine-year-old Spaniard to extend his lead at the top of the standings.

Neck-and-neck with his compatriot Jamie Busto (Beta) through the opening five sections of race one, the decisive moment came on section six where Bou took a dab and Busto incurred a maximum. With vital breathing room, Bou completed the race adding just a maximum on the technical climb at the end of section ten as Busto hung on for second on fifteen. Mounted on the sole electric motorcycle in the class, Spain’s Miquel Gelabert (Honda) matched his third-placed finish in Saturday’s opening race on nineteen with British rider Jack Peace (Sherco) recovering from a disappointing performance yesterday to take fourth on twenty-five, six clear of home hero Matteo Grattarola (Beta). After topping Super Pole to guarantee a start at the back of the field, Bou watched Busto sail up the super-steep climb and double step of the opening section for clean before needing a single dab – as did Marcelli and Grattarola – but the scores were even after section two where Busto lost a mark. Bou collected a maximum on section four along with Busto and Grattarola, but after France’s Hugo Dufrese (Beta) had posted the hazard’s lowest race-two score of two, Marcelli made it to the end with a three to take a slim lead into the Super Final, despite losing a single mark to Bou’s clean on section five. Grattarola ended the Final in third on seven with Harry Hemingway (Beta) on nine and Dufrese and Gelabert on ten, but a maximum on section seven dropped Busto out of contention and fives in the first three sections of the Super Final saw the twenty-eight-year-old slip to seventh at the end on a total of twenty-seven. A clean to Marcelli’s dab on section eight – where a double step near the end provided the main test – put Bou back on level terms and, as his rivals struggled in the remaining four sections, the nineteen-time champion added just a further two on section seven to cruise clear with a total of eight. “It’s been a super weekend for us with a lot of points for the championship,” said Bou. “I was feeling very good in both races and had a little mistake in race two, but after that I was fighting until the end.” A pair of maximums in the concluding two sections put Marcelli’s score up to nineteen, but he was still three clear of Dufrese who impressed in a fighting third with Grattarola one mark adrift in fourth as Peace’s cool clean on the final section earned him fifth on twenty-five, one ahead of Gelabert.

After sweeping both races yesterday, Abellan gifted her main title rival and home rider Andrea Sofia Rabino (Beta) an early advantage in race one when she needed a dab on the relatively straightforward opening section, but the Spaniard did not lose another mark until a single on section eight made things all-square between the two pace-setters. Section nine proved to be pivotal with Abellan taking a three to Rabino’s five and the defending champion needed just a final dab on section twelve to finish on six and run out winner by three marks as Denisa Pechackova from the Czech Republic took third on fourteen, four clear of Britain’s Kaytlyn Adshead and five ahead of Italian Alessia Bacchetta. Abellan and Rabino then led the field in race two and were tied on one apiece heading into section eight where the Italian lost ground with a dab. After scoring a two on the following hazard where Rabino needed three, Abellan then put the seal on another victory with a single mark in the final section taking her total to four. “I am very happy with how this weekend has worked out,” said Abellan. “It wasn’t easy because Rabino was riding so well, but we will keep focused and continue to work hard.” Rabino was a clear second on eight, although she was only four ahead of her compatriot Bacchetta who in turn was just one clear of Britain’s Alice Minta (Beta) with Pechackova rounding out the top five on twenty.

The fight for dominance in Trial2 has raged since the opening round in Japan and twenty-year-old Turner burst into title contention with a pair of impressive race victories that saw him become the sixth different race winner this season. Holding his nerve in a tense opening race, Turner lost only four marks to take the win by one from championship leader Alex Canales (Montesa) from Spain with France’s Benoit Bincaz (Electric Motion) – who has won three of the eight races he has contested this year – third on nine, two ahead of a tie for fourth that was won by Britain’s George Hemingway (Beta) from his compatriot Jack Dance. With momentum behind him, Turner secured a career-first overall victory at this level when he signed off with a miserly total of three marks lost to lead home race two by eight chased by Hemingway. Bincaz lost twelve to claim another third position before Spain’s Arnau Farré (Sherco) – who was sixth in race one – took fourth on a tie-break with former champion Billy Green (Scorpa) on thirteen. “It felt amazing today,” said Turner. “It’s not only my first-ever win in Trial2, it’s my first-ever podium so I’m very, very happy.” Despite ending race two in a lowly eleventh on twenty-two, Canales retains the championship lead, but his title rivals – led by Farré, Hemingway and Turner – have closed.

