• Toni Bou extends his win-streak at the TrialGP of France
• Double victory puts Arnau Farré on top of Trial2 standings
• Fabio Mazzola ties Trial3 Junior series lead in Cahors

There was more reason for Spanish celebration in Trial2 where Arnau Farré (Sherco), who was without a win this season, doubled up to snatch the series lead away from his compatriot Alex Canales (Montesa) as Italy’s Fabio Mazzola claimed the overall in Trial3 Junior to tie Britain’s Harison Skelton (Scorpa) at the top of the standings.

A big turnout of passionate fans basked in the heat for the single day of points-scoring competition and they witnessed a vintage performance by thirty-nine-year-old Bou who has been in unbeatable form since the opening round in Japan in May.

After winning Saturday’s Super Test to determine starting order, Bou lost an uncharacteristic two on the very first section of the day that could have put him on the back foot, but the record-shattering champion thrives on pressure and he remained feet-up for the remainder of the race until he needed a solitary dab on the twelfth and final hazard that, with the addition of a single time penalty, put him on four.

Bou’s main challenge came from Marcelli and Jaime Busto (Beta) with the pair neck-and-neck until they reached the town where the manmade section eight took a maximum from Busto. Marcelli then incurred a five on section eleven that allowed Busto to close to within a mark, but he soaked up the pressure to clean the final hazard to finish on twelve as Busto parted with another dab to end the race on fourteen.

Just a single mark adrift of Busto, Britain’s Harry Hemingway (Beta) was a fighting fourth before a seven-mark gap to Italy’s Matteo Grattarola (Beta) who in turn was four clear of Spain’s Miquel Gelabert (Honda) riding the sole electric machine in the class.

Busto got a taste of victory when he topped the timed Super Pole section to decide starting order for the Final and he matched Bou clean-for-clean through the first five hazards before the reigning champion produced a moment of magic to clean the challenging sixth section where a triple step from a minimal run-up had taken maximums from most of the field.

Busto surrendered his share of the lead here with a hard-fought three that allowed Marcelli – who along with Gelabert had needed just a single dab on section six – to draw level before the race concluded with the Super Final.

Bou took a dab on the steep climb and rock step of section seven and then picked up a maximum on section ten before regaining his composure to run out winner on seven, including a time penalty, with Marcelli taking second on a total of fifteen and Gelabert a fine third on nineteen, two clear of Hemingway with Grattarola fifth on twenty-eight.

“It has not been easy because all the riders were pushing super-hard and the weather has been so hot,” said Bou. “It was difficult to fight to the end of both races, but I’m super-happy with the result.”

Busto struggled in the Super Final, parting with seventeen marks in the first five sections before a rear wheel puncture forced him to miss the final section and contributed to his six time penalties that dropped him to sixth on thirty-one as Marcelli moved into second in the championship.

Exchanging maximums and single dabs with Bincaz throughout the opening race, a five on section eleven along with a single time penalty almost cost Farré victory, but he held his nerve and won the vital tie-break after the leading pair both finished on eighteen.

A single mark adrift, Spain’s Gerard Trueba (Beta) was third before a three-mark gap to Canales with Super Test winner George Hemingway (Beta) taking a tie-break from fellow British rider Jack Dance after both finished on twenty-five.

Race two was much lower scoring – but equally evenly matched – as Farré and Bincaz started with a dab each before the Frenchman took another single mark on section three. Farré then lost a mark on section five and the pair remained clean for the remainder of the race with the Spaniard getting the verdict on a tie-break.

“I’m very happy,” said Farré. “It’s been a hard day, but it feels great to be leading the championship for the first time.”

Italy’s Francesco Titli (Montesa) was third on five, six clear of Canales with Hemingway fifth on twelve.

In a relatively high-scoring first race, Skelton’s total of fifteen was good enough for victory by one mark from Mazzola with Norwegian Patrick Bjørnland Larsen (Sherco) third on eighteen, but the Italian showed his maturity by winning race two on just two marks lost and with Skelton’s total of eleven dropping him to third, two behind Dutch rider Fenno Goertz (Sherco), it is all-square at the top.

“It feels great to share the championship lead,” said Mazzola, “and now we have one round left to decide things. Now I need to do it all again in the Netherlands.”

The action now moves to Zelhem in the Netherlands this coming weekend (4-6 September) for the penultimate round of the series for TrialGP and Trial2 riders and the deciding round for the Trial3 Junior class.

• FIM Trial World Championship travels to France for round five
• Toni Bou bids to extend his TrialGP win-streak at Cahors
• Alex Canales and Harison Skelton defend slim leads in Trial2 and Trial3 Junior

The sole round this season contested over one day of points-scoring action, competitors in the TrialGP, Trial2 and Trial3 Junior classes can look forward to sections comprising huge rocks and steep, loose bankings in a quarry along with hazards plotted on the banks of a river where more massive boulders and testing climbs await.

