VOL. 56 ISSUE 20 MAY 21, 2019 P33
Smage, once again, showed
why he is a 10-time U.S. trials
champion by easily cleaning
the first three sections. Peters
was not far off, needing just
two points, while Rookie Pro
Alex Myers (FactgoryONE RYP
Scorpa) dropped only eight.
Gonnet, Davis and rookie Pro
Josh Roper (FactgoryONE RYP
Sherco) just made the cut with
10 points each.
Rain during the morning made
sections four through six ex-
tremely difficult, and Smage did
not escape without taking points,
claiming fives in the two toughest
sections, giving the Wisconsin
rider a total of 16. Myers turned
in one spectacular ride after
another to finish the three sec-
tions group with 11 points. Davis
was next with 12, with Peters and
Gonnet turning in 15 points.
The final section of the week-
end proved to be too difficult
due to the weather, and none of
the riders made it though, giving
each rider a score of five. In the
final standings, Smage took the
win with a total of 11, Davis was
second with 39 and Peters was
third with 49.
"It definitely feels great to start
this way, now I know I'm where I
need to be," said Smage. "This
is far from a natural event, with
the man-made sections, but just
judging by how I felt in these
sections and certain spots, I'm
feeling good about where I'm at."
Marvel Live performer Lou-
ise Forsley (FactoryONE RYP
Scorpa) won the Pro Women's
division with a total of 32 points,
with former British Women's
Champion Donna Fox (Hon) fin-
ishing second at 36 points. De-
fending US Pro Women's Cham-
pion Maddie Hoover was third on
a GasGas, while Kylee Sweeten
was fourth on a Sherco.
Shan Moore
RESULTS
1. Pat Smage (Shr) 16
2. Karl Davis Jr. (Sco) 39
3. Jan Peters (TRS) 49
4. Daniel Blanc-Gonnet (GG) 57
5. Alex Myer (Sco) 58
Karl Davis Jr. took runner-up honors.
