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Trial European Championship: ready to set in France

Trial European Championship: ready to set in France

Gabriel Marcelli

The 2019 FIM Europe Trial Championship is again on the scene and all the titles will be assigned in this hot month. Two events full of competitions. The first one, number three in the series, will be held in the upcoming week-end at Ancelle, near Gap, in the French Alps.
Last time that Ancelle hosted an international event was in 2002. It was a two-day round of the FIM World Championship. After 17 years the local club will welcome the best of European riders split through all the different categories.

The heart of the event will be in the Pré Joubert car park (snack bar, restaurants and some sections). Other sections will be located at the cemetery of Ancelle castle, under the cross St Philippe (ski slope valley) and at the Collet d’Ancelle, Faudon road.

On Saturday, the 10th ,  the show is reserved to the Women and Youth’s.

Italian Alex Brancati (Beta) is asked to repeat her great performance even on foreign soil. She is leading the championship, having topped twice in the previous two rounds.

But Norwegian Ingveig Hakonsen (TRRS) and American (with European license)  Madalene Hoover (Gas Gas) have both great motivation to give her a hard job in defending her leadership.

Same situation among the Youth’s with a unique winner in the two previous rounds; Spanish Pau Martinez (Vertigo). His closest rivals were two British’s, both riding Gas Gas, Jack Dance and Ben Bignan, they chase him in this order in the overall standings.

On Sunday the top class has a clamorous absence: the full-point leader and last year winner won’t defend his lead, Italian Matteo Grattarola (Sembenini Nils Redmoto Honda) decided to have a rest. Too many competitions in his game bag. He needs a break to return in form for defending his world title in Trial2 and Italian title, too.

Green light to Spanish Gabriel Marcelli (Montesa) twice runner-up and now the very favorite for the 2019 title. On his road he will find country mate Aniol Gelabert (Scorpa) and Italian Gianluca Tournour (Gas Gas) ready to complicate his plans.

In the Junior class, Austrian Marco Mempor (Beta) is the leader but the first round was won by Norwegian Vold Gunvaldsen (TRRS) that now is close behind Mempor.

Last but not least the Over 40 riders, between them Italian Andrea Soulier (Beta) can count on two wins and will have to defend himself from the attacks coming from German Markus Kipp (TRRS) and Italian Andrea Buschi (TRRS).

Mario Candellone

Alex Brancati