JAIME BUSTO SECURES THIRD OVERALL IN 2024 TRIALGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP.
DOUBLE RUNNER-UP RESULTS AT FINAL ROUND IN SPAIN SEE GASGAS FACTORY RACING STAR MISS OUT ON SECOND IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP BY JUST THREE POINTS.
What a weekend! GASGAS Factory Racing’s Jaime Busto has delivered two hard-fought podium results at the seventh round of the 2024 FIM TrialGP World Championship to secure third place in the final series standings. Taking the fight to Toni Bou in Ripoll, Spain, Jaime came agonizingly close to the win on both days, missing out by just a few lost marks each day.
Although the TrialGP title had already been decided at round six, the remaining podium places were still up for grabs coming into round seven in Spain, and Busto knew he would have to deliver the ride of the season to take second place overall.
Motivated and with his eyes on the win, Jaime did exactly that, attacking the mixed terrain on Saturday’s sections and pushing 2024 champion Bou all the way. At the end of the first lap, Busto trailed his rival by one single point, but with Bou earning a five early on lap two, all bets were off! Unfortunately for Jaime, an uncharacteristic five on section six cost him the points he needed to take the win. The TXT GP 300 rider ended the day second.
Day two was extremely similar to the first, except at the end of the first lap, Jaime led by a narrow three points. Two fives on the second lap dashed his hopes, and he was once again forced to settle for the second step on the podium.
Despite Jaime giving 110%, it wasn’t quite enough to elevate him to second overall in the championship, with him missing out by an agonizing three points. Happy with third, but keen for more, Busto now switches his attention to the indoors, and round five of the X-Trial World Championship on October 5.
For Trial2 riders Sondre Haga and Jack Dance, Spain delivered a weekend of mixed results for the young duo. With results as close as ever in the class, Haga completed day one in fourth, equal on points with the third-placed rider. Jack finished just nine points behind in ninth. On Sunday, Sondre took his TXE GP to seventh on the tricky sections of Ripoll, with Jack struggling a little more and ultimately completing the two laps in 15th.
At the close of the 2024 Trial2 season, Haga finished seventh, with teammate Dance just two places back in ninth. Sondre will be in action again next weekend at the 2024 FIM Trial des Nations, representing Norway.
Jaime Busto:“I had a good feeling all weekend here in Spain, and the sections here were really good. I just made a couple of small mistakes on each day and that cost me the win, but it felt great to fight each day with Toni [Bou]. It’s great to finish the season on a high like this, and I know what I need to do for next year, so I’m already looking forward to it.”
Sondre Haga:“We’re done here in Ripoll this weekend. It hasn’t been the best in terms of results, but looking over the whole season, we have to be positive about what we have achieved with the new TXE GP. Doing a whole season on a prototype bike is one thing, but to be super competitive just shows what hard can do, and we’re still learning all the time. We’ll be back next year even stronger.”
Jack Dance:“We’ve finished the season now and I have to say I’ve got a bit of a mixture of emotions here in Spain. I felt really good in my riding but there have just been too many fives, and in Trial2, things are so close, you just can’t do that. We’ll take the positives into winter training, work on our weaknesses, and come back ready to fight again next year.”
Albert Cabestany – GASGAS Factory Racing Trial Team Manager:“That’s the season over now with this final round in Ripoll, Spain. I’m really pleased with the weekend as Jaime has been fighting for victory on both days. It’s a pity he didn’t take the win on one of those days – I think he really deserves it. You could see how he was riding that he was really enjoying it and that’s so important. We’ve definitely made the right decision with Jaime, and we’ll be pushing for that world championship again next season. I’m extremely happy how Sondre has been handling the TXE GP this season – he’s been doing amazing work in both developing the bike and his results. Jack has had a bit of a bittersweet season, but we trust in our riders, and he has huge potential. I think the results will come with more experience, so we’re really looking forward to next year.”
Results: TrialGP of Spain
TrialGP – day 1
1. Toni Bou (Montesa) 19
2. Jaime Busto (GASGAS) 22
3. Gabriel Marcelli (Montesa) 38
Trial2 – day 1
1. Billy Green (Scorpa) 10
2. Harry Hemmingway (Beta) 13
3. Arnau Farre (Sherco) 16
4. Sondre Haga (GASGAS) 16
9. Jack Dance (GASGAS) 25
TrialGP – day 2
1. Toni Bou (Montesa) 18
2. Jaime Busto (GASGAS) 22
3. Gabriel Marcelli (Montesa) 32
Trial2 – day 2
1. Gael Chatagno (Electric Motion) 5
2. Arnau Farre (Sherco) 6
3. Harry Hemmingway (Beta) 6
7. Sondre Haga (GASGAS) 20
15. Jack Dance (GASGAS) 34
Championship standings (after round 7)
TrialGP
1. Toni Bou (Montesa) 237
2. Gabriel Marcelli (Montesa) 180
3. Jaime Busto (GASGAS) 177
Trial2
1. Jack Peace (Sherco) 185 2
2. Arnau Farre (Sherco) 175
3. Billy Green (Scorpa) 162
7. Sondre Haga (GASGAS) 129
9. Jack Dance (GASGAS) 70
Text/Bild: GasGas