Leader of the Trial3 Junior class after the opening day of competition in Andorra before Britain’s Harison Skelton (Scorpa) moved to the top on day two, Mazzola was the star of the class yesterday when he regained the points advantage with a double win and the Italian made full use of home advantage today with one-two race finishes to extend the gap at the top of the table. “I am very happy to take another win in front of my home fans,” said Mazzola. “It is incredible for me.” Skelton finished the opening race just one adrift in second and six clear of third-placed Spaniard Angel Llopis Tarrega (Sherco) to limit the damage, but he lost further ground with fourth in race two behind Italian Edio Poncia (Beta) as Mazzola finished second to Spain’s Oriol Garcia Campano (Sherco) by a single mark.

Running two-two yesterday to assume an early series lead, Spain’s Queralt Fontdevila (Beta) replicated these finishes today as her consistency earned her an increased advantage at the top of the table. “Today has been very good for me,” said Fontdevila. “I made a few mistakes, but I was able to recover.” Matilda Arbon (Sherco) repeated her victory in Saturday’s opening race with Abril Montserrat Junque (Beta) from Spain slotting into third, but a sixth in race two proved to be expensive for the British rider as Justyna Lonycz from the Czech Republic claimed her first victory of the season with Montserrat Junque third.

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Tightening his grip on the 2026 Hertz FIM Trial World Championship, Toni Bou (Montesa) extended his unbeaten streak to ten races in a row when he dominated the TrialGP class on day one of round three – the TrialGP of Italy – as his fellow Spaniard Berta Abellan (Scorpa) reasserted her control in TrialGP Women.

• Toni Bou maintains his win-streak on day one of TrialGP of Italy
• Defending champion Berta Abellan in control of TrialGP Women
• Benoit Bincaz wins Trial2 as Fabio Mazzola tops Trial3 Junior and Queralt Fontdevila draws first blood in Trial2 Women

On another unpredictable day in Trial2, France’s Benoit Bincaz (Electric Motion) and British teenager George Hemingway (Beta) shared the race wins while Italian Fabio Mazzola doubled up in Trial3 Junior and Britain’s Matilda Arbon (Sherco) and Abril Montserrat Junque (Beta) from Spain claimed a win apiece as competition in the Trial2 Women class got under way.

Returning to Camerino for the first time since 1992, soaring temperatures and a series of super-steep sections on loose, almost gripless terrain resulted in a high-scoring day for the elite TrialGP class where even defending champion Bou – who has won the title every season since 2007 – was at times unable to get his rear tyre to bite.

Much to the delight of the large crowd, Bou’s main challenger in both races was Italian hero Matteo Grattarola (Beta) who, urged on by his passionate home fans, recorded a pair of second-placed finishes and in the second race came within just a few marks of handing the Spanish legend his first defeat of the season.

Starting at the back of the field after topping Friday’s Super Test, Bou had the advantage of watching his rivals through the sections in race one and the thirty-nine-year-old quickly took an early lead and was on just a single mark until he picked up maximum on section six, set in a steep-sided gully where loose bankings and a testing, technical climb ensured traction was in short supply.

Despite collecting another maximum on section twelve, Bou’s total of sixteen gave him the win in race one by eleven clear marks from Grattarola who held his nerve to claim second by two marks from Spain’s Miquel Gelabert (Honda) who clearly found the testing terrain to his liking on the sole electric machine in the field.

Holding third in the standings at the start of the day, Spain’s Jaime Busto (Beta) took fourth on thirty-one before a seven-mark gap to Italian rider Luca Petrella (Beta) with Gabriel Marcelli (Montesa) winning a three-way tie-break for sixth on forty.

Bou then topped Super Pole to start the Final at the back of the field and took an early lead from Busto before Grattarola drew level with an incredible single dab on section six – that took another five from Bou – before pulling clear with cleans on the next two sections where Bou added a further six to his score.

With the Super Final in full swing, both then recorded maximums on section nine before Bou signed off with one-clean-one on the final three hazards – where Grattarola added another twelve – to finish on twenty on observation plus two time penalties to win by just two. Busto improved to third on thirty-one, one mark ahead of a tie for fourth that was won by Marcelli from his compatriot Gelabert.

