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the top of the podium for the second
event in a row.
"The biggest problem for me was the
last section, which I fived on my first
and second laps," Aaron admitted. "I
finally was able to get it on the third lap.
I did the best I could and only made a
couple silly mistakes On the first two
laps. The last lap was about as good as I
could get - I zeroed the last lap.
"The Texas rounds were at sea level,
and this here was around 4000 (feet), so
we just upped the compression slightly
and lowered the gearing to get my lowend power back," he revealed. "I felt
real comfortable with the bike this
weekend."
'T ve worked hard all winter to try to
tighten the gap up," National numberthree Peters said. "The (new) bike's
working great. I had to twist (Gas Gas
importer) Dale Malasek's arm to get the
320, but I really like it. We did a little
tinker stuff to it to smooth it out a little
bit.
"Today was one of those days where
I just kept taking ones. I handed the trial
away on ones - just one dab here, one
stupid dab there. I handed two too
many away. I could .see the -clean lap,
and I was styling section 12 my first and
last rides. My second ride I just pulled a
no-brainer - didn't pull the trigger hard
enough - and I did just what Geoff was
doing and tapped the front wheel into
that last rock. It lifted the bike up too
straight. But my first and third laps
were good.
"It's just confidence stuff. It's all a
head game. Either of us can win; we've
just got to do it right on the right day.
"Tomorrow's sort of fun, then
(rounds four and five in Rhode Island)
should be interesting."
CN
California National Trials
McCain Valley, California
Results: April 19, 1997 (Round 2 of 8)
C'SHJP: 1. Geoff Aaron (Bet); 2. Raymond Peters
(GG); 3. Olivier Clamagirand (G-G); 4. Jess Kempkes
(GG); 5. Lonny Halls.ed (!let),
EXHJ8, 1. Adam Rega (G-G).
EX, 1. ,Ron Commo Jr, (Bet); 2. Kip Webb (Bet); 3.
Jared Malmquist (Bet).
SR EX: 1. Keith Adams (Fan); 2. Jim Collins (G-G);
3. Rick Jenkins (!let).
SUP, 1. Robert Hertrich (Apr); 2. Hap Oswald (Seo);
3. Brian Longbons (Bet).
HIS, 1. Andy Johnson (Bet); 2. Eric M. Reed (G-G).
30+, 1. Robert Madden (Bet).
35+: 1. Sheldon Hefler (e-G); 2. Peter Croft (Mon);
3. Anthony R. Herald (G-G).
40+: 1. Howard Galbreath (Bet); 2. Oive B. Hannon
(Fan); 3. John Robertson (Fan).
45+, I. Jesse F. Reed (Mon); 2. Brian Behling (G-G~
3. Tom Bohannon (G-G).
50+: I. Dale Malasek (G-G); 2. Bob Pick (Bet).
S5+: 1. Bill de Garis (G-G).
60+, Jack Heminway (G-G).
65+, I. Hawley Slayton (G-G).
Upcoming Rounds:
Round 3 - West Greenwich, RI, May 17-18
Round 4, Owego, NY, May 25
27th EI Trial de Espana
Kempkes
takes
command
By Mark Karlya
MCCAIN VALLEY, CA, APR. 20
ess Kempkes will have fond memories of the McCain Valley OHV
Recreation Area for the rest of his
life. Two years ago he won his first
National here. Though he didn't do as
well when the AMA/NATC National
Observed Trials Series returned to
J
27th El Trial de Espana
McCain Valley, California
Results: April 20, 1997
(Left) A stellar last loop
gave Olivier
. Ciamagirand a close
third place at the
National, and he
matched that the next
day at EI Trial.
(Below) Jess Kempkes
came on strong In the
exhibition sections to
claim his first EI Trial
de Espana win after
getting fourth In the
previous day's
National.
McCain for this year's round three, he
did the next best thing: Kempkes won
the ever-popular and highly attended
El Trial de Espana, now in its 27th edition.
How popular is EI Trial? Judging by
rider participation, it's the trials version
of Daytona; 112 entered, compared to 55
for the previous day's National. It's still
a charity sort of event, with all money
raised going to help send an American
team to the annual Trial des Nations,
which will be held on the Isle of Man
this year for the first time in its short
(since '87) history.
All of the non-Championship-class
riders rode two times around a loop
containing 10 sections. Champ riders
did that loop once then rested, because
the American Trials Association laid out
an exhibition loop consisting of five sections that provided at least as much
challenge as the previous day's section
12. It offered the Champ riders the
chance to perform before relatively large
and very appreciative spectators, as well
as the ESPN camera.
Interestingly, two riders from Oregon - Lonny Hallsted and Dennis Sweeten, both on Betas - led after the morning
loop and cleaned all 10 sections. Beta,
mounted Geoff Aaron, fresh off his
National win the day before, and Kempkes on his Gas Gas both recorded ones.
Canadian Ryon Bell, not long out of the
High School class, and -Spanish wonderkid Adam Rega stayed in the hunt
with five points each, just ahead of the
sixes punched by both Olivier Oamagirand and former El Trial winner Mark
Manniko.
The first of the exhibition sections
was essentially the previous day's section 12 with another boulder to negotiate at the·end. The remaining four used
different sections entirely, and they
employed plenty of vertical rock faces,
big gaps and tight turns to keep interest
high and attention riveted.
"Today was a lot different (than yesterday)," Kempkes said. "All of the
(exhibition) sections were a lot harder. If
you made a f,ew mistakes, you could
pick (that deficit back) up in the next
couple sections. I fived the first section,
and I thought, 'You know, I could still
pull it off.' I rode real hard, and it
turned out great.
"I used to ride all the radical lines
because I like to ride that type of stuff.
It's my style.
"This year I'm trying to calm myself
down. I'm really going for wins this
S'ear, trying to take the conservative line.
My dad's helping me out. Today I was
out there having fun riding any (line) I
wanted,·andit just turned out great. I'll
be ready for the upcoming Nationals; I'll
be riding real good."
CN
CSHJP, I. Jess Kempkes (G-G); 2. Geoff Aaron (Bet);
3. Olivier Oamagirand (G-G); 4. Lonny Hallsted (Bet~ 5.
Mark Manniko (G-G).
EX: I. Jared Malmquisl (Bet~ 2. Andy Saum (G-G); 3.
Ron Commo Jr. (Bet); 4. Kip Webb (Bet); 5. W;lson Craig
(Bet)
MSTR: 1. Howard Galbreath (Bet); 2. Jim Collins
(GG); 3. Billy de Garis (G-G); 4. John Robe