On The Pegs June 2018 - Volume 3 - Issue 6 | Page 93

On The Pegs
When the 2018 FIM Trial World Champion-
ship [recently kicked off at Camprodon in
Spain] there will be a very familiar face on
what is for him quite an unfamiliar machine.
For the last thirteen years Spain’s Albert
Cabestany has been synonymous with the
Sherco marque, but the veteran from the
Catalan city of Tarragona will start his twenty-
first season in top-flight Trial competition
mounted on a Beta after making the switch
during the off-season.
Following a tough 2017 season that saw him
slip out of the World top five for the first time
in fourteen years, Albert - who celebrates his
Vol. 3 Issue 3 - June 2018
P 93
thirty-eighth birthday next month - decided
to return to the Italian manufacturer who he
won the FIM X-Trial World Championship with
in 2002.
“Last year was very hard for me,” says Albert,
the current World number seven. “In my mind
I thought it could be the last, but after the
season I thought that wasn’t the way I want
and deserve to finish my career so I decided
that I wanted a bike that fits my riding.”
“I had the chance to speak with Lapo Bian-
chi and Donato Miglio and after sharing our
thoughts and trying the bike I immediately
knew I wanted to ride this bike for 2018!”
Albert has gelled very quickly with his new
machine and as early as February took a third
place ahead of World number three Jaime
Busto at the opening round of the Spanish
Trial Championship.
“The truth is that I feel so comfortable. From
the very first minute riding the Beta I under-
stood that it would take some time to bring
out my best, but the main things I was looking
for in my bike I found in the Beta Evo.”
“I think it is the first time in my whole career
that I don’t look to my competitors’ bikes
thinking they have a better weapon than me
and this is a fantastic feeling.”
After a solid winter programme of testing
and training Albert has his set-up fully dialled
in and is confident he can perform at his best
in the premier TrialGP class.
“Being honest, I put a lot of pressure on
myself because I would like to be in the top
positions again. I know this year will be more
difficult than ever before because the younger
riders are more ready than ever, but I think
I have a good chance and I hope to end the
season in a podium position!”
CONTENT AND PHOTO COURTESY MEIDA@TRIALGP