Vertigo’s rider in the top flight of the World Championship in podium contention all weekend.
After the TrialGP World Championship got underway in Japan, it was Sant Julià de Lòria to host the second round of the calendar, the first for the Trial3 category riders. The Andorran town, boasting over 25 years of involvement in the World Championship, serves as a rigorous challenge for both riders and motorcycles. The altitude proved a tough test for everybody. And not just the elevation, but the weather too: Saturday saw blazing sun that warmed up both the atmosphere and the terrain, however, the Dunlops of the Vertigo RS2 and Vertigo Nitro kept a strong grip on La Rabassa’s distinctive rocky surfaces. Sunday’s conditions were also challenging; a grey day with rain during the first lap created difficulties for some riders, especially on the low-traction terrain.
Two points away from the podium
In the top category, TrialGP, Miquel Gelabert narrowly missed out on a podium finish. Throughout the weekend, the Catalan rider stayed exceptionally focused, particularly evident in his performance on Saturday. Despite starting with almost no references, Gelabert showed his skills behind the bars of the Vertigo Nitro RS2 and, after taking third in the first lap, was unable to round off the fine work, finishing two points shy of the podium. On Sunday, with some sections modified and rain complicating the course, he struggled during the first lap but completed the TrialGP of Andorra with a strong second lap, leaving him with a more positive feeling.
Pau Martínez, in Trial2, was this time the most outstanding of the Vertigo riders in the intermediate category. Pau was not entirely satisfied with his performance over the weekend, aware that he is capable of achieving better results. However, he took solace in the fact that scoring points for the championship was a positive outcome.
Dissatisfaction marked Mattia Spreafico’s performance in Andorra. Unable to master the La Rabassa sections, he only managed to score one point on Saturday and ended Sunday without adding to his tally. Alfie Lampkin showed progress on Sunday, finishing in 26th position, bringing him closer to his goal in his debut year in the category.
Debut for the Trial3 riders
The TrialGP of Andorra was the opening World Championship date for the riders of the Trial3 category, with two riders representing Vertigo Motors: Angel Llopis and Edgar García Baró, competing on home soil. The Valencian rider made a strong debut in the top competition, securing sixth place on Saturday and tenth on Sunday. Despite some difficulties with the slippery sections, he wrapped up the weekend feeling pleased with his efforts. The Andorran García Baró was able to test first-hand the difficulty of the sections, posting 19th and 21st in the two races of the weekend.
With barely any time for rest, the next round of the TrialGP World Championship is set to take place next week. In Cortenova, Italy, on 15 and 16 June, events number 5 and 6 of the World Championship will be held in the TrialGP, Trial2 and Trial3 categories.
Finally, the Belgian Trial champion Emile Mattheeuws was not in Andorra and will not be able to compete in the rest of the championship due to a ligament injury picked up before the trial in Sant Julià de Lòria that will force him to undergo surgery. The Vertigo team wishes him a speedy recovery.
Miquel Gelabert (TrialGP Vertigo rider): “It was a very positive weekend. I really wanted to be at the front and fight for the podium again. This year I have trained hard and I felt competent to be at the front. In Japan it didn’t go well, but in Andorra from the first moment I was very good with the bike. On the first day we missed the podium by just two points, but the feeling with the team and especially with the bike was great.
On Sunday, with the rain, the terrain became very demanding. I rode well, but I made a few mistakes, like at the start of the second lap, but I was able to finish the lap well. All in all: a very positive race that has given me a lot of motivation to keep working and an extra motivation for next weekend in Italy.”
