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AMA/NATC National Championship Series Rounds 8/10: Weeping Water Crosset announced after the event that he would return to defend his title in 2002, perhaps taking up residence in California, and vowed to polish up his English before the season opener. The Nebraska event was set in a rock quarry east of Lincoln and consisted mainly of tight lines across the tops of jagged boulders, steep rock steps and an occasional blast up the quarry walls. Extreme humidity and temperatures in the 90s, combined with the fact that the deep quarry offered few breezes, put added stress on the riders, and those who didn't drink plenty of fluids paid the.price. DAVONE After failing to get a win in fourstraight starts, Crosset got what he had been wishing for since the California rounds - technically difficult sections. Crosset needed only one win going into the final two rounds to clinch the title and wasted little time establishing himself as the man to beat. Although he suffered two fives on his second lap, admittedly from the pressure of wanting to wrap up the series early, his 7-12-2-point loop scores were 22 points better than the nearest competitor. Aaron was just four points off the pace after lap one, but also succumbed to the pressure on lap two, resulting in two fives of his own and a 23-point total for the lap. Bell had an inflated second lap score, as well, and dropped to fourth behind ERE's Wilson Craig. After checking the leaderboard and realizing that a steady final lap would clinch the title, Crosset relaxed and turned in an impressive two-point lap for the win. Aaron improved with a nine for second, while Bell moved back ahead of Craig for third with a 13. Sherco's Raymond Peters rounded out the top five. DAVTWO By SHAN MOORE/ TRIALS COMPETITION NEWSPAPER WEEPING WATER, NE, SEPT. 1-2 elgium's Freddie Crosset ended the 2001 AMA/NATC National Trials Series the way he began it - in dominating fashion. The factory Gas Gas-sponsored rider clinched the 2001 title with a win in Saturday's event, taking less than half the points of championship rival Geoff Aaron, who finished the day, and the year, in second place. Aaron, the defending and six-time National champ, had a good chance at the title going into the final two_ B 46 SEPTEMBER 1 g.; 200.,.' rounds, needing a pair of wins and hoping for a pair of thirds by Crosset, but Crosset found the difficult and technical sections to his liking and would not be denied. "I am very happy to win the championship," Crosset said in broken English. "Geoff Aaron and Ryon Bell are very good riders and it was a very difficult series to win. Today's sections were very, very technical and this is good for me." Indeed, Aaron and Bell made life tough for Crosset throughout the year, with Aaron taking two wins and Bell one, but England's Martin Crossn • _ s cue • • waite, who rode only four rounds, threw a monkey wrench into the works by taking valuable points away from the North Americans at a point in the series when Crosset was not at top form. Take out the foreign riders, and Aaron had eight wins. "This was a pretty good way to end the season," Aaron said of his second-place finish. "I would have liked to have gone out with the win, but Freddie's a great rider." Former Canadian Champ Ryon Bell went 3-4 over the weekend to end the season overall. in third-place Peters started Sunday's event with a brilliant ride in the first "Champ Only" section of the day and ended loop one tied for the lead with Crosset, at 12 points. Aaron was six points back in third, with 18. Spaniard David Chaves was in fourth with 23, while Jess Kempkes (G-G) and Bell rounded out the top five, tied with 25 points each. Two fives on loop two moved Peters out of contention for the win, but the New Yorker stayed on track for his best finish of the year with 24and 16-point final loops. Crosset countered with a 