2024 World TrialGP season kicks off for the Repsol Honda Team
MotegiToni Bou and Gabriel Marcelli will face the inaugural round of the outdoor series on May 17th in Motegi, Japan.
The 2024 TrialGP World Championship starts on May 17th in Motegi, Japan. The Repsol Honda Trial Team will look to fight for the title with both of their riders this year.
Reigning World Champion, Toni Bou, who has more than 140 victories in the outdoor discipline, will defend his title. The Repsol Honda Team rider ended last season with eight consecutive victories and in 2024 he has a total of 4 wins in the X-Trial World Championship. The objective at the home round for Honda will be to continue the dynamic of good results.
Gabriel Marcelli will race in his third TrialGP season with the Repsol Honda Trial Team. The young Montesa Cota 4RT rider was third in the standings last year, achieving his best result in the TR1 class. So far in 2024, he has eight consecutive podiums between the X-Trial World Championship and the Spanish Championship, and targets his first victory in the outdoor series.
There will be changes in the regulations for the TrialGP World Championship, with the ‘Non-Stop’ rule removed after a decade of use. The new regulation allows the riders to stop in the zones for a set amount of time. ‘Non-Stop’ mode is left behind after more than a decade in force and the old stop regulation is returned, which allows the rider to stop in the zone, with a maximum time within it. In addition, the ‘Park Fermé’ that was established last season will no longer exist.
Repsol Honda Team ready for 2024
Toni Bou and Gabriel Marcelli, as part of their preparations with the moto “We are ready for 2024” sneaked into a mining operation recently, where they made some incredible jumps. Both riders wanted to show in this way that they are in shape to give their all this year in the outdoor series.
The TrialGP World Championship calendar will have seven events. After Japan the riders will compete in Sant Julià de Lòria (Andorra), Valsassina (Italy), Neunkirchen (Germany), Comblain-au-Pont (Belgium), Cahors (France) and the season finale in Ripoll (Spain).
“We have made a great start to the year, with four victories in four events in the indoor world championship, which gives us a lot of confidence. It is always a special race for us because it is Honda's home round, so we have added pressure as well, but we will try to approach it as just another race. Going back to the Stop regulation is positive for our sport; there will be tighter races and small errors will make the difference. The objective this season is to retain the title, try to be competitive and reach the end of the year in the fight for the championship.”
“The feeling before the Japanese TrialGP is very good. I feel good physically and the results so far in both the X-Trial and the Spanish Championships have been very good, so we are motivated. I face the race with great enthusiasm: last season was very good and I think that this year I can take another step forward. I'm looking forward to starting at the home of Honda and demonstrating my high level. I think the change to the Stop regulation will be positive for the sport and the races will be closer. The goal for 2024 will be to win races, always be on the podium and at the end of the season be fighting for the top two positions in the World Championship.”
“Starting at the home of Honda is always special, although we also have an extra bit of pressure. Last season Gabri was third overall, although he lacked a victory, so the objective will be to get that and fight for the top two places at the end of the year. I'm looking forward to seeing what Gabri is capable of. Toni's goal is to retain the title. He has four consecutive victories in X-Trial and is very motivated. The change in regulations will be very important, and the level between riders will be tighter, but we have worked very hard to be at our best.”
