Repsol Honda close indoor season with one-two finish
Toni Bou earns his 6 win in 7 events. Marcelli finishes third overall.
The 2023 X-Trial World Championship ended in style in Vendée, France, for the Repsol Honda Trial Team riders. Toni Bou earned another victory, a week on from winning his 34th World Title last weekend in Madrid. Gabriel Marcelli was second in the event, and clinched third in the overall standings.
World Champion Bou took the lead on the first round after completing all the zones with only two penalty points, and he maintained the position in the second round. In the final, the Repsol Honda Team rider had a duel with teammate Marcelli, as they were level on points victory was decided by a tiebreaker zone.
Marcelli’s incredible performance saw him begin the first round fighting for the top positions and taking second place. On lap two, Marcelli picked up 17 penalty points and in the final he faced Bou and Jaime Busto.
The first to face the obstacles in the extra tiebreaker zone was Marcelli. After making some mistakes, the Montesa Cota 4RT rider accrued three penalty points. Bou, meanwhile, made use of his experience and has made only one error, earning him victory.
This season, Bou has continued to increase his extensive indoor record to a total of 78 wins, 93 podiums and 17 titles. Marcelli closes the year with third position overall and a total of 5 podiums from 7 events in the X-Trial World Championship.
With this event in Vendée, France, the X-Trial World Championship puts an end to the 2023 season.
Toni Bou 1
CHAMPIONSHIP: 1ST
“I want to congratulate Gabri on the end of the season he has had. For me, today’s race was different, with hardly any pressure, although Gabri and Jaime made things very difficult for me in the final where in the end I took the victory. I am very proud of the consistency shown throughout the season. We have achieved many victories and we have always been at the front, so I am very grateful to my team for their work. I have achieved much more than I could have imagined in my sporting career, but I like to compete and have fun and with the level of the young riders we will continue to do so.”
Gabriel Marcelli 38
CHAMPIONSHIP: 3RD
“Maybe at the beginning I was a little nervous, but when I went into the final I became calmer. Overall, I think I rode at a very good level. I was fighting side by side with Toni until the last zone and we went to the tiebreaker zone. I’m very happy with how things have gone this year; we have made a lot of progress and that means that next year we will be able to take another step forward. I want to thank the team for this incredible year.”
Takahisa Fujinami
Team Manager
“It was a fantastic night with a one-two finish. Toni and Gabri went for victory until the end and showed a high level. The team are very strong and the fans were into it. My goal for next year is to be able to have more fights between Toni and Gabri for victories. Gabri has improved a lot this year, especially after the summer break, and Toni continues to perform at his best, so I am very satisfied with both of them. I want to thank Honda, HRC, Repsol and the sponsors for their work and the support they give us.”
