Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

TRIALS Rounds 4&5: Jasper, Tennessee OBSERVEDl11JlIOOship series . AllAlNATC Cha . Young's second-place finish from loop scores of 17, 19 and 13 allowed him to hold a six-point lead over Aaron despite having one win on the year while Aaron has earned the top spot twice. . For a while, it appeared there might be four separate winners in four rounds. Raymond Peters began the event riding with laser precision, piloting his Scorpa to an incredibly low first-loop score of 9 to take the early lead. Peters was the only rider to clean all three championship-only sections the first time around, including the dangerous 12th sections and very tricky 16th section. "I was scoring clean after clean," Peters said. "It was cool." A chance for his first national win eluded Peters as things started falling apart on his 32-point second loop. "1 had some problems with a few questionable calls," Peters said. "1 lost some concentration and scored five consecutive 5s. The points added up real quick." Peters secured third place with a third-loop score of 18 Young's third-loop score of 13 gave him a comfortable cushion in second place. Aaron, already with a comfortable lead, cleaned every section on loop three except the unridable section 13. Aaron's third-loop score of 5 was the lowest on the day. Beta-mounted Lonny Hallsted came from behind to nearly catch Peters but occasionally got off-line resulting in a few extra 5s. His score of 61 was good enough for fourth place. (Left) Reigning champion Geoff Aaron put on a command performance in Tennessee as he won both rounds by wide margins. (Below) Serles points leader Ryan Young finished second both days but stili leeds the championship by one point. By Larry Toby Photos by Arnoh:l Lane JASPER, TN,JULY&-7 wo-time and defending national trials champion Geoff Aaron came to rounds four and five of the AMA/NATC National Trials series, Iteld near Jasper, Tennessee, on a mission. "I've got to claw my way back on top of the series lead," said the defending champion. "I've got to be a lot more aggressive. I'm going to work very hard." Aaron's hard work was very apparent as he pil9ted his Beta to solid wins in both rounds with aggressiveness, poise and grace not seen from the national champ yet this year. Aaron made huge efforts seem easy and chose unique lines as he held a clinic for his competitors, winning by huge margins in the most widely varied terrain to challenge the riders this season. Though Aaron considerably closed the gap on current series points leader, Gas Gas-mounted Ryan Young, he didn't quite make it to the top of the charts - Aaron trails Young by one point, 130-129. T U SATURDAY The Southeastern Trials Association's three-mile loop was divided into 16 sections, with sections four, 12 and 16 championship-only level. Although some of these sections were regarded as a bit dangerous, most everything proved makable once some lines were estab- new loop. Overall the sections were much less dangerous than on Saturday, though stiU tricky enough to draw points from even the top riders. Aaron got off to a bad start, but finished the first loop with 17. Peters also ended the loop with 17. Always the fierce competitor, Young finished the loop with a 10 - and the early lead. As champions do, Aaron picked up the effort significantly and turned in an incredible performance with a 4-point loop to post the only single-digit loop score of the day. This put Aaron up one point over Young, who turned in a 12 on the second loop. The event changed significantly on the third loop as rain came pouring down, making some of the sections unridable. The top six positions would come down to the wire. Of this group, Aaron was first to finish as he posted a low score of 15. "The rain made it a real mess out there," Aaron said. "There was only one section 1 simply couldn't get through. I cleaned it the first two times. Two other sections 1 had to push, push, push to get thwugh." Young and Peters were still in the hunt for the overall win and had stopped on the course to wait for the rain to stop. It soon did, leaving some question as to how much the course might improve, and increasing Aaron's anxiety about having finished early. "I've come in early (before) to post the low score," Aaron said, "only to have Young find some way, a line nobody tried before, something, to come in with a score just low enough to edge me out." Hallsted, BeU and Kempkes were the next riders to come in posing scores of 28, 33 and 41, respectively. HaLlsted moved into fourth, Bell was fifth and Kempkes slipped to sixth. . Next carne Peters, posting a loop score of 34 and a final score of 63 to assure him of at least"third. Now all that was left to do was wait for Young to see whether he would finish first, second or third. With very little time left, Young finally came in, posting a loop score of 33 and a final score of 55 to finish solidly in second. "1 had a bit of a disadvantage out there since I had barely begun the third loop when the rain started," said Young. "My third-loop score was more than my first two combined. Sections that were automatic cleans became impassable. I'm satisfied with second place. I stiU have the series point lead by one point." 0 Southeastern Trials 'Associatlon Jasper, Tennessee Results: July &-1; 1996 (Rounds 4 & 5 of 9) lished. Winner Aaron even thought it could have been more difficult. "The event was a little easy because it was dry today, but it was still a great event," said Aaron. "The charnpionship-only sections were very good." Aaron finished the first loop with an 11, taking five of those points as the first rider to attempt the difficult section 12. Aaron dropped his scores into the single digits in the successive loops, scoring a 7 and then a 5. Gas Gas-backed Young rode a smart, calculating round in an effort to retain his series points lead. "There were a few dangerous sections," said Young. "They bothered me a little but, of course, 1 rode them and did fine." Fifth place went to Gas Gas-mounted Mark Manniko with a score of 64. Manniko gave up a lot of points to his younger competitors by not attempting to ride the dangerous section 12 on any of the three loops. "If 1 lost a couple positions because of section 12, that's fine with me," Manniko continued. "Those kinds of sections are for the young lions. At my age, I'm out here to have fun. 1 don't have anything to prove." SUNDAY Round five of the series began and ende.d in the same location as round four held the previous day, but the club laid out 15 new sections on an entirely s.lunI.oy CSHIP: 1. Geoff Aaron (Bot) 23; 2. Ryan Young (GG) 49; 3. Raymond Pete'" (Sco) 59; 4. Lonny HaU.ted (Bot) 61; 5. Mark Manniko (G-G) 64; 6. Jess Kempkes (GG) 65; 7. Rydn 8elI (G-G) 108; 8. Matt Moore (G-G) 109; 9. Dennis Sweeten (Bot) 134; 10. John aork (G-Gj06;'9. AMAINATIONAL C'SHIP OBSERVED TRIALS SERIES POINT STANDINCS (Alt. . . of 9 rounds), 1. Ryan Young (105/1 win); 2. Geoff Aaron (99/2);3. Mark Manniko (78/1'; 4. Raymond Peters (75); 5. Jess Kempkes (63); 6. Lonny Hallsted (S7); 7. Matt Moore (56); 8. Ryon Bell (Sl); 9. Dennis Sweeten (48~ 10. John C1ark (43); 11. Oliver CIam.git.nd (21); 12. Mike Guns (14~ Sunday C'SHIP, 1. Geoff Aaron (Bet) 36; 2. Ryan Young (Ge) 55; 3. Raymond Peters (Sea) 63; 4. Lonny Hallsted (Bet) 71; S. Ryon Bell (CoG) 75; 6. Jess Kempkes (G-G) 81; 7. Mark Manniko (C-G) 99; 8. Matt Moore (G-G) 101; 9. Dennis Sweeten (Bet) 110; 10. John aark (G-G) 225. AMAINATlONAL .C'SHIP OBSERVED TRIALS SERIES POINT STANDINGS (Aft.. 5 of 9 rounds), 1. Ryan Young (130/1 win); 2. Geoff Aaron (129/3); 3. Raymond Peters (96); 4. Mark Manniko (9211); 5. Jess Kempkes (78~ 6. Lonny HaJlsl

• Cover