Italy ’ s involvement in top-flight trial can be traced all the way back to 1972 when a round of the FIM European Championship – which became a full world series in 1975 – was staged at Selvino where Martin Lampkin came out on top .
Despite this long and rich history , Italy has never produced a world champion at the highest level – although the late Diego Bosis came close wh en h e finish ed second behind Jordi Tarres in 1990 and Donato Miglio was third on two occasions , in 1988 and again in 1990 .
Competing in a field packed with hungry young talent , the man from Bellano – just a stone ’ s throw from the Swiss border – knows that 12 years on from his Hertz FIM Trial World Championship debut he still has a lot to offer and , more importantly , is still very much a podium threat .
Matteo struck FIM gold with his Trial2 titles in 2018 and 2020 – he was runner-up in the class in 2019 – and his performance last season has rejuvenated the top-flight career of the 33-year-old whose highest world ranking before 2021 had been seventh in 2013 .
ON THE PEGS // PAGE 64