DL12 Indoor Trial

DL12 Indoor Trial - Sheffield 7th January 2023

In an action packed night for motorcycle trials the excited crowd at Sheffield were entertained by a thrilling start to the 2023 trials season but it was a night of disappointment for the undisputed king of world trials Toni Bou (Repsol Honda-ESP).

After two quite heavy falls he qualified for the final in second position but during the interval after medical checks it was revealed he had possibly broken some bones in his foot and reluctantly had no choice but to withdraw from the event. As it happened it was his arch rival Adam Raga (TRRS-ESP) who eventually took the win from Jaime Busto (GASGAS-ESP).

With a strong sporting heritage going back as far as 1996, Sheffield is known as the home of stadium trials here in Great Britain where it has witnessed some great action over the years. 2023 would see the return of this exciting event after the Covid-19 break with a new promoter and organising team in the ‘City of Steel’ headed by the world trials legend that is Dougie Lampkin MBE. The inaugural DL12 Indoor gives reference to Lampkin’s 12 FIM World Championship titles in a long and rewarding career. The event was ideally located to accommodate the sell-out 4,000 ticket holders with the Utilita Arena Sheffield found between London and Scotland. For the first time ever at an indoor trial it would host three FIM Trial World Champions from one season with the TrialGP winner Toni Bou (Repsol Honda-ESP) leading the way followed by the Trial2 winner Sondre Haga (GASGAS-NOR) and in Trial3 the winner Harry Hemingway (Beta-GBR).

In the final the six sections would be ridden in the reverse direction and they proved far more difficult than had been anticipated. With two four-strokes, Toby Martyn and Gabrielle Marchelli joined by two, two-strokes, Adam Raga and Jaime Busto, the crowd knew it would be an exciting finale. Riding the sections first was difficult for Great Britain’s young Toby Martyn but he put in a sterling effort. As they battled through the hazards it was oh so close between Busto and Marchelli but it was the 41 year old Adam Raga who looked the most comfortable. As a previous Sheffield winner he used all his experience to eventually open up a small points advantage and he knew that when he exited the steep Honda UK section clean that he had taken another Sheffield win on a super night for motorcycle trials by just a single mark.

Honda Montesa Rider Comments:

Toni Bou: “First I want to apologise to the fans for having to withdraw from the event, I wanted to continue but the doctor from the medical team was not happy for me to do so. This has been a fantastic competition and one I am very proud to be a part of. I have showed that my level of riding is still very high and that I can still challenge for the wins despite the younger riders trying to aspire to me, lets hope we see another DL12 Indoor in Sheffield in 2024 when I will return and try to take another win”

Gabriel Marchelli: “I am feeling so much more confident in 2023 on the four-stroke Repsol Honda which was reflected in my riding. After the winter practise I have managed to raise my level of riding and I now feel I am in a position to push for the podium positions at every event which I have proved here in Sheffield tonight. This event was a true test of everyone and I am very happy to finish on the podium which is a superb start to the year for me”

Toby Martyn: “That has been a tough night of riding on my debut ride on the Honda Montesa but one I have really enjoyed. The machine is such a dream to ride and with the strong home crowd support I felt as though I could have made the podium. Finishing fourth is a good start to the year and I feel more at home on a trials motorcycle than I have for a very long time. I want to thank everyone for all the support tonight and look forward to the 2023 season”

Qualifying Results

1: Jaime Busto (GASGAS-ESP) 8; 2: Toni Bou (Repsol Honda-ESP) 11; 3: Gabriel Marchelli (Repsol Honda-ESP) 15; 4: Adam Raga (TRRS-ESP) 19; 5: Toby Martyn (Honda Montesa-GBR) 20; 6: Matteo Grattarola (Vertigo-ITA) 22; 7: Sondre Haga (GASGAS-NOR) 22; 8: Jack Peace (Sherco-GBR)(Beta-GBR) 26; 9: Harry Hemingway (Beta-GBR).

Final

1: Adam Raga (TRRS-ESP) 18; 2: Jaime Busto (GASGAS-ESP) 19; 3: Gabriel Marchelli (Repsol Honda-ESP) 23; 4: Toby Martyn (Honda Montesa-GBR) 35.