After a three-year hiatus without the classic non-European event, the TrialGP World Championship returns to the Motegi circuit for the legendary TrialGP of Japan.
The TrialGP World Championship travels to Japan for the third GP of the season. After the two opening rounds in Spain and Portugal, the World Championship is all set for its longest and trickiest journey. The Motegi circuit will host next weekend – for the 21st time in its history – another double-headed top flight Trial competition after a three-year absence due to the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
It will be a good moment for Matteo Grattarola to prove how he is bonding with the new Vertigo Nitro RS. After a fair start, an improvement in Portugal will encourage the Italian rider, who also recently took top honours in the opening two trials of the Italian Trial Championship.
Last minute withdrawn
In the Trial2 category, the Vertigo riders set to participate in this third round will be Italian Mattia Spreafico, Belgian Emile Mattheeuws and local rider Daito Fukudome, who will join the riders of the green brand for this double-date event.
Finally, Pau Martínez will be withdrawn from the TrialGP of Japan as he is still convalescing from the important injury that occurred in the Spanish Trial Championship event held in Malaga.
Slight changes in the schedule
The timetable for the TrialGP of Japan will feature a slightly different format to the trials held in Europe. Teams will be able to enter the Motegi paddock on Thursday afternoon. On Friday there will be the usual administrative scrutineering, plus a two-hour practice session to ensure that the bikes have not suffered any unintended modifications during the long haul and to check the proper set-up. Following that, the bikes will be left in the park fermé. The sections inspection will last two and a half hours. Start times for both Saturday and Sunday’s trials will be 08:30 for the first rider, while the podium celebration is expected to take place at 15:40 local time.
On this occasion there will be no competition for Trial3 riders, who will once again compete at the following date in the calendar, the round in San Marino, on 10 and 11 June.
Photos: Pep Segales/Vertigo
