Gabriel Marcelli He was confirmed at the end of last year as a Repsol Honda Team rider for this campaign at the 2022 World Trials. Trial2 World Champion in 2019, the Galician had to wait for organizational reasons for the second round of the season’s X-Trial, in Chalon-sur-Saône, to make his debut. He was eighth and last there, but last week in Madrid he took a step to finish third and add his first podium. Willing to continue studying Toni Bou’s condition, the Galician hopes to improve further this Sunday at Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona.
What does this first World Cup season mean for you? How do you live it?
I was very happy after the result in Madrid. It was also the home of the main sponsor, Repsol, and we got second position with Toni first. It was a round weekend, perfect. Now it’s time to race at home in Barcelona and it’s extra motivation, for us and for all the riders. We hope we can do very well. Hopefully I can repeat that position in Madrid.
You didn’t compete in the first round of the championship, but what did you learn from second place in Madrid that you can apply to this race in Barcelona?
Not being able to attend the first race conditioned us heavily in the overall championship classification. It didn’t play out to us, but it was a thing of the past and we needed to focus on the careers we had left. I wish I could have attended that first test to have more experience and a few more points for the championship. I think now we can be more competitive. But you need to focus on the remaining races to give extra points and reap another podium.
What goal did you set at the start of the season? Did it change after third place?
The goal this season is to get on the podium in at least one race and we have achieved it in the previous one. So now we have to go for more, we don’t have to be conformist and we have to look for more podiums. We still have three races left in the championship, so we have to do it.
Are you looking for a specific area in the general classification?
I’m looking to cut positions. It’s true that we didn’t set a clear goal because I wouldn’t be in that first race. But seeing how things are, we’re not that far off. If we put up a good performance in the remaining races we could even fight for fourth or even third place overall in the championship. You need to put the knife between your teeth and attack.
What is most valuable to you in this top category?
The theme of time. I am someone who usually takes a long time to visualize zones, enter them and execute them. It’s true that when I have to go fast, I go fast. But I’m a bit uphill like that from the start in the first areas. I also have a bit of a hard time managing my nerves, although in the last race I was even better. I think they are the two weakest points I have and the ones I should work hard on.
Does the team’s share with Toni Bou and Repsol Honda weigh a lot?
It weighs, it weighs (laughs). This is also an extra point of motivation because everyone wants to be part of the Repsol Honda Team with Toni. Despite being an added pressure point, it is also a motivational point. It’s about adapting it the right way and I think it’s playing hard on me right now.
Do you see young people of your generation chasing Toni Bou and Adam Raga?
The complexity, especially in Toni’s case. There is no other Toni. You have to break the rock, crush a lot, train a lot. It’s a good thing I can be with him and we train often. Every week we do a few training sessions together and that works a lot in my favor, because it helps me make a lot of progress, to get the bike in order. We’ll see this in the future, because today there are still a few steps of difference between Toni and me.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