The last time the championship visited Cahors was in 2024 when Toni Bou (Montesa) clinched his eighteenth TrialGP title in a row and although the Spanish superstar – who is unbeaten so far this season – will not be able to secure an incredible twentieth-straight crown this weekend, a ninth consecutive victory will put the championship within his reach when the series travels to the Netherlands for round six in early-September.

The pair have shown themselves to be incredibly evenly matched this year, but neither rider can afford to rest on their laurels as evergreen Italian Matteo Grattarola (Beta) is just fifteen points behind as he attempts to secure a career-best ranking of third or above.

With a twenty-nine point lead over fifth-placed Miquel Gelabert (Honda), the thirty-eight-year-old from Bellano on the shores of Lake Como sits a safe fourth, but the Spaniard – riding the ground-breaking RTL Electric machine – has impressed this season with his run of cool and consistent results helping him to out-score the British pairing of Jack Peace (Sherco) and class newcomer Harry Hemingway (Beta).

Spain’s Alex Canales (Montesa) has led the class since the opening day of competition in Japan back in May with a string of impressive results, although last time out at Trac Mon Circuit Anglesey he suffered his worst finish of the season in eighth, allowing Britain’s Harry Turner (Sherco) to cut his advantage to just two points.

A further two points off the pace, Spain’s Arnau Farré (Sherco) is still looking for a win this season, as is fourth-placed George Hemingway (Beta) who in his second season in the class is looking completely at home and, sitting just eleven points off the lead, remains very much in contention.

Winner of day two at the TrialGP of Great Britain, Italian Francesco Titli (Montesa) completes the top five and the teenager could very well use Cahors as a springboard into the medal positions, but such is the depth in talent in this class the winner in France may come from lower down the points table with Britain’s former champion Billy Green (Scorpa) and France’s Benoit Bincaz (Electric Motion) – currently sixth and seventh – both with two victories to their names this season.

With third-placed Oriol Garcia Campano (Sherco) from Spain already fifty-two points behind Skelton it is shaping up to be a two-rider contest for the title. However, while only the leading pair have tasted victory this season there is a queue of talented riders – including Campano, Germany’s Marco Laure (Beta), Norwegian Patrick Bjørnland Larsen (Sherco) and Britain’s Max Dance (Scorpa) who have all scored at least one podium finish this season – focussed on the top step of the podium.

The action from Cahors begins on Saturday (29 August) with the Super Test for all classes scheduled for 17:30 (local time) before the opening race of the weekend gets under way the following day at 10:00 (local time).

“Leading the championship is an incredible feeling,” he said, “especially after all the hard work that’s gone into it, but there’s still a long way to go in the championship and we can’t afford to relax. I know there are some incredibly talented riders and that anyone can win a round. I feel prepared and confident, but we have to keep taking it one race at a time and maintain the same mindset.”

Introduced to Trial by his father, Canales got his first motorcycle at the age of four and hasn’t looked back.

“From a young age, I experienced the sport at first hand and gradually gave it a go until I got hooked. In the end, what started as a hobby became my passion and my profession. I grew up with the sport, progressing through the different categories until I reached world-class level.”

Following two promising seasons in Trial3 Junior, Canales made his Trial2 debut in 2021 and ended the season ranked fourteenth, a performance he matched the following year before breaking into the top ten in 2023 when he finished eighth.

“After several years in Trial2, I felt I needed to take a step forward and take on a new challenge. TrialGP was the next level and I wanted to find out where my limits lay by competing against the world’s best riders. It was a big decision, but I think I needed that experience to keep growing as a rider. I’m pleased with my performance and, above all, with everything I learnt during that season.

“Competing in TrialGP helped me improve a great deal as a rider [but] we decided to return to Trial2 because I think it was the right time to aim for a very specific goal – to win the championship. I’m back with more experience, more confidence and a better understanding of what I need to stay at the front.

“What’s more, if I manage to win the Trial2 title I’ll secure a place to compete in the FIM X-Trial World Championship which is also one of my major goals. That’s why I think this year is a very important opportunity for me and I want to make the most of it.”

With just three rounds and five days of points-scoring competition remaining, beginning with the TrialGP of France at Cahors on 29-30 August, Canales is under intense pressure from the chasing pack with just eleven points separating the top four, although he appears to be taking it all in his stride.

“It’s proving to be a very evenly matched season. There are lots of riders capable of winning and the margins are very narrow. When the scores are so low, any small mistake can cause you to drop a lot of places. That’s why it’s so important to be consistent and stay focused throughout the weekend.”

Round five of the 2026 Hertz FIM Trial World Championship – the TrialGP of France – takes place at Cahors on 29-30 August.

