The FIM X-Trial World Championship begins this Friday in Nice, France, where Toni Bou will defend his title. Gabriel Marcelli joins the team and Takahisa Fujinami becomes Team Manager.
The X-Trial World Championship begins this week in the French town of Nice. The Repsol Honda Team’s work in preseason has been intense but fruitful, and both the bike and the team are now in a position to perform at their best in the different competitions that await them.
Toni Bou is the winner of the last 15 titles, and the rider with the most race wins -69- in the indoor series.
Alongside him will be newcomer Gabriel Marcelli. The 2019 Trial2 World Champion was the breakthrough rider in the top class in the 2020 season, and concluded 2021 in great form, placing third in the Spanish championship and fourth in the X-Trial World Championship, rounding off the season with a second place at the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona.
Takahisa Fujinami will make his debut as Team Manager. After a long and successful career as a rider, he retired from competition at the end of the 2021 World Championship, and experience will undoubtedly be a factor in his favour when running the Repsol Honda team.
The X-Trial World Championship will be contested over six events: Three in France (Nice, Chalon-sur-Saône and a third city yet to be confirmed), two in Spain (Madrid and Barcelona), and one in Andorra.
The regulations have undergone changes for 2022, and one of the most important concerns participation: Marcelli -fourth in the competition last season- will only be able to participate as a guest rider at some of the races.
Each event is distributed in three phases: Round 1, Round 2 and the Final. They will feature 8 riders, then 6, then the top 3 from the opening two phases. Winners of each round will earn an extra point for the season.
