An expensive first-lap total of 21 proved to be the undoing of Bou ’ s nearest championship rival Adam Raga ( TRRS ). The Spanish two-time world champion rallied with a score of nine on lap two but the damage was already done and he ended the day in third , although still comfortably ahead of compatriot Gabriel Marcelli ( Montesa ) who mirrored his Saturday result and Italy ’ s Matteo Grattarola ( Beta ).
With the title to be decided on September 18 at Gouveia in Portugal – the day before the Trial des Nations – Bou now holds an almost unbeatable 19-point lead ahead of Raga and Busto has consolidated his third place in front of Grattarola .
Britain ’ s Bristow has gone toeto-toe with Spain ’ s Laia Sanz ( GASGAS ) all year but lost valuable ground yesterday when she slipped to third – her worst result since 2013 . Today she came out swinging and after tying for the lead with Sanz at the halfway mark on four she eased ahead as conditions deteriorated with her secondlap total of five giving her a three-mark winning margin .
The result gives Bristow a one-point lead heading into a winner-takes-all finale in Portugal .
“ I was a lot more confident today ,” said Bristow . “ The sections historically ride easier on the second day so I knew there was less margin for error but I kept my feet up a lot more . I had to dig deep and remember how good I am .”
Spanish rider Berta Abellan ( Vertigo ), who beat Bristow yesterday for the first time in a world championship event , was just two marks further adrift in third before a big gap back to France ’ s 2020 Trial2 Women champion Naomi Monnier ( Beta ) and Spain ’ s Sandra Gomez ( TRRS ).
Trial2 has been incredibly closely-contested all season and today we saw our fourth winner from eight pointspaying days as Gandola ( Beta ) continued his ascent of the Hertz FIM Trial World Championship ladder .
Trial125 champion in 2017 , the Italian rising star took a career-first Trial2 victory on 16 marks , a comfortable six ahead of Pablo Suarez ( Montesa ) who made it back-to-back secondplaced finishes in front of his home fans .
“ I ’ m really happy for the win today ,” said Gandola . “ I didn ’ t have the best day yesterday but I was able to turn it around . I ’ m over the moon ."
VOL . 6 ISSUE 11 - NOVEMBER 2021 // PAGE 67