The leading Italian rider of his generation, Matteo Grattarola – Beta is the latest trials star to sign on the line to compete at DL12 Indoor Trial V2.0 at the Utilita Arena, Sheffield on Saturday 13 January 2024. The addition of Grattarola, means the current top five riders in the world – those being Toni Bou, Jaime Busto, Gabriel Marcelli, Matteo and Adam Raga will all be returning to Yorkshire to do battle again early next year.

The thirty-five-year-old from Bellano in the mountainous north of Italy competed at this year’s inaugural DL12 Indoor Trial back in January, though failed to make it through the qualifying stages so this time around he is aiming to progress all the way to the final and claim a coveted podium finish.

“It was such a good event this year and I was disappointed that my night did not last a little bit longer,” he said. “The sections were very technical, but I made too many mistakes so next year I want to show the fans what I can do.”

This year was just Grattarola’s second appearance in Steel City following his debut a decade earlier and there is no doubt that he has the talent to succeed in Sheffield if he can replicate his 2023 outdoor form indoors.

The Grattarola success story is anything other than lineal and he has endured his fair share of highs and lows in a career that can be measured in three distinct stages.

A mainstay of the top-flight TrialGP class from 2010 to 2014, achieving a season-best ranking of seventh in 2013, in 2015 he took a sabbatical from the sport at its highest level before returning to once again stake a claim to a place in the world’s top ten for the next two years.

In 2018 he then dropped down to the Trial2 class where he sandwiched a second-placed finish in 2019 – behind Spain’s Gabriel Marcelli who will also be in action at DL12 Indoor Trial V2.0 – between two title-winning seasons.

Returning revitalised to the TrialGP class in 2021, he has been a permanent fixture in the top four ever since and even claimed a career-first win in 2022.

Grattarola kicked off the 2023 season in the Utilita Arena riding for the Vertigo factory, however following a tough start to the year he switched to Beta at the beginning of June on his return from the TrialGP of Japan and almost immediately rediscovered his podium form.

The knowledgeable Sheffield fans will know all about his colourful back story and will be relishing the chance to see both man and machine in complete harmony in the New Year and Grattarola certainly does not intend to leave anything to chance.

“I now have plenty of time to prepare [for DL12 Indoor Trial V2.0] so I will be practising hard over the next few months. I am delighted and very excited to be returning – the atmosphere at Sheffield this year was incredible and if I can make it through to the final, I will be able to enjoy it for even longer.”

With over 50% of tickets already sold for the 2024 DL12 Indoor Trial on 13 January, book now for your only chance in 2024 to see the world’s top five riders in action in the UK – BUY NOW.