Bou moves closer to title after double win in United States

The Repsol Honda HRC rider wins both races in Exeter on Saturday. Teammate Gabriel Marcelli rounds out the podium for the day.

TrialGP returned to the United States after an eight-year absence, and Saturday was a crucial first day for the title picture. Toni Bou made a statement with two convincing victories that put him on the brink of a new world title, and Gabriel Marcelli was able to place third.

The first race of the day was dominated by Bou, who set the pace from the start. All the competitors accrued a significant number of penalty points due to the difficulty of the various sections, but this did not stop the Repsol Honda rider from taking the win. He barely made any mistakes, and sewed up the victory with two zones remaining. The series leader finally opened up a 19-point advantage over his closest rival, Jaime Busto.

In the second race, the field was more familiar with the terrain and closed up the standings, but Bou remained the man to beat. Keeping up his consistency, he claimed another victory, in addition to an extra point for winning the Power Section. A repeat of this performance on Sunday would see him crowned outdoor World Champion for the nineteenth time.

Saturday was more complicated for Marcelli, who struggled to find his feet. In the opening sections, three consecutive fiascos left him struggling to stay in the podium positions, and a mistake on Zone 12, coupled with an extra point accrued for exceeding the allotted time, relegated him to fourth place, tied on points with third-place finisher Jack Peace.

In the second race, the Repsol Honda HRC rider managed to regain a good feeling, significantly improving his riding style and fighting for second place. However, another time penalty at Zone 12 dropped him back to fourth place once again. He ended the day in third place, a positive result considering the difficulties he had encountered throughout the day.

The second and final day of the event will be held in Exeter, where Bou will have his first mathematical chance of sealing the world title if he takes two more victories. Marcelli has an opportunity to improve and continue taking valuable points for the overall standings.