The World Championship introduces a new venue and a new Championship leader in the second round of the season
On January 11, starting at 6:30 PM, the X-Trial World Championship will add a new and prestigious venue to its history as Le Phare in Chambéry becomes the stage for the second round of the season. GasGas rider Jaime Busto will also be making history, as he faces a World Championship event for the first time in his career as the provisional leader of the standings.
Although Chambéry is a new venue for the World Championship, it is one of many French cities that have hosted international events in this discipline. Just last year, Toby Martyn’s defeated by a single point the reigning World Champion Toni Bou (Repsol Honda Trial Team), the winner of the 2023 edition of the event.
This time, Jaime Busto will enter the competition as the championship leader following his victory in the season's opening round, held on December 21 in Madrid. The goal of Toni Bou is to return to winning way, but Busto will also have to fight against Adam Raga and Benoit Bincaz. The Spaniard and the French man battled for the third step on the podium in Madrid, with their fight going down to the final tie-break section. They competed under the new format, which features a fourth finalist and includes the Sprint format to determine Q2 and the Superpole, adding fresh excitement to the competition.
Among the other riers to be taken into account is Gabriel Marcelli (Repsol Honda Trial Team). He missed the Top 4 in Madrid for the second consecutive round, having finished sixth in the last season finale in Pamplona. Meanwhile, Hugo Dufrese (Beta) is striving to solidify his position among the X-Trial elite, while his Beta teammates Harry Hemingway and Lorenzo Gandola will debut as Championship riders at Le Phare.
Le Phare, a multifunctional venue in Chambéry inaugurated in 2009, has hosted a wide range of events, from sports and entertainment to music. It currently serves as the home court of the French handball team Chambéry Savoie Mont-Blanc.
Follow the event live in detail at https://fim-moto.tv .
