JAIME BUSTO CLAIMS DEBUT GASGAS FIM X-TRIAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WIN
SPANISH STAR SHINES IN AUSTRIA TO COME OUT ON TOP IN HIGH-PRESSURE FINAL
- Jaime Busto takes debut indoor win for GASGAS
- Victory in Austria moves Spaniard to second in title chase
- X-Trial championship thrown wide open as series heads back to Spain in two weeks’ time
Jaime Busto: “I’m so happy about how my night has ended. I didn’t make the best of starts today. I made a couple of mistakes on lap one and two, but for the final I started more concentrated, just thinking about riding how I know I can and not worrying about the time to complete the sections. I went out and just felt great on the bike. I can’t be happier to give GASGAS a win. I want to thank all the team for all the work they have done.”
Staged in the Austrian city’s Arena Nova, just south of the capital of Vienna, Busto went into the event having finished third at the opening round in Barcelona five weeks earlier, knowing that a good result was vital if he’s to have a chance of finishing on top at the end of the eight-round series.
Busto’s evening didn’t get off to a great start with maximum scores in the first and last sections of the opening lap, ending lap one a full four marks off the leader’s pace. However, a solid second lap elevated the 25-year-old Spanish star into second and earned an all-important place in the three-man final where he dominated.
With the pressure unrelenting, Busto started as he meant to go on in the final. Sharing the lead with Bou after the opening section, Busto then cruised clear, taking the lead on the second section. Knowing that victory was well within his grasp, he kept his cool despite a maximum score on the sixth and final hazard, ending the night two marks ahead and going on to top an FIM X-Trial World Championship podium for the first time on a GASGAS.
Albert Cabestany, GASGAS Factory Racing Trial Team Manager: “As you can imagine, all the team is so, so happy for this win. We have been working so hard during the winter to give Jaime the best options for success. He deserves this win first of all but all the team deserves credit for this – there are a lot of people involved in this, not only people in the races but also at the factory who are working daily to give this team the best performing bike. Jaime did a great job today. These races are really tight on time – you only have five minutes in lap one and four in lap two and after making some mistakes sometimes it is hard to go out with a clear head. But Jaime did just that today. After having made it to the final he had it clear that he had to take sections one by one. From the first section he performed flawlessly, working as one with the bike. We hope this is just the first win, I know he is capable of many more victories.”
The next stop on the FIM X-Trial World Championship tour is X-Trial Pamplona in the Navarra Arena, Spain, on March 25.
Download images from X-Trial round two here.
Results – 2023 X-Trial World Championship, Round 2
1. Jaime Busto (GASGAS) 8 (final)
2. Toni Bou (Montesa) 10 points (final)
3. Adam Raga (TRRS) 15 (final)
4. Gabriel Marcelli (Montesa) 23
5. Aniol Gelabert (Beta) 24
6. Benoit Bincaz (Sherco) 27
9. Marco Mempor (GASGAS) 34
2023 X-Trial Championship Standings (after round 2)
1. Toni Bou (Montesa) 38 points
2. Jaime Busto (GASGAS) 33
3. Gabriel Marcelli (Montesa) 24
4. Adam Raga (TRRS) 21
5. Benoit Bincaz (Sherco) 8
6. Aniol Gelabert (Beta) 6
