2026 TrialGP World Championship kicks off in Japan for Repsol Honda HRC
Toni Bou and Gabriel Marcelli travel to Motegi for the start of the 2026 season.
The 2026 TrialGP World Championship begins this weekend in Motegi, Japan, with one of the most iconic events on the calendar. Repsol Honda HRC approach the first round of the season with great motivation after their recent one-two finish just a month ago in the X-Trial World Championship, where Toni Bou secured the title and Gabriel Marcelli a commendable second place.
Bou recently won his 39th world title, and the Repsol Honda HRC rider will be looking to defend his TrialGP crown once again. He has won 19 outdoor titles, along with 224 podium finishes and 166 victories. Bou has fond memories of Japan from 2025, where he triumphed on both days at Motegi. The Montesa Cota 4RT rider will once again start as the favourite to win the series.
Marcelli faces this latest season after securing the X-Trial World Championship runner-up spot just a few weeks ago. He continues to establish himself among the leading contenders in the premier class, and last season on the outdoor stage achieved a total of 11 podium finishes and his first World Championship victory in the United States, which earned him third place overall. The Repsol Honda rider's objective will be to fight for the title and continue adding to his impressive record.
Regulation Changes:
The 2026 season will also feature a new competition format, moving to Race 1 and Race 2. It begins on Friday with the Super Test, which will determine the starting order for Saturday's Race 1. From then on, the format will be the same as last season.
The big change comes with Race 2, which will also be held on both Saturday and Sunday. After the first race, the Super Pole session will be held, which will determine the starting order for the Final. All riders will participate in this phase and will have to tackle between four and six sections. Once these are completed, the five fastest competitors will qualify for the Super Final. With these new regulations, the podium for each day will be the combined result of the results obtained in Race 1 and Race 2.
The 2026 TrialGP World Championship will kick off from May 15th to 17th in Motegi, Japan, with the first round of the season. Following this opening event, the series will visit Sant Julià de Lòria (Andorra), Camerino (Italy), the Trac Môn Circuit (Great Britain), Cahors (France), and Zelhem (Netherlands), before concluding in Pobladura de las Regueras (Spain).
“I’m really looking forward to this new season. Maintaining this level of performance after so many years is always a challenge, but we’re continuing to work hard to be ready. Physically, I’ve felt great after the X-Trial World Championship, and that gives us confidence for the 2026 outdoor season. Motegi is always a very special race for me; I’ve had some great moments there, and starting the season in Japan together is fantastic. There will be some significant changes to the regulations this year, but after so many years competing, we know how to adapt well. The goal will still be to fight for the best results and to enjoy myself on the bike.”
“I’m really looking forward to this new season. Maintaining this level of performance after so many years is always a challenge, but we’re continuing to work hard to be ready. Physically, I’ve felt great after the X-Trial World Championship, and that gives us confidence for the 2026 outdoor season. Motegi is always a very special race for me; I’ve had some great moments there, and starting the season in Japan together is fantastic. There will be some significant changes to the regulations this year, but after so many years competing, we know how to adapt well. The goal will still be to fight for the best results and to enjoy myself on the bike.”
“I arrive at the start of the TrialGP season with very good feelings after the X-Trial World Championship campaign. Last year was important for me because I achieved my first victory and finished third overall, so the goal this season is to keep improving and consistently fight for the top positions. I believe we still have room for improvement and I want to take another step forward. In addition, the new format will change the way we approach the weekend quite a lot, so adapting quickly, managing each race well and making as few mistakes as possible will be very important.”
“I arrive at the start of the TrialGP season with very good feelings after the X-Trial World Championship campaign. Last year was important for me because I achieved my first victory and finished third overall, so the goal this season is to keep improving and consistently fight for the top positions. I believe we still have room for improvement and I want to take another step forward. In addition, the new format will change the way we approach the weekend quite a lot, so adapting quickly, managing each race well and making as few mistakes as possible will be very important.”
“Starting the season at Motegi always has a special significance for the whole team. We're coming off a great start to the year in the X-Trial World Championship and with a good feeling heading into the TrialGP campaign. This year, the series will be more demanding with the rule changes, so it will be very important to adapt quickly from the first race onwards. Toni and Gabri have worked very well during preseason and we believe they are both ready to fight at every event.”
“Starting the season at Motegi always has a special significance for the whole team. We're coming off a great start to the year in the X-Trial World Championship and with a good feeling heading into the TrialGP campaign. This year, the series will be more demanding with the rule changes, so it will be very important to adapt quickly from the first race onwards. Toni and Gabri have worked very well during preseason and we believe they are both ready to fight at every event.”
