Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

Kempkes had a dismal second lap, dropping 22 points and effectively knocking himself ou t of contention for the win. " Man, this lap ain't been nothing but suck," said Kempkes, colorful as ever. The third loop saw Aaron and Oamagirand take fives in section eight, a tricky hazard that wound up and across a boulder-laden creek bed. Both riders failed to conquer a step that was littered with loose rocks and slippery tree roots. Clamagirand failed to get traction on his first attempt, and skillfully hopped backward so that he could try again. A quick dab while he was balanced, though, earned him a five in the eyes of the checker. Clamagi rand was angered at the checkers decision, and unsuccessfully protested the call later in the day. Throughout the weekend, many riders were given fives for similar d abs while balancing amongst them Clamagirand, Ray Peters and Matt Moore. Young rode a near-flawless final loop, blazing into the pits with a one-point card between his clenched teeth. "I realized that 1 was running late at about the ninth section," said Young. "I had to really motocross the loop to pass some slower riders that were ahead of me, and I made itinto the pits just in time." Young completed three loops in exactly 'se ven hours, the time allotted for the event. Like Young, Aaron and Clamagirand raced into the pits, well aware of their potential tardines s. Clamagirand was four minutes late, and thusly incurred two penalty points in addition to the se ve n points he g ave up on the loop. Aaron, meanwhile, made it on time, and his six-point loop put him in a tie for second with Clamagirand. Young's final tally of 11 wa s w ell cl ear of the 15s turned in by Clamagirand and Aaron, who also boasted the same number of cleans. The tie breaker went to Clamagirand, who had eight ones to Aaron's five. "After the five in section eight 1 was so mad that I got a two in another section," said Clamagirand. "The slower riders were a big problem today, and 1 was late." New Mexico's Chuck Sutton was a surprise fou rth-place finisher, bu t was well beh in d the others with a 46-point tally. The series veteran remained fairly consistent throughou t the day, turning in 12-13-18 loop cards. Kempkes en ded u p fifth with 45, whi le Raymond Peters finished an uncharacteristic sixth with 565 points. "I just couldn't put it together .tod ay," said Peters. "I was doing good, but I just fell apart. Sitting in line for so long isn 't good because you get cold and forget your line ." . SUNDAY Sunday's sections w ere even easier than Saturday' s, with the exception of the final hazard. Section 15 wa s located close to the pits and featured a monstrous, nearly vertical climb up a number of rock slabs. After conquering the "w all," riders were routed down into a boulder-riddled basin. After climbing up and over th e rocks that littered th e floor, riders climbed up and out o f the bowl and faced a trick y double step at the exit. As it turned out, it was this section that decided the final outcome of round two. Aaron, Cl amagirand a nd Kempkes led the way after the first loop, all three completing the first 15 sectio ns with a mere two points. Young was close behind with four, whil e the next-best score was turned in by home-state rider Andy Saum, who had 17. "Today is'going much better than yesterday," said the likable Arizona rider. "Th ere 's a little pressure to do well, this ing as he tugged his Gas Gas over the top of the hill. "I've always been like that, I guess," said You ng. "I don't usually get mad unless I think something is really unfair. 1 knew exactly what the situation was before the last section, and 1 knew what 1 had fo do. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to do it." a Alto Pit OHV Area Prescott, Arizona Results: April 22-23, 1995 S.aturday CHAM PIONSHIP: I. Ryan Youn g (G -G ) 11; 2 . · O livier Clemagirand (G-C) 15 / 8 Is; 3. Ct.o ff Aaron (Bet) IS /5 Is; 4. Chuck Sutton (Bet ) 43; 5. ]ess Kemp kes (G-G) 45; 6. Raymond Pete" (Fan) 56.5; 7. Ryan Bell (G-C) 76; 8. Dennis Sw eeten (Bet ) 81; 9. Ron Commo Jr. (Ilt.) 82; 10. Kenny Leduc (G-G) 90.5; 11. John a ark (Mon) 101; 12- Andy Saum (G·G ) 108/10 Os; 13. Mdtl Moo re (G-G) 108/8 Os; 14 . De re k Ma rti nson (G-G) 161.5; 15. Kevin Busch (G-C) 191. Sunday CHAMPIONSHIP: 1. Geoff Aaron (Ilt. ) 5; 2. Ryan Youn g (Ge) 9; 3. O livi er Clamagirand (G-G) 10; 4. Jt. s. a .. Kempkes (Ge) 12: 5. Chua Sullon (Bt,t) 46; 6. Raymond Peters (Fan) 48; 1. John Cla rk (Mon) 54 / 25 Os; 8. Andy 5au m (G -G) 54 /23 Os; 9 . Rya n Boll (GoG) 62; 10. Ron Com mo Jr. (Bet) 66; 11. Ma tt Moo re (G-G 67; 14. Dennis Sweeten (Bet) 82; 13. Derek Martinson (C -C ) 125; 14. Kevin Busch (G-G) 133. AMAiNATC NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TRIALS SERIES POL"IT STANDINGS (Aftf'r 2 of n rounds): 1. Ryan Young (55 / 1 win); 2. Geoff Aa rem (5111); 3. Olivier Oamagu-and (46~ 4. (llE) a.ud SutlonIJoss Kempkcs (34 ); 6.. Raymond Pete" (JOt 7. Ryan Bell (26); 8. John Cla rk (24); 9. Ron Co m mo Jr. (23) ; 10 . (TIE) Andy Saum lDennis Sweeten (22); 12. Matt M oore (18) ; 