Jaime Busto has taken his first victory of the 2025 X-Trial season in Saint-Denis, delivering a composed and consistent performance to beat championship leader Toni Bou and Gabriel Marcelli in a demanding and technical event on Reunion Island.
The sold-out crowd at the island’s arena witnessed a thrilling night of competition as Busto, Bou, and Marcelli once again filled the podium — though this time in a reshuffled order. Busto finished five points ahead of Bou, with Marcelli a further four points behind, while Hugo Dufrese rounded out the final in fourth. Making his season debut, the Frenchman impressed early by topping Q2, but heavy penalties in the final (30 points) quickly dropped him out of podium contention.
For Marcelli, three costly fives between the second and fourth sections dashed any chance of challenging for the top two, while Busto and Bou remained neck-and-neck early on, each collecting just two points in the first four sections. The decisive moment came in section five, where Bou recorded a five and Busto went clean, opening the door to victory. Bou’s all-out attack in the final section couldn’t make up the deficit, as another five confirmed Busto’s win.
The rest of the top seven featured Sherco’s Jack Peace, Matteo Grattarola, Harry Hemingway, and Benoit Bincaz.
The result shakes up the championship standings, with Bou still leading on 52 points, Busto moving into second with 44, and Marcelli close behind on 42.
Reflecting on his win, Busto said, “I’m very happy with this win and what it means, especially considering I started with a bad crash in Andorra la Vella, wasn’t feeling quite right in Madrid, and finally, today I was able to win. I rode very consistently all night and felt very comfortable because the atmosphere was exceptional.”
Bou, who had looked strong through the early rounds, admitted that small mistakes cost him the win. “It wasn’t my best day. I fought hard in Q1 and Superpole, and in the final until the very last moment, but the mistake in the fifth section forced me to take excessive risks in the final one, where the initial foot-on had already left me with no chance to win,” he said. “The crowd was fantastic, the points are good for the championship, but I didn’t feel completely comfortable on the bike. I need to keep working on my fitness.”
Marcelli also struggled to find his rhythm. “I didn’t ride at my best throughout the entire race, I never felt comfortable on the bike and I made mistakes in Q1 and during the final,” he said. “The points are important for the championship but I’m not happy with the result and with my riding.”
The championship now heads to Italy for a doubleheader at the Palasport in Ponte di Legno on December 12 and 13, where Bou, Busto, and Marcelli will continue their fight for the 2025 FIM X-Trial World Championship title.
