British hero Toby Martyn – Montesa, who nearly blew the roof off Sheffield’s Utilita Arena when he fought his way through to the final four at the inaugural DL12 Indoor Trial in January, has confirmed he will be back for second helpings at DL12 Indoor Trial V2.0 on Saturday 13 January 2024.
In just his second appearance in the white-hot atmosphere of the Utilita Arena, the charismatic Cornishman – back-to-back Trial GB Champion in 2021 and 2022 – had the crowd on its feet when he went toe-to-toe with the best Trial riders on the planet and emerged having forged his own entry into the Steel City history books.
His fourth-placed finish was all the more remarkable given that famous night in Sheffield represented his competitive debut on the TM21 Montesa and for 2024 he is determined to finish at the very least one position higher.
“I am very happy to be coming back again and that is one of my biggest aims – putting in a good result at Sheffield and trying to get on the podium,” said the twenty-three-year-old. “It is definitely possible so now it is just a matter of pushing hard and having a really good go at getting on the podium.”
Having spent the winter training with record-breaking Sheffield winner and thirty-two-time World Champion Toni Bou along with his Repsol Honda team-mate Gabriel Marcelli, both of whom are also returning to the Utilita Arena on 13 January 2024, Martyn has moved up a level and after four rounds is lying fifth in the FIM X-Trial World Championship.
He also posted a career-best sixth in the premier TrialGP class at the opening round of the Hertz FIM Trial World Championship before sustaining an injury that sidelined him, although he is aiming to be back in action by 21-23 July at the TrialGP of Italy.
Agreeing to once again represent King and Country at DL12 Indoor Trial V2.0 was hardly a tough decision for Martyn to make.
“I saw Dougie in Spain and we talked about the DL12 Indoor Trial and of course I’m always going to say yes to doing it. It’s just so good to have an indoor in the UK. We do so many in France and Spain so it is great to ride in the home of Trial and in Sheffield as well – the crowd is always pushing so hard and not even just for the English guys, for everyone.
“It is also nice to do it in front of your family because they cannot get to the abroad rounds. I feel like you recognise more faces and you go for it a lot more on the night. I think they make the sections more for the riders at the DL12IT. This year they were definitely on the tough side, but we had some fun sections to ride, and I think Dougie will have them sussed for next year.”
Tickets for the 2024 DL12 Indoor Trial on 13 January are on sale now. To support Toby and the other riders already signed up click here.
