LAIA SANZ TOPS WOMEN’S PODIUM AT TRIALGP OF SPAIN

With everything to play for, Laia Sanz has delivered one of her most important performances in this year’s TrialGP series. Needing to stay as close as possible to Women’s class leader Emma Bristow to ensure a chance of winning the title at next weekend’s final round in Portugal, Laia did exactly what she needed to do by winning day one and finishing as a close runner-up on day two at the TrialGP of Spain. With one day of competition remaining, Laia sits just one point behind Bristow!

  • Laia Sanz finishes with 1-2 results at home TrialGP event
  • Just one point separates Sanz from Emma Bristow at top of Women’s standings
  • Miquel Gelabert finished best for GASGAS in TrialGP with 7-6 results

Laia Sanz: “It was a really good weekend for me. The first day went perfectly as I managed to get the win – a much needed victory to keep my championship winning hopes alive. Today, day two, it was a pity because I could have won again. If I had I would have made things a lot easier for myself in Portugal next weekend, but I made some silly mistakes and finished second. The second lap was not easy for me, apart from making some mistakes I struggled a lot with my physical condition as I was feeling tired. It’s a bit disappointing because I did not fight as I wanted to. But I still have a strong chance of getting the championship and that was the goal before competing here in Spain. Everything is to play for next weekend.”

Competition at the top of the TrialGP Women’s class was super close at the penultimate round of the series in Pobladura de las Regueras, with Laia taking the win by just a single point over second placed Berta Abellan on day one. Claiming her second win of the series to date, Laia also saw defending class champion Emma Bristow finish in third position, very much putting Laia back in the championship hunt with her British rival.

Starting well on day two, Laia looked set to repeat her day one result. But, not feeling 100 per cent, she lost a few more marks that she hoped she would, eventually placing second at the end of the day behind Bristow. Now, with the final one-day round of the series taking place in Portugal next weekend, Laia sits just one point behind Bristow.

For GASGAS Factory Racing’s TrialGP riders Miquel Gelabert and Jorge Casales, the TrialGP of Spain was a mixed one in terms of performances. Once again showing that he can challenge for the podium, Gelabert completed the opening day’s first lap as the fourth best rider with a score of 27. Frustratingly, a score of 29 on lap two was a little too high for a top-three result, ending the day in seventh. Sixth on day two, Miquel finished just one point behind fourth placed Gabriel Marcelli.

Delivering some impressive rides through some of the event’s sections, Jorge Casales placed eighth on both days.

Miquel Gelabert: “I rode quite good during the first lap of Saturday and finished inside the top four but at the start of the second lap, I got nervous and got a five in section one and then I lost my focus a little. I made some stupid mistakes during the lap and that put me down in seventh. Today I started way more motivated and looking for a better result and I managed to be fourth by the end of the lap. Again, going into the second lap I made some mistakes and got two straight fives in sections one and two. Nevertheless, I managed to finish sixth, just one point away from fourth. I'm not really happy with my riding but I’ll give my all again next weekend.”

Jorge Casales: “Coming back to Pobladura de las Regueras wasn’t easy for me, I had a lot of problems this year when I raced the Spanish championship here. For this reason, I took the weekend with no pressure, I just wanted to enjoy it, improve, and get a better feeling with the bike. On Saturday I managed to clean some sections but then I took some fives and that put me down in eighth place, not where I wanted to be. Today I wanted to do better and on the first lap I was close to the top five, but an observer gave me a five for stopping, I don’t think I did but it’s what he says that counts. On the second lap I made some small mistakes that made me fall down to eighth, again not where I was looking to be but I’m happy with how I rode some of the sections.”

Results: TrialGP of Spain, day 1

TrialGP

1. Toni Bou (Montesa) 16 marks
2. Adam Raga (TRRS) 36
3. Jaime Busto (Vertigo) 37
7. Miquel Gelabert (GASGAS) 57
8. Jorge Casales (GASGAS) 64


TrialGP Women
1. Laia Sanz (GASGAS) 25 marks
2. Berta Abellan (Vertigo) 26
3. Emma Bristow (Sherco) 30

Results: TrialGP of Spain, day 2

TrialGP
1. Toni Bou (Montesa) 22 marks
2. Jaime Busto (Vertigo) 24
3. Adam Raga (TRRS) 30
6. Miquel Gelabert (GASGAS) 42
8. Jorge Casales (GASGAS) 56


TrialGP Women
1. Emma Bristow (Sherco) 9 marks
2. Laia Sanz (GASGAS) 12
3. Berta Abellan (Vertigo) 14

Championship standings:

FIM TrialGP World Championship (after round five) TrialGP

1. Toni Bou (Montesa) 152 points
2. Adam Raga (TRRS) 133
3. Jaime Busto (Vertigo) 107
6. Miquel Gelabert (GASGAS) 85
9. Jorge Casales (GASGAS) 50


TrialGP Women
1. Emma Bristow (Sherco) 92 points
2. Laia Sanz (GASGAS) 91
3. Berta Abellan (Vertigo) 77