“It has been a good start to the weekend for me,” said Bou. “In the first race I felt super-good and I felt good in the second race as well, but Matteo was riding amazing and I fought with him to the very end.”

Last time out in Andorra, defending TrialGP Women champion Abellan was defeated on both days by Italy’s Andrea Sofia Rabino (Beta), but today she took the fight to her rival and emerged a clear winner of both races after finishing the Super Test in second behind another Italian, Alessia Bacchetta.

A dab on section eight followed by a five on section nine, that took maximums from the entire field, were her only losses in race one as she ran out a comfortable winner by thirteen from Rabino. Britain’s Kaytlyn Adshead was third on twenty-five, three clear of her compatriot Alice Minta (Beta) and four ahead of the Czech Republic’s Denisa Pechackova.

Race two was much closer, but the twenty-six-year-old’s score of seven was half that of twenty-year-old Rabino’s with Minta a further ten adrift in third as Pechackova won a tie-break for fourth on twenty-six from French rider Alycia Soyer.

“Today I am very happy with the win,” said Abellan. “I was riding well and really enjoying myself, but now I need to do it all again tomorrow.”

After missing the opening round in Japan, Bincaz took the overall on day two in Andorra and the twenty-nine-year-old once again put his electric machine on the top step of the podium after winning the first race and finishing fifth in race two.

Bincaz’s score of fourteen in race one gave him a four-mark advantage ahead of a three-way tie for second that was won by series leader Alex Canales (Montesa) from Spain ahead of Britain’s Billy Green (Scorpa) and Italian Francesco Titli (Montesa).

Despite slipping to fifth in race two on a total of thirteen, Bincaz did enough to secure the day’s overall decision ahead of Canales who was fourth on eleven as George Hemingway (Beta), who was seventh in race one, secured the third step on the podium with a fantastic second-race total of four giving him the win from fellow British rider Harry Turner (Sherco) by two marks with Spain’s Arnau Farré (Sherco) third on eight.

“I’m super-happy with this victory,” said Bincaz. “Today has been very tricky and I had to fight hard the whole day, but finally I did it again.”

Back in action after opening their accounts in Andorra, competitors in Trial3 Junior took the testing conditions in their stride and it was Fabio Mazzola – winner of the opening day in the Pyrenees – who made full advantage of his home round to win both races and regain the lead in the championship.

On top of the standings at the start of the day, Britain’s Harison Skelton (Scorpa) finished race one eight marks behind Mazzola in second on thirteen with Germany’s Marco Laure (Beta) third on fifteen. However, while Mazzola took command of race two to win on six, five clear of Laure and eight ahead of his compatriot Edio Poncia (Beta), Skelton slipped to twelfth on a total of twenty-three that has dropped him to third in the standings behind Laure.

“I’m very, very happy with this win in Italy,” said Mazzola. “I ride two good races and I want to thank all the fans for their fantastic support.”

After finishing fifth in Trial2 Women last season, Arbon got her 2026 campaign off to a flying start with her race one total of ten giving her a seven-mark cushion over Spain’s Queralt Fontdevila (Beta) with Daniela Hernando (Beta) third on nineteen after winning a three-way tie with Norwegian Wilde Moi (Beta) and Justyna Lonycz from the Czech Republic.

Bouncing back from her sixth-placed finish, Montserrat Junque won race two on nine – two clear of Fontdevila who claimed the day’s overall victory – with Hernando taking another third-placed finish on a tie-break, this time from Arbon, on a total of fourteen.

“Today has been very nice and I am very happy to finish first,” said Fontdevila. “I am hoping to do the same tomorrow.”

Focus now shifts to tomorrow’s concluding day at Camerino with the first competitor scheduled to get the action under way at 08:00 (local time).

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Toni Bou (Montesa) continued his mission to rewrite the record books on day two of the TrialGP of Andorra – round two of the 2026 Hertz FIM Trial World Championship – when he parted with just one mark over both TrialGP races and Andrea Sofia Rabino (Beta) claimed a career-best double victory in TrialGP Women, but the wins were once again split in Trial2 and Trial3 Junior where the front-runners continued to search for consistency across both races.

