The 2024 TrialGP World Championship, which this year celebrated its 50th anniversary, came to an end with the final event held in the town of Ripoll. After a solid season for Vertigo rider Miquel Gelabert, he secured fifth place on Saturday and ninth on Sunday.
Ripoll hosted the final round of the TrialGP World Championship in the typical pre-Pyrenean setting: cold mornings gradually warming up as the day progressed. The course for the event was designed specifically to allow the riders to demonstrate their skills in the sections, with a challenging and demanding layout in several of the sections.
Vertigo Motors’ official rider in TrialGP, Miquel Gelabert, has shown throughout the championship, and especially in this home event, his determination and will to fight for a strong final classification. He particularly demonstrated this on Saturday, where he placed fifth with his Vertigo Nitro RS2, recovering well after a first lap with more points. On Sunday, he couldn’t replicate the previous day’s result and, after a few more mistakes, he finished the 12th trial of the year in ninth place. Miquel Gelabert finished seventh overall in the championship, just one point away from sixth.
In Trial2, Italy’s Mattia Spreafico and Spain’s Pau Martínez managed to finish among the top 15 in the World Championship. Spreafico was 20th on Saturday and ninth on Sunday, while Pau finished 14th and 13th, respectively, riding a Nitro Works. Britain’s Alfie Lampkin improved significantly, although the fierce competition in the category prevented him from moving further up the standings: 26th and 24th in the final two trials of the year. In the overall season standings, Spreafico finished 10th in the championship and Martínez 14th. Alfie Lampkin was unable to score points this year.
With the World Championship now over, the next event for Vertigo riders will be the Spanish Championship. The fifth round of the national series will be held on 5 and 6 October at Noassar Park in Camprodón.
Miquel Gelabert: “It hasn’t been a bad year, despite all the challenges that always arise and must be faced. TrialGP is tough, but we fought with great determination, always giving our best. I’m very demanding of myself and, honestly, I think we could have achieved a little more, but everything takes time and resources. One of the challenges for me this season was starting at the front and not having any lines to follow. I will keep working to give my all in the sections. Thanks to the whole Vertigo team for believing in me this year and to all the fans of the brand for supporting me at the events.”
Mattia Spreafico: “In the end, a top 10 is good, especially in Trial2, where the category is very competitive and with a high level of riders. You have to perform extremely well to be at the top. I’ve tried my best, and in some trials, I felt like I could get there, but there are still some mistakes that need to be ironed out. Thanks to everyone for their support this year.”
Pau Martínez: “It’s been a very tough year. It hasn’t been easy for me at all, but we’ve managed to finish within the top 15 in the World Championship. The level at the top is very high, but honestly, I believe we’re not far from the top ten. It’s clear we’re making more mistakes, but no one can match my determination. I give everything in the sections. I want to thank the RFME for welcoming me into their team so I could compete this year, and Vertigo for their technical support.”
Alfie Lampkin: “In Trial2, any mistake you make is costly, especially in the standings. This has been a learning year for me in every way, as coming from the 125 class, it’s been a huge step up. It’s a very competitive category, with a high level and difficult sections, but I’ve enjoyed myself and I’m already looking forward to next season.”
