Emma Bristow wasn’t the only feet-up female to secure a 2020 Hertz FIM Trial World Championship title – in the Trial2 Women class French teenage sensation Naomi Monnier (Beta) clinched the crown at the end of six extremely close and competitive events.
It was so close and competitive in fact that the previous four days of competition had produced three different winners and heading into the deciding two events in Andorra just 10 points separated the top-four with Naomi holding down second, three points behind series leader Andrea Rabino (Beta) from Italy.
Revelling in the pressure-cooker environment, the 15-year-old from Nimes in the South of France – who had contested just one world round prior to the start of the 2020 season – ran 1-1 in the Pyrenees with her two clear-cut victories seeing her comfortably take the title.
DBR: Congratulations on winning the Trial2 Women title – it is a great result for a rider who is just 15 with very little experience at world level. Did you expect to do so well?
Naomi Monnier: “Not at all, I only hoped to make the podium in my first full year in the world championship but after the first event in Isola I understood that the title was possible.”
DBR: Last year you only competed once and scored a fifth in France. Why did you only ride one round?
Naomi Monnier: “It was a test to see the level of the riders. Also, it was in France and it allowed me to understand how the championship works.”
DBR: “It has been a very competitive class this season – how did it feel to take the title with 1-1 scores in Andorra and how did you deal with the pressure?
Naomi Monnier: “I arrived in Andorra relaxed and I felt no pressure which allowed me to ride at my best level.”
DBR: Will you move to TrialGP Women next year and how do you feel about competing against riders like Emma Bristow?
Naomi Monnier: “I’m thinking of going to TrialGP Women next year but without any expectation of results because the level is much higher. I will talk about it with the people who supervise me and we will make the decision at the end of the year.”
DBR: How far do you want to go in the sport? Can you one day be TrialGP Women champion?
Naomi Monnier: “I don’t know yet. I’m only 15 years old, I have my studies and it takes a long time to reach the level of the best.”