13. Derek Martinson (IS); 14. Kevi n Busch (13) 15. Kenn y Leduc ft l ), being my home National, but I'm still having a lot of fun ." Young and Aaron upped the ante on loop two, as the two champions returned to the pits with perfect loop cards. Kempkes was next-best with two, while Clamagirand had five. . "It is much too easy for a ational," sa id Cia magi rand . "The Nationals should claim abou t 40 points from the top riders, not three or four ." Entering the third and final loop, Aaron led with two, while Young and Kempkes had four apiece. Oamagirand had seven. Aaron dropped two points in the sixth section, taking a pair of slack dabs when tackling a tricky climb, and came to the 15th and fina l section with a fourpoint total. You ng had cleaned the first 14 sections and also came in to the fina l section of the day with four points, and both ride rs knew exactly what they had to do. Ke mpkes d ro p p ed from contention before the 15t h section, dropping seven points before taking a one in the final section of the day. Kempkes would finish an eventual fourth overall with a 12-point final score. Aaron was the first to tackle the final section, and managed to work his way through with only a single dab, taken at the top of the initial wall. "The last section was pretty sweet," said Aaron, after completing the trial. "It looked a lot harder than it actually was, there was a lot of traction to be had. Now I have to hope that Ryan drops at lea st one or two points in here." Several riders ca me through the section before Young arrived, am on gst them was Clamagirand. The Gas Ga s rider tackled the section with a one, Clamagirand taking his solitary dab in the bottom o f the basin while trying to line up for the ex it. Clamagirand would finish the day third overall with 10 points. The crowd on hand grew silent upon Young' s arrival, but the quiet Kansan gav e them a rather anti-clim acti c final e. Young veered to the left as he rac ed toward the initial climb, and to the cro w d 's disappointment, failed to crest the top and scored a five. The overall win went to Aaron, while Youn g's five in the last sect io n brought his d ay' s total to nin e, still low enough for second overall. Oddly enough. Young was seen sm il- (Above) Former Belgian National Champion Olivier Clamagirand loo ked exceptiona lly strong in Arizona , finishing second and third . (Right) Jess Kempkes batt led with Aaron and Young for the win on Sunday, but sl ipped to fourth. ·Brieflv·.• • . . . ~ . . Ryan Young brought his record-extending career National win total to 46 in Arizona, and hopes to .end the se ason with a record seventh National Championship. "Aside from Geoff Aaron, Ron Commo and Ron Commo Jr., I'm the only guy on the win list who is still active," said Young. Marland Whaley is secorid on the list with27 wins. In tum, Geoff Aaron increased his career·win total to 12. When asked if the number-one plate really weighed more, Aaron laughed and replied; "Y mean ; was I nerVous? Nah. ou not at all. I just hope that I can successfully . defend my t~le." And speaking of Geoff Aaron, the six-footfour-inch-tall rider from Connecticut appeared to be much leaner than he has been in the past. "I've been training and riding a lot this winter," said Aaron'. "I'mnot even ·100 percent yei because 01 school.Thefirst few Nationals are hard for me because I'm right near the end .of my final semester." Aa ron will graduate from Ithaca College in May.· Third-ranked Raymond Pe te rs had an off weekend in Arizona. The: quiet New Yorker is usually a top contender , but failed to find his form in the first two Nationals."] haven't been spending enough time riding in rocks," admitted Peters. "I'm going to stay an extra day and see if I can 'clean all ihe sections tomorrow. I'll beready for the Cal~omia National." . Raymond Peters·competed abo ard a ne w Fantic in Arizona, rather than aboard a Scorpa. "1 ride for the Tryals Shop, and they wanted me to ride a FantiC this year," sa id Peters of the · New York Faniic .. Be ta , Amigo and Montesa dealership. And speaking of the ' Tryals Shop, a ·special thanks to Mike Komer for lending Cyde News a Scorpa Works 255 to ride the loop on. look for a complete test in an upcoming issue. Trials ride rs ha ve 's pons ors too : Saturday winner Ryan Young lists Gas Gas USA,Dale Malasek, Hebo, Rising Sun Imports, Gaeme, Bluegrass Touring Showcase and Regina as his sponsors ,·while Sunday winner Geoff Aaron Ihanked cosmcpoutan Motors, Beta ' Motor ItalY. Xtreme, Elf. Michelin. Rising Sun Importsand Cycle Service Center. Rya n Yo ung competed aboard a Gas Gas JT35 , rather than his usual JT25:"1 really like the 350 a lot,".said Young. "Last year, there : were several Nationals held at altitude, and the 250 jusi didn't have enough power. .That's ' not a problem withthe 350." Sixth-ranked National rider Lonny Hallsted . was a no-show in Arizona. The popular Oregon rider sUffered a separated shoulder and broken thumb in a practice crash several weeks earlier, and will miss the April 29 Calitornia Nationalas well. . A a ~

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