The breathtaking coastline of Calvi, Corsica, played host to a scorching round four of the 2025 Hertz FIM Trial World Championship, and the competition matched the temperatures as Toni Bou, Miquel Gelabert, and Ryon Land each emerged with double wins across the two-day TrialGP of France.
Bou Flexes in the Heat
In the premier TrialGP class, Toni Bou once again proved why he’s the most decorated rider in trial history. The Spaniard extended his championship lead with four dominant performances—claiming both race wins and the Power Section on Saturday, and backing it up with another double victory on Sunday.
Saturday’s opening race saw Bou suffer a rare early slip-up on section three, handing the early advantage to Matteo Grattarola and Jack Peace. But in typical Bou fashion, the 38-year-old reset immediately, adding just one mark over the next six sections to wrest back control. Despite a maximum on section ten, his 15-mark total proved untouchable. Peace’s career-best performance secured him second on 19, edging out Grattarola after the Italian incurred a costly five on section eleven.
Race two brought more drama as Bou collected an early five in the newly reinstated section two. As Jaime Busto, Gabriel Marcelli, and Gelabert all stayed clean, the pressure was on—but Bou answered in style. A crucial clean on the final coastal section sealed his second win of the day and a clean sweep, including the bonus Power Section point.
Sunday brought a similar storyline, with Bou and Busto locked in an early battle. A five from Busto on section eight handed Bou breathing room, and he rode home comfortably on just three marks, with Busto finishing second and Grattarola third. The final race of the weekend came down to the wire once more. After trading mistakes mid-race, Bou and Busto arrived at section twelve with a single mark between them. Busto went clean, but so did Bou, sealing the win and his fourth victory of the weekend.
“I’m very happy,” Bou said. “After yesterday, which went so well, it’s always difficult to start again from scratch. The first lap was incredible, with only three penalty points, and I felt very good on the bike. I also felt comfortable on the second lap, although I made a couple of mistakes and the victory was a bit difficult for me to get. I’m in very good form at this point of the season, earning many points. I want to thank the team because they’re working very well in tough circumstances. Different areas are expected in San Marino, with some of them indoors, which I always enjoy a lot, and we’ll approach them with great enthusiasm.”
Trial2 Tension as Gelabert Strikes Back
Trial2 served up one of the tightest battles of the season. Harry Hemingway held the series lead heading into Corsica and extended it slightly with a narrow Saturday win, finishing just a mark ahead of Arnau Farré, with Frenchman Benoit Bincaz delivering a popular podium on home soil.
But Sunday was all about Miquel Gelabert and the new RTL Electric machine. The Spaniard hit his stride with a pair of stunning wins, his Sunday morning ride totalling just four marks—enough to beat Farré and Francesco Titli. In race two, it was Hemingway who looked set to strike, staying clean through eight sections, but a slip-up on section nine opened the door. Gelabert needed no further invitation, holding his nerve to finish on a single mark and secure the double win.
“It was a fantastic day. Together with the team, we managed today’s race incredibly well; I couldn’t be happier,” Gelabert said. “I handled the pressure well, and I think I’m growing in this category because it’s always so close. I enjoyed every zone I rode today and was able to take the win, which is very important for the championship. Thanks to Honda, HRC, and the entire team for their hard work once again. We must continue like this.”
Despite his Saturday win and a runner-up on Sunday, Hemingway’s lead was slightly dented as 2023 champion Billy Green suffered a tough weekend, finishing eighth on Sunday before being unable to complete race two.
Land Cruises in Trial3
The Trial3 class saw a dominant display from rising American star Ryon Land, who left Corsica unbeaten after four races. Saturday’s wins were split between Land and Jonas Jorgensen, but the Sherco rider was in a class of his own on Sunday, taking the first race by six marks before producing a faultless clean sheet in race two.
“I told myself this morning I had to push as hard as I could,” said Land. “I felt incredible, but I was still shocked to go clean in the second race.”
Italy’s Alessandro Ame and Fabio Mazzola joined Land on the Saturday podiums, while Britain’s Harison Skelton and Norway’s Jonas Jorgensen pushed hard on Sunday, but neither could deny the American’s perfect day.
With four rounds complete, the championship battle across all classes is heating up. Next stop: Baldasserona, San Marino, from 6–8 June, where the TrialGP, Trial2, and Trial3 contenders will return to action with it all still to play for.
