VICTORY FOR JAIME BUSTO AT TRIALGP OF ITALY.
GASGAS FACTORY RACING STAR CLAIMS FIRST TRIALGP WIN OF THE YEAR WHILE TRIAL2 DUO BOTH SECURE TOP-10 RESULTS.
What a weekend! Jaime Busto put in a commanding ride to claim his first win of the season on day two of the TrialGP of Italy. The GASGAS Factory Racing star’s impressive result leaves him in fourth overall, just two points shy of third in the 2024 FIM TrialGP World Championship standings. In an impressive display of skill and consistency in the Trial2 class, both Jack Dance and Sondre Haga secured a pair of top-10 finishes in Valsassina to leave them ninth and fifth respectively in the overall standings.
Heading to northern Italy for the third round of the 2024 TrialGP season, Valsassina proved a demanding course, even for the world’s best riders. The opening lap threw up plenty of super-tough obstacles, with Jaime Busto making a few costly mistakes on his TXT GP 300. Recovering well on the second lap, the Spaniard got down to business and climbed the leaderboard to ultimately finish in fifth place.
Sunday was redemption day for Busto! The GASGAS Factory Racing ace sharpened his focus and rode a stellar second lap to emerge victorious in the final sections, finishing four marks ahead of second place. Thanks to his impressive result, the Spaniard is now knocking on the door of the top three in the overall standings, with just two championship points standing between him and third place.
It was back to business for GASGAS Factory Racing in the Trial2 category! Both Jack Dance and Sondre Haga took to the technical course on day one with determination and drive after a difficult round two. The sections in Valsassina suited Jack, with the Brit feeling right at home in the mud and wet, putting in a strong ride to finish in seventh place. Teammate Sondre steered his TXE GP to an eighth-place result, pleased with the performance of his electric machine in the unfamiliar conditions.
Day two saw the duo match their Saturday results, showcasing their consistency in a super-competitive class. Dance had another impressive day in the Trial2 category, with his seventh-place finish moving him up four places in the overall standings to ninth. Way to go, Jack! Haga came home in eighth place again just behind his teammate, putting his electric bike through its paces. The Norwegian now lies in fifth overall in the championship after three rounds. It’s all to play for!
The 2024 FIM TrialGP World Championship heads to Neunkirchen, Germany for its fourth round on July 5-7.
Jaime Busto:“It’s an incredible feeling being back on the top of the podium! After a difficult start to the season, I’m super happy for myself and the team that all our hard work is paying off now. I didn’t have the best day one, I made a lot of silly mistakes but I still had a really good feeling on the bike. So, on day two, I really focused and made sure I made as few mistakes as possible and took the win. I’m really happy!”
Jack Dance:“I’ve had a much better weekend, I felt really confident in my riding so I could push a lot harder. The sections suited me well, especially the muddy ones and the river, which worked to my advantage. It was a really technical trial with some big steps and stream sections, and I feel like I rode well all weekend. I made a few mistakes but used the second lap both days to pull it back and get into the top 10. On to the next one!”
Sondre Haga:“Eighth both days was a decent weekend for me, it feels great to be closer to good results. I was happy with the majority of my riding, and going in the river with the electric bike for the first time was really cool. It’s a shame I couldn’t fight for the top positions this weekend, but I still feel really competitive. It’s a massive learning journey with the electric bike, and the conditions here in Italy were ones we hadn’t encountered before. We’re still in the fight, though, and I’m super excited for the next race.”
Albert Cabestany – GASGAS Factory Racing Trial Team Manager:“We couldn’t be happier with day two! Jaime’s win was well deserved, especially after such a tough start to the season. It was a pretty tough first day in Italy, time-wise we were rushing around with Jaime all day. After an unfortunate crash at the end of section four, we had to change the handlebars. We kept up the fight all weekend though, and we trust that the results will keep coming for all three riders. In Trial2, it was great to see Jack back on form all weekend and feeling confident, and the same for Sondre. We have to remind the boys that the days can be long and hard, but anything can happen so to keep pushing. We are back!“
Results: TrialGP of Italy
TrialGP – day 1
1. Toni Bou (Montesa) 24
2. Matteo Grattarola (Beta) 50
3. Gabriel Marcelli (Montesa) 56
5. Jaime Busto (GASGAS) 58
Trial2 – day 1
1. Arnau Farre (Sherco) 23
2. Jack Peace (Sherco) 32
3. Billy Green (Skorpa) 34
7. Jack Dance (GASGAS) 40
8. Sondre Haga (GASGAS) 42
TrialGP – day 2
1. Jaime Busto (GASGAS) 39
2. Toni Bou (Montesa) 43
3. Matteo Grattarola (Beta) 50
Trial2 – day 2
1. Jack Peace (Sherco) 14
2. Billy Green (Scorpa) 21
3. Harry Hemingway (Beta) 21
7. Jack Dance (GASGAS) 29
8. Sondre Haga (GASGAS) 30
Championship standings (after round 3)
TrialGP
1. Toni Bou (Montesa) 117
2. Gabriel Marcelli (Montesa) 90
3. Adam Raga (Sherco) 81
4. Jaime Busto (GASGAS) 79
Trial2
1. Jack Peace (Sherco) 94
2. Alex Canales (Sherco) 87
3. Arnau Farre (Sherco) 86
5. Sondre Haga (GASGAS) 68
9. Jack Dance (GASGAS) 31
Text/Bild: GasGas