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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127804
OBSERVED T.RIALS AMAINATC National Trials Chal!lpionship series Round 9: Kansas City (Left) Geoff Aaron earned his third straight AMAINATC Trials Championship with a victory at the Iinal round 01 the series In Kansas City, MissourI. (Below) Jess Kempkes was second at Kansas City and placed lIfth overall In the 1996 series. By Larry Toby KANSAS CITY, MO, SEJ7T. 22 wo-time and defending National Trials Champion Geoff Aaron piloted his Beta to another runaway win at the final round of the AMA/NATC Championship Trials Series to win his third consecutive championship. It was Aaron's seventh win in the nine-round series. In an event where all he had to do was finish to win the championship, Aaron rode with all the confidence and momentum he had been building all year to dominate his competitors. In ~ another very diffiailt round, Aaron was the only championship rider to finish with a score in double digits. He finished with 64 points. "It. was a good event," Aaron said. "The sections were challenging. Some w.ere a little too long." More than in any other event of the year, Aaron seemed to be 'having lots of fun. Finding himself' in the unfamiliar situation of virtually having the championship secured, Aaron was much more relaxed, taking time to talk with spectators, perform crowd-pleasing maneuvers and try difficult lines that were not necessary. Aaron definitely made a statement to his"'O;;;;;;;;;;;' competitors that he will still be the one to beat next year. .• The rider most likely to be pushing him is the young, flamboyant Jess Kempkes, who piloted his Gas Gas tq second place with 116.5 points. "I was pleased with my ride today,". Kempkes said. "I was disappointed yesterday, not finishing on time and being disqualified. That dropped me a couple of positions in the standings. But it was a good season, and I was pleased with my riding. "I will definitely be back next year," Kempkes added. ''I'm going to be training hard, eating right and dreaming about wiI\ning." Third place went to Gas Gas rider and six-time National Champion Ryan Young. who was only a half-point back with 117. Young always will be a threat to win any event he enters, but is not likely to find the time and energy to contest the entire series next year. There 16 was some speculation that Young would announce his retirement following this season. "I'm not ready to do that," Young said. "I don't know what I'm going to do yet. I'll still ride next year, but may not have the time to devote 100 percent. Fifty wins is a good number." Young has set almost every record that exists in his amazing career, earning six National Championships and 50 National victories. Not as dominant as he once was, Young should not be counted out at any given event. He still rides with great skill, extreme competi-