Spanish Miquel Gelabert (Sherco, photo1) clinched the last title still to be assigned in Grossheubach, Germany, for the final round of the 2016 FIM Europe championship.
Gelabert broke a tradition of 9 years in which no Spanish rider had been crowned with an European trophy in the top class: the last was Daniel Gilbert riding Montesa in 2007.
Gelabert closed the 2016 season with a convincing victory in front of Francesc Moret (Vertigo) exactly as it happened one week ago in the previous round. Also the third place was the photocopy of the round before occupied by British Iwan Roberts (Beta). Only fourth position for Dan Peace (Gas Gas): after winning twice in France, the British rider was a strong contender for the title, but the Brit started without a big motivation, maybe because he was aware that the gap from the leader was too big to recover.
On the other side Gelabert gained soon a little advantage in the first lap, which gave him such confidence to ride the second lap with no mistakes at all. Roberts, who at half competition was the best behind him, yielded the runner-up position to Moret in the final part, which cost him the final second place in the championship, because Peace had the same points as him, but with two wins instead of one.
In the Junior class it was a show of the new champion Jack Peace (Gas Gas, photo2), crowned also in the Youth class. Peace gained his sixth win confirming to be the best in these 125cc categories. Italian Luca Corvi (Scorpa) confirmed his second place both in this round and in the final standings. Frenchman Arthur Rovery (Sherco) climbed on the third step of the podium but Sergio Piardi (Beta) – who did not race – had a sufficient advantage on Rovery to maintain the third position in the series.
In the Over 40 class German Mark Kipp (Beta), who had become already mathematically champion last weekend, finished second behind Slovakian Vladimir Kothay (Beta, photo3). Third position for German Mathias Becker (Gas Gas).
In a very populated International 2 class, the success went to German Ulrich Daulm (Scorpa), while in the most difficult International 1, German Marvin Binder (Beta) put all behind.
The event finished with the prize giving of all the classes concurring for the 2016 titles, at the presence of the chairman of the FIM Europe Trial Commission chairman Mr Anders Minken, who in his final speech underlined how these series are continuing to have an increasing number of riders who are very pleased to take part to the Continental championships.
Photos: @Phototrial.it