• Superstar Spaniard Toni Bou maintains his unbeaten record with double win on day two
• Andrea Sofia Rabino posts perfect performance in TrialGP Women race two
• Francesco Titli, Daniela Hernando and Harison Skelton complete Sunday honour roll

In Trial2 the race wins were shared between home hero Harry Turner (Sherco) and Francesco Titli (Montesa) with the Italian taking the day’s overall verdict as Spain’s Daniela Hernando (Beta) and British rider Matilda Arbon (Sherco) traded victories in Trial2 Women and there was further success for the host nation in Trial3 Junior where Harison Skelton (Scorpa) and Max Dance (Scorpa) claimed a win apiece.

A much brighter morning greeted competitors at the impressive Trac Mon Circuit Anglesey in Wales where the coastal course was lined with fans who turned out in large numbers to watch the best Trial riders on the planet in action – and for the last nineteen years there has been no better rider than Spanish superstar Bou.

The first serious test came at section four that stopped the full TrialGP field in yesterday’s opening race and not a lot had changed this time around with everyone except Matteo Grattarola (Beta) taking a maximum. The veteran Italian bent the laws of physics to escape with an incredible single mark, but by this point he had already taken five on section two so rather than hand him the lead, his heroics only brought him back into contention.

From here Bou stayed feet-up until section ten where he needed a two that almost put him within striking distance of his team-mate and compatriot Gabriel Marcelli, but not even a maximum on the final section – where only Marcelli saw the ends cards in the opening race – could prevent the thirty-nine-year-old from taking victory on thirteen.

Struggling yesterday with a fractured finger, Marcelli claimed a brave second on fifteen, four clear of Jaime Busto (Beta) with Grattarola a further five off the pace as Britain’s Harry Hemingway (Beta) slotted into fifth on thirty after winning a tie-break with Miquel Gelabert (Honda) and Jack Peace (Sherco).

After topping Super Pole to decide the starting order for the Final, Bou locked horns with Busto and Marcelli as the Spanish trio distanced themselves from the chasing pack and it was Busto who seized the initial advantage with a one on section four that once again took maximums from the rest of the field.

Tied on five with Busto heading into the Super Final stage with Marcelli on seven, Bou added just one more mark to his score on section twelve to run out winner by two marks from Busto with Marcelli third on ten before an eleven-mark gap to Hemingway in fourth who in turn was just one ahead of Gelabert on the sole electric motorcycle in the class.

“I’m super-happy to have started the championship with a lot of points,” said Bou, “and this weekend has been perfect for me and I have had the best feeling.”

Italy’s Alessia Bacchetta improved a position on her race-one finish yesterday with third on eight with Britain’s Kaytlyn Adshead on twelve before a seven-mark gap to French rider Alycia Soyer, but following her heroics yesterday, home rider Alice Minta (Beta) slipped to seventh behind her compatriot Alicia Robinson (Beta).

Irrespective of class, a faultless performance at this level is a very rare occurrence and Rabino capped her fantastic weekend in Wales by staying clean throughout the second race to take the title fight to Abellan whose score of seven gave her second on a tie-break with the on-form Bacchetta.

“It has been a perfect weekend for me,” said Rabino. “I won yesterday and again today and it is an amazing feeling so I will keep pushing at the final round in Spain.”

Minta bounced back with fourth on eight, seven clear of fifth-placed Soyer, but the weekend belonged to Rabino who has slashed Abellan’s advantage by twelve points to just eleven with only one round remaining in the TrialGP Women series.

Last year’s Trial3 Junior champion, America’s Ryon Land (Sherco) continued his climb up the ladder with fifth on seven after winning a tie-break with Pablo Echene (Sherco) from France.

Turner’s hopes of a third consecutive overall win were dashed in a low-scoring race two when his total of six dropped him to ninth for third overall as Titli won the race – and the day – on a score of just one that put him two clear of Britain’s Jack Dance who in turn was one ahead of a three-way tie for third won by France’s Benoit Bincaz (Electric Motion) from Farré and Echene.

“The feeling is very good and I am happy,” said Titli. “Today I started well with second and then won the second race. It feels good to be back on the podium.”

Super-consistent since the opening round, series leader Alex Canales (Montesa) had his worst day of the campaign with a pair of seventh-placed finishes dropping him to eighth on the day and allowing Turner to close to within two points in the championship with Farré another two off the pace.

“Today was very good for me,” said Hernando. “I felt I was riding well and felt at one with the bike and it is great to take this win.”

After finishing the first race in fourth, Arbon fought back with victory in race two for third overall to leave Anglesey with a five-point title lead over Montserrat Junque.

A fighting fourth in race one, Dance then won race two to claim a season-best second overall with Norwegian Patrick Bjørnland Larsen (Sherco) filling the third step of the podium with a two-six scorecard.

“This weekend has been unreal,” said Skelton. “You just can’t beat the feeling of getting two overall wins at your home round. I’m a bit disappointed to miss the win in race two, but I’m delighted for Max Dance who ride brilliantly.”

Focus now shifts to Cahors for the TrialGP of France on 29-30 August when the TrialGP, Trial2 and Trial3 Junior classes will contest one day of points-scoring action.