DIRT NEWS
CABESTANY SWITCHES TO MANAGEMENT
G asGas has announced that the brand is preparing to attack the 2021 X-Trial and TrialGP World Championships with a new man at the head of the factory team . Albert Cabestany steps up from the team to take over as GasGas ’ new team manager . Stepping away from full-time competition , the defending Trial-E World Champion will now take charge of the factory GasGas trial team and guide them through both the X-Trial and TrialGP World Championships moving forward . A rider with more than 20 years of international trials experience , Cabestany is not only hugely capable on a bike , he ’ s also incredibly knowledgeable off one . A consistent challenger for world championship honours , with no fewer than 85 outdoor and 90 indoor podium results to his credit , including 27 victories , it ’ s fair to say he ’ s been there , done it , and got a whole bunch of t-shirts . Turning a page in his highly-successful career , Cabestany , who started his professional career riding for GasGas before returning to win two Trial-E World Championship titles in 2019 and 2020 , will now start a new chapter , leading from the front as he manages the GasGas Factory Racing Trial Team . “ After so many years competing in trials , this is the perfect next step for me ”, says Cabestany , “ To
be the GasGas Factory Racing Trial Team Manager is such a unique and exciting opportunity , I ’ m really looking forward to working with our riders and doing all I can to continue the team ’ s success . For sure I ’ m going to give it my all and enjoy the experience . It ’ s an important team within the trials paddock , with high expectations , so I ’ m really excited about the future .” Focused on developing the team ’ s testing , training and competition programme , the Spaniard will provide knowledge , experience and guidance , ensuring the team is prepared to take on the 2021 FIM X-Trial and TrialGP series . “ Trials remains hugely important to GasGas , both from a production bike point of view and also from a motorsport perspective ”, says GasGas VP Motorsports Offroad , Robert Jonas . “ This is why we are pleased to have appointed Albert Cabestany as our new trial team manager . Albert is hugely experienced when it comes to all things trials , and while he is best known as a successful competitor , he also has considerable testing and development experience . We believe he will inject the right mix of energy and focus into the team and push it forward in 2021 , allowing our riders to perform at their very best .” The 2021 X-Trial championship kicks off in March in Portugal , while the TrialGP season starts in May in Japan .
KIWI RIDER 17