Friday night’s round of the 2026 FIM X-Trial World Championship in Chalon-sur-Saône, France delivered another historic moment for the sport as Toni Bou claimed victory and secured his twentieth X-Trial world title.
The Repsol Honda rider once again demonstrated why he remains the most dominant rider in the history of trials, controlling the event from the qualification stages through to the final. Bou’s win not only extended his championship lead but also confirmed his 39th overall world championship across indoor and outdoor trials competition.
Behind Bou, teammate Gabriel Marcelli produced a strong ride to finish second, while Britain’s Harry Hemingway impressed with a superb performance to claim third place on the podium.
Qualification Round 1 Results
The opening qualification round immediately set the tone for the evening, with Bou posting the lowest score across the sections to lead the standings heading into the second phase.
| Position | Rider | Country | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toni Bou | ESP | 3 |
| 2 | Gabriel Marcelli | ESP | 6 |
| 3 | Jaime Busto | ESP | 8 |
| 4 | George Hemingway | GBR | 10 |
| 5 | Harry Hemingway | GBR | 11 |
| 6 | Matteo Grattarola | ITA | 12 |
| 7 | Pablo Echene | FRA | 17 |
| 8 | Hugo Dufrese | FRA | 18 |
Qualification Round 2 Results
The second phase determined the remaining riders who would progress to the final. Harry Hemingway delivered an impressive run to top the stage ahead of France’s Hugo Dufrese.
| Position | Rider | Country | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harry Hemingway | GBR | 1:13.5 |
| 2 | Hugo Dufrese | FRA | 2:12.0 |
| 3 | George Hemingway | GBR | 2:12.6 |
| 4 | Pablo Echene | FRA | 2:25.2 |
| 5 | Matteo Grattarola | ITA | 2:39.4 |
Final Results
In the final, Bou once again proved unstoppable. The Spaniard controlled the sections with precision and balance, finishing with the lowest penalty score of the night. Marcelli followed closely in second, while Harry Hemingway delivered one of the best rides of his X-Trial career to complete the podium.
| Position | Rider | Country | Team / Bike | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toni Bou | ESP | Repsol Honda / Montesa | 12 |
| 2 | Gabriel Marcelli | ESP | Repsol Honda / Montesa | 16 |
| 3 | Harry Hemingway | GBR | Beta Factory Racing | 21 |
| 4 | Jaime Busto | ESP | GASGAS Factory Team | 25 |
Race Highlights
The sections in Chalon-sur-Saône tested riders with towering concrete blocks, massive cable reels and technical rock formations that demanded perfect balance and throttle control.
Bou’s victory capped another incredible season for the Spanish legend, who continues to dominate indoor trials more than two decades into his career. Marcelli once again confirmed his position as Bou’s closest challenger, while the young British riders George and Harry Hemingway showed the depth of emerging talent in the championship.
“It’s incredible to win another title. The level of riding keeps getting higher, so I’m really proud of the team and the work we’ve done this season,” said Toni Bou.
Championship Standings (Top 5)
| Position | Rider | Country | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toni Bou | ESP | 155 |
| 2 | Gabriel Marcelli | ESP | 108 |
| 3 | Jaime Busto | ESP | 98 |
| 4 | Harry Hemingway | GBR | 71 |
| 5 | Matteo Grattarola | ITA | 35 |