Defending TrialGP champion Toni Bou loses just one mark to dominate on day two Andrea Sofia Rabino closes on TrialGP Women championship lead with back-to-back wins Benoit Bincaz and Harison Skelton in command in Trial2 and Trial3 Junior Now unbeaten following the opening two rounds and four days of points-scoring competition, Bou is chasing an unparalleled twentieth consecutive crown and on today’s form he is going to be a tough man to beat after he piled the pressure on his rivals. On another dry and warm day at Sant Julià de Lòria, high in the Pyrenees, the sections were still dry and grippy after yesterday’s event and the thirty-nine-year-old Spaniard lost just one mark as he underlined his dominance to win the opening race by fifteen clear marks. As was the case yesterday, his closest challenger was Gabriel Marcelli (Montesa) and Britain’s Jack Peace (Sherco), in just his second season in the class, also demonstrated his undeniable potential in third on eighteen. A solid sixth overall on Saturday, Spain’s Miquel Gelabert (Honda) brought his electric machine home in fourth a further two marks adrift with his compatriot Jaime Busto (Beta) never quite finding his flow on the rock-strewn, super-steep mountainside sections as he finished fifth on twenty-two. Following a dramatic Super Pole section to determine starting order for the six-section Final that saw Bou third after Busto and Marcelli had tied for the win on an identical time, the world’s best riders were challenged by a technical, rocky climb to exit the opening section that drew maximums from everyone apart from Peace who manhandled his machine through for a three before Bou did the seemingly impossible with a gravity-defying clean. Having thrown down the gauntlet to his rivals, Bou then recorded another five cleans to complete his domination of the Final before, with the scores carried across, he produced a string of four faultless rides to stay unpenalised through the Super Final to seal another famous win. “Today has been better than I expected,” said Bou. “There is a lot of pressure for me in Andorra and one point in the first race and zero points in the second is amazing so I am super-happy.” Behind Bou the battle for the remaining podium positions was fierce with Marcelli neck-and-neck with Grattarola after the Final before the twenty-six-year-old Spaniard pulled six clear of the thirty-eight-year-old Italian in the Super Final to finish second on seventeen. Gelabert took fourth on a tie-break from Peace – whose fifth place was good enough for a career-first overall podium – after the pair finished locked together on thirty, seven ahead of French rider Hugo Dufrese (Beta) and ten in front of a disappointed Busto. Starting the weekend sitting third in the TrialGP Women’s standings, Rabino will head home to Italy holding a strong second behind defending champion Berta Abellan (Scorpa) after winning both today’s races to slash the deficit from seventeen points to eleven. The twenty-year-old took early control of race one with three cleans in the first three sections and maintained her momentum to finish on a total of ten, seven ahead of her Spanish rival who was left with no way back after incurring a five on section nine. French rider Alycia Soyer won a tie-break for third with Britain’s Alice Minta (Beta) on twenty, two clear of Denisa Pechackova from the Czech Republic with Italy’s Alessia Bacchetta – who was holding second following the opening round – sixth on twenty-five. Resuming their battle in race two, Abellan lost seven marks in the first two sections where Rabino stayed clean, but the twenty-six-year-old fought back and her final score of fifteen was only two marks adrift of the Italian who sealed her victory with an ice-cool clean on the final section. Pechackova was third on nineteen, one clear of Soyer who took fourth on a tie-break with Minta to secure third overall on the day. “It has been a great weekend for me,” said Rabino. “I’m very happy to win both races today and my feeling with the bike was very good. It’s my home round next and I’m looking forward to it.” Trial2 has established a reputation as a class where the unexpected should be expected and the day started with Spain’s Gerard Trueba (Beta) becoming the fifth race winner of the season with just a single mark lost over the twelve hazards leaving him three clear of a two-way tie for second that was won by Italian Francesco Titli (Montesa) from his Spanish title rival Arnau Farré (Sherco). Series leader at the start of the day, Spain’s Alex Canales (Montesa) maintained his advantage at the top of the table with fourth on a score of five that put him one ahead of Britain’s Jack Dance. Ending the first race in seventh, French rider Benoit Bincaz (Electric Motion) – who missed last month’s opening round – bounced back in race two to put his electric machine on top for the second time this weekend after winning a tie-break with Dance on a score of nine, a finish that also secured the day’s overall. So close is this class that only three marks covered the top five finishers with Britain’s Billy Green (Scorpa) – who dropped to ninth in today’s first race after claiming a race win yesterday along with the day’s overall – winning a tie-break for third from Farré on eleven with Canales fifth one mark further back. “I’m really, really happy to take the win today,” said Bincaz. “The sections were very tricky and it was difficult to fight all day, but finally I did it.” Consistency is vital for any title challenge and Britain’s Harison Skelton (Scorpa) delivered today in Trial3 Junior after finishing second yesterday behind Italian Fabio Mazzola to move into the series lead following the opening round of the abbreviated class schedule. Winner of the first race on a score of two that put him three ahead of Marco Laure (Beta) from Germany – who won yesterday’s second race – and eight in front of Spain’s Oriol Garcia Campano (Sherco), Skelton then parted with nine in race two to follow home Garcia Campano who dropped seven, enough to earn the young British rider the top step of the day’s podium and a six-point series lead. “I felt a lot better today,” said Skelton. “Right from the start I concentrated hard and felt at one with the bike so in the sections I was strong and managed to do what I needed to for the win.” Following his overall win yesterday, Mazzola recorded six-four finishes that dropped him to fourth in the title chase, although he is only nine points off the lead and remains firmly in the hunt. With little time to regroup, the world’s best Trial riders now head to round three – the TrialGP of Italy – at Camerino this coming weekend (19-21 June) where along with TrialGP, TrialGP Women, Trial2 and Trial3 Junior classes, the Trial2 Women will join the action for the first time this year.

