Italian Matteo Grattarola (Montesa) proved to be stronger than weather conditions and climbed the highest step of the podium in the first round of the 2018 FIM Europe Trial Championship, held in Castelloli, Spain.
Matteo Grattarola and, below, Sergio Piardi – Photo @Phototrial.it
To complete the Italian success, Sergio Piardi (Beta) triumphed in the Junior class, while in the Over 40 the first place went to German Marcus Kipp (TRS) with an other Italian, Piero Sembenini (Montesa) in second place.
As wrong were the weather forecasts for yesterday, as true they for today. In both days, they indicated rain, and if on Saturday there was a moment of clemency only during the Young and the Women Cup, today the 83 riders had to face a long, rainy day.
Marcus Kipp – Photo @Phototrial.it
It was necessary to postpone the start of 1 hour to allow the organizers to modify part of the loop, to cancel one section and to simplify all the others, reducing of one level what had been featured the day before.
Under weather conditions typical of North Europe Countries, British riders were not at their ease, and the best score belonged to Matteo Grattarola, unbeaten in Italy in the last 4 years, who confirmed to be the most respected candidate to the 2018 title. In the first lap he scored 7 marks. Spanish Aniol Gelabert (Scorpa) – brother of that Michel who rides in Trial GP class – scored 16, tied with Marc Riba (TRS). In fourth position Francesc Moret (Montesa) who scored one point more.
Grattarola snatched the best score also in the second lap: just 6 marks. Thanks to his “7” Moret gained the runner up position overtaking Gelabert and Riba, who finished at his shoulders.
Piardi dominated the Junior class. After the first lap in which his score of 14 marks was slightly better than French Kieran Touly – Sherco – (15) and Hugo Dufrese – Gas Gas – (16), Piardi made a masterpiece in his second lap, delivering his card with only 3 points.
Touly kept the second position scoring 12, while Dufrese worsened a lot his first performance with 29 points and was overtaken by Swedish Linus Almthen (Gas Gas).
Kipp, winner of the last two editions in the Over 40 class, was not intimidated to combat against ex World rider Italian Sembenini and beat him in this first round, scoring one point less in the first lap and two in the second. In third place Dutch John Van Veelen (Gas Gas).
In the International II class, Spanish Carlos Brines (Gas Gas) won beating Italian Sara Trentini (Montesa), the best female rider today. In the International I class the winner was Jere Karjalainen (Beta).
Next round in Isola 2000, France on 7th and 8th of July.
Full results on FIM Europe website: http://www.fim-europe.eu/events/495
