DL12 – Can Martyn beat Bou on home soil?

Britain’s twenty-three-year-old Toby Martyn will arrive at the second edition of the DL12 Indoor Trial at the Utilita Arena Sheffield this coming Saturday 13th January looking to repeat what he did in France last weekend, when the Cornishman became one of an elite club of riders to defeat thirty-four times World Champion Toni Bou at an international indoor event.

Side-lined through a potential career ending injury early last season, Toby has worked hard over the latter part of 2023 to recover from a badly broken back and to be in great shape for the start of his 2024 campaign that got underway in Chambery, France last Saturday night. Martyn followed Bou home on the first lap of the season opening French competition and matched the same feat in the second speed lap that earned him a spot in the four-rider final, which Bou won on one mark with Toby in a close second just a mark back.

Victory on the night was decided by a two-man super final, during which the commanding duo could not be separated, meaning that Bou and Martyn then went into a runoff to determine the top spot. With Toni having parted with a single mark, Toby was able to taste the victory champagne with a clean and emphatic closing performance.

Understandably ecstatic as he lifted the winner’s trophy high overhead on top of the podium, Martyn was pleased with his night’s work and excited about his home event this coming weekend: “What a way to start the year! You don’t get to beat Toni many times in your career, especially at an indoor event, so tonight is definitely a special moment for me and my team and is a great way to put 2023 behind us.”

“Ever since I got the new bike, I felt I have been riding well and the increased performance is something you need to compete with these guys. I am certainly going to enjoy tonight’s win, but I also realise it is just the first event at the start of a long season and there is still a lot of work to be done if I am to run at the front on a consistent basis.”

“Now I need to get another good week of practice in before I head back to the UK for next Saturday’s event in Sheffield. It already felt like it was going to be a massive occasion, and now it feels like it could be even bigger. I know if I can get a good start and keep my head on, I can be right in the mix as I have proved not only tonight but with my other indoor podium results.”

“Hopefully it will be another sell out event and the home fans will help make the difference on the night, as it’s about time that Sheffield had another British winner. I think the roof would come of the place if I can make that happen!”

Toby will be joined by the current top five riders in the World, plus two other home challengers for what promises to be another huge event packed with action and entertainment. To watch history in the making and to grab some of the last few remaining tickets click here before it is too late.