2019 FIM TRIAL2 WORLD CHAMPION
MARCELLI MAKES IT COUNT
Gabriel Marcelli (Montesa) claimed the FIM Trial2 World Championship in dramatic fashion at the final round of the season in Spain, overturning a one-point deficit to defending champion Matteo Grattarola (Honda) in front of a delighted home crowd in La Nucía. The Galician-born teenager, who finished runner-up in 2017 and was third overall last season, made a disappointing start to the season, taking fifth place at the opening round in Italy as his experienced rival Grattarola won his own home event and then backed it up with another victory in Japan.
However, a first win of the season in the third round in the Netherlands got Marcelli’s campaign on course and a second success in Portugal, as Grattarola struggled to fourth, handed the momentum to the youngster. Alexandre Ferrer (Sherco) became the third home rider to stand on top of the podium in France but second place for Marcelli closed him to within a single point of Grattarola with one round remaining.
Taking full use of home advantage in the dry and dusty conditions just north of Benidorm, Marcelli ran out a four-mark winner from Luca Petrella (Beta) as Grattarola slipped up to end the day in fifth behind the Spanish pairing of Aniol Gelabert (Scorpa) and Francesc Moret (Honda). Meanwhile, Ferrer ended the season level on points with last year’s runner-up Toby Martyn (Beta), but the Frenchman claimed third place overall by virtue of his superior win rate.
PALMARES
World title – 2019
