Last month Sondre Haga (GASGAS) made another entry into the Trial history books at the opening round of the 2024 Hertz FIM Trial World Championship when on day one of the Taisei Rotec TrialGP of Japan he became the first rider to claim a win in top-flight competition on an electric motorcycle.

Having already etched his name on the sport’s honour roll by winning the 2022 Trial2 title, just four days before his twenty-fifth birthday the Norwegian piloted the all-new GASGAS TXE to a ground-breaking six-mark victory in Trial2 ahead of another electric motorcycle ridden by Gael Chatagno (Electric Motion).

The result proved beyond doubt that in the right hands a battery-powered machine is every bit as competitive as a petrol-engined motorcycle, but while his win sent ripples through the global Trial family the ice-cool Haga was the least shocked out of everyone.

“Heading into Japan it was a bit hard to know what to expect,” said Haga. “It was something new, but from training I knew we would be fighting for top spots – if we didn’t think we would be able to be on the podium we wouldn’t be riding the bike.

“Obviously, writing history together with GASGAS is fantastic. After the ‘risk’ of riding electric and a lot of hard work from the whole team, both in Spain and Austria, it was an amazing feeling to win on the opening day.”

Training more or less full-time on the TXE since February, Haga tested virtually non-stop up until the opening round and this hard work paid off as he quickly gelled with his new and unfamiliar machine.

“Even to swap between other brands there is always a slight difference, but our goal is to make the bike as similar [to a petrol-powered machine] as we can and to be honest it was not as difficult as I expected. There were bound to be some differences like the sound and vibrations, but I adapted really fast.

“It is an honour to feel that the factory believes in me, in this project and in this team and we are all working really hard so I think we are a good match. I really do believe electric is the way forward and it is great to be working towards an electric future with GASGAS.”

Of course, the 2024 series still has a long way to go with another six rounds and ten days of points-scoring competition remaining, but Haga already has his eyes on the big prize.

“After our start in Japan I think it is clear that we are going for the win. We know how competitive this class is and how difficult it will be, but I will fight as hard as I can. How would it feel to win it? Hmmm, I think that is an easy answer – hopefully you will be asking me the same question at the end of the season.”

Haga continues his quest to become the first Hertz FIM Trial World Champion on an electric motorcycle this coming weekend (7-9 June) at the TrialGP of Andorra.
 The points-scoring action at Sant Julià de Lòria gets under way at 09:00 local time on 8 June and will be streamed LIVE on FIM-MOTO-TV from 13:15 local time with a season pass – covering all seven rounds and the FIM Trial des Nations – priced at €34.90.

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