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Superstar Spaniard Toni Bou (Montesa) stamped his authority on day one of the TrialGP of Andorra – round two of the 2026 Hertz FIM Trial World Championship – with a pair of commanding race performances in the premier TrialGP class as Italy’s Andrea Sofia Rabino (Beta) took the overall in TrialGP Women after trading wins and second places with defending champion Berta Abellan (Scorpa) from Spain on a warm, bright day in Sant Julià de Lòria in the Pyrenees.

• Toni Bou in control in TrialGP with double race win on day one
• Andrea Sofia Rabino takes TrialGP Women decision on a tie-break
• Billy Green and Fabio Mazzola on top in Trial2 and Trial3 Junior

In Trial2 a lack of consistency among the front runners resulted in an extremely close-fought competition and race wins for Britain’s Billy Green (Scorpa) and Benoit Bincaz (Electric Motion) from France while Italian Fabio Mazzola and Germany’s Marco Laure (Beta) each claimed a race victory as competition got under way in the Trial3 Junior class.

The action started on Friday with the timed Super Test that was contested by all classes to determine starting order for the following day’s opening races with Bou and Rabino both victorious, while Britain’s Harry Turner (Sherco) topped Trial2 as his fellow countryman Harison Skelton (Scorpa) drew first blood in Trial3 Junior.

As well as a technical course with the majority of sections plotted on the steep, wooded mountainside where giant rocks tested riders’ skills and resolve, altitude also came into play. With the highest point of the course over sixteen-hundred metres above sea level, the thin air made bike set-up and rider fitness critical and, as fans have come to expect over the last nineteen years, when the going got tough it was Bou who got going.

Bidding for an incredible twentieth consecutive title, the thirty-nine-year-old – unbeaten at last month’s opening round – hardly put a wheel wrong in the day’s first race, underlining his dominance with a miserly total of just five marks to win by fifteen from his team-mate and compatriot Gabriel Marcelli with Matteo Grattarola (Beta) from Italy taking third on a tie-break from British rider Jack Peace (Sherco) after both finished on twenty-five.

A further three marks adrift, Spain’s Jaime Busto (Beta) – second in the standings following the TrialGP of Japan – was fifth, just one clear of British class newcomer Harry Hemingway (Beta).

Starting positions for the five-section Final were then determined by Super Pole where Marcelli emerged on top from Busto and Grattarola after Bou slipped to seventh with an untidy three that forced him to start as third rider away. However, this did not appear to bother the record-breaking champion who carded an amazing clean on the opening hazard, a performance matched only by Marcelli as the rest of the field took maximums on a steep climb over a series of imposing rocks.

Demonstrating his mastery of conditions in the Pyrenean principality he now calls home, Bou completed the Final unpenalised with his strongest opposition coming from Marcelli who finished on a total of seven that put him nine clear of Busto and eleven ahead of Spain’s Miquel Gelabert (Honda) as Hemingway became the only other rider not to incur a run of five maximums.

With the scores from the Final now carried across to the four-section Super Final contested by the full TrialGP entry, Bou made sure of his second victory of the day when he parted with just one mark on observation that gave him a total of three once two time penalties had been applied.

“I’m super-happy to race here at my home,” said Bou. “This result has been amazing for my confidence – I was riding very well today – and I’m super-happy to take the win on the first day.”

Marcelli added another two on observation plus two on time for a final total of eleven with Busto taking a distant third on thirty-two. Gelabert, riding the sole electric machine in the class, was another two in arrears with Hemingway completing the top five on thirty-five.

A double winner in TrialGP Women in Japan, defending champion Abellan maintained her series lead after trading wins and second-placed finishes with Rabino, but it was the Italian who took the day’s overall verdict on a tie-break thanks to her better finish in race two.

Starting on the back foot with a maximum on the opening hazard that was cleaned by Rabino, French rider Alycia Soyer and Denisa Pechackova from the Czech Republic, Abellan quickly regrouped and showed her class by adding only ten more marks to her total to win by seven from Rabino, who won a tie-break with Soyer. Pechackova came home fourth on thirty-three – three ahead of Britain’s Kaytlyn Adshead – as Italy’s Alessia Bacchetta, who started the day second in the standings, slipped to a costly eighth.

A clean on the opening section of race two gave Rabino an early lead she refused to surrender and with Abellan unable to close the gap following a maximum on section five, the twenty-year-old Italian pulled clear to win the race on eleven – eight ahead of Abellan – and clinch the day’s overall decision.

“I’m very happy for today,” said Rabino. “The first race was not so good, but I’m much happier with my performance in race two and the points are very important for the championship.”

Soyer ended the race in third on twenty-five, five clear of Britain’s Alice Minta (Beta), with Pechackova fifth on thirty-two, one position and two marks ahead of Bacchetta.

The overall winner of Trial2 on day two in Japan, Green – the 2023 champion – maintained his momentum when he took victory in the opening race on a score of five that put him two clear of his fellow British title contender George Hemingway (Beta) and three ahead of Spain’s Gerard Trueba (Beta). Leading the series following the opening round, Spanish rider Alex Canales (Montesa) was a solid fourth on ten, three clear of compatriot Arnau Farré (Sherco).

In a low-scoring race two it was Bincaz – who was seventh in the opener – who took the win on a score of five to claim victory by two from Italian Francesco Titli (Montesa) with Canales maintaining his series lead in third on a total of eight.

Following home Farré and Trueba in sixth was good enough for Green to secure the day’s overall and jump from fifth to second in the points.

“I’m very happy to carry on where I left off in Japan,” said Green. “I felt like I was riding really well in the first race and the second race was good enough for the overall.”

With an abbreviated championship calendar, the rising stars of Trial3 Junior got their campaigns under way in Andorra where Mazzola won the opening race with his score of five putting him two ahead of Skelton – last season’s runner-up – and twelve clear of Patrick Bjørnland Larsen (Scorpa) from Norway. Back in ninth in race one, Laure turned his day around with a cool-headed performance in race two to win a tie-break on eleven from Spanish rider Oriol Garcia Campano (Sherco) with Mazzola just one adrift in third to claim the overall from Skelton who was fourth on fifteen. “This result makes me very happy,” said Mazzola. “I’ve been working very hard over the winter, but tomorrow is another day.” The action from Andorra resumes tomorrow at 08:30 (local time).

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After a four-week break in the schedule, the 2026 Hertz FIM Trial World Championship fires back into life this coming weekend (12-14 June) with the TrialGP of Andorra and following recent rule adjustments and with Trial3 Junior competitors joining the series for the first time this season – plus, of course, the greatest Trial riders on the planet in action – fans can look forward to an excitement-packed event.

• TrialGP of Andorra set for Sant Julià de Lòria this weekend
• Toni Bou, Berta Abellan and Alex Canales defend series leads
• Trial3 Junior joins the programme for first time this season

A regular stop on the TrialGP calendar with eight editions in the last ten years, the event is based in Sant Julià de Lòria in the stunning Pyrenean principality and returns to the calendar following a year away. Experienced riders will be well aware of the difficulties of performing at altitude on a course that at its highest point is over sixteen-hundred metres above sea level, but the huge rocks and severely steep, wooded mountain slopes are still guaranteed to test even the world’s best riders.

Following the opening round in Japan last month, a number of adjustments have been made to fine-tune the new rules introduced at the start of the year for the TrialGP class and all TrialGP riders will start Race Two with Super Pole with scores now carried across from the Final to the Super Final. In addition, all TrialGP riders will participate in the Final and Super Final and in Super Pole riders’ times will be the second deciding factor in the event of a tie after the traditional number of point penalties criteria. For the first time, Trial2 and Trial3 Junior competitors will join TrialGP and TrialGP Women riders in the Super Test to close Friday’s riding action.

In control following his double win in Japan, Spain’s defending champion Toni Bou (Montesa) is a resident of Andorra and will be aiming to use his knowledge of the challenging landscape to full effect. Having won both days the last time the series visited here in 2024 – and with maximum points in the bank after his victories in mid-May at Mobility Resort Motegi – the thirty-nine-year-old will be a tough rider to beat as he chases an incredible twentieth consecutive title.

Bou’s main opposition is expected to come from his compatriots Jaime Busto (Beta) and Gabriel Marcelli (Montesa), although veteran Italian Matteo Grattarola (Beta) has started the season in fine form with a podium on day one in Japan and will be keen for a repeat performance now the series has returned to Europe.

Fans will also get a ringside seat to watch the progress of Britain’s Harry Hemingway (Beta) in his first season in the top-flight, while Spanish star Miquel Gelabert (Honda) will continue his quest to put an electric machine on the premier class podium for the first-ever time and former Trial2 champion Sondre Haga from Norway will make his debut at the highest level.

It is closer in TrialGP Women where defending champion Berta Abellan (Scorpa) was the top scorer over both days in Japan, but the twenty-six-year-old Spaniard can expect strong challenges from rivals including the Italian pairing of Alessia Bacchetta and Andrea Sofia Rabino (Beta) as well as the Czech Republic’s Denisa Pechackova and Alice Minta (Beta) who currently heads the sizeable British contingent.

A five-time FIM silver medallist until her breakthrough title last season, Abellan recorded a remarkable faultless performance in the opening race on day two in Japan before being defeated by Bacchetta in race two and fans can expect more adrenalin-fuelled action this coming weekend in a class that is simply too close to call.

Just one round in and the Trial2 class is also shaping up to be a classic, season-long fight after Spain’s Alex Canales (Montesa) emerged from Japan with the series lead with his one-four scores giving him a slender two-point advantage ahead of Francesco Titli (Montesa) from Italy who went four-two.

Among the pre-season favourites, Spain’s Arnau Farré (Sherco) is a further eight points adrift in third and after taking victory on the opening day here in 2024 the twenty-seven-year-old will be keen for more of the same, although Britain’s George Hemingway (Beta) and Billy Green (Scorpa) – who currently sit fourth and fifth after the opening round – are both capable of spoiling his plans.

Green, the champion in 2023, ran two-two in Andorra in 2024 and after taking victory on day two in Japan will be determined to maintain this momentum and resist the challenges of a chasing field that also includes his compatriot Jack Dance who finished on the podium on day one in Japan.

With last year’s Trial3 winner Ryon Land (Sherco) graduating to the Trial2 class in 2026, there will be a new champion this season and there is no shortage of talent among the series’ youngest competitors with an entry that is packed with potential. Going on last season’s form, Britain’s Harison Skelton (Scorpa) – who was second behind Land in 2025 – should start as one of the favourites, but he will have to contend with an exciting mixture of series newcomers along with a selection of last season’s leading riders including the Italian pairing of Fabio Mazzola and Alessandro Amé (Beta). The action from Andorra is scheduled to get under way at 17:30 (local time) on Friday (12 June) with the Super Test for TrialGP, TrialGP Women, Trial2 and Trial3 Junior before the points-scoring action begins at 08:30 (local time) the following day.

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For regular updates check out our social media platforms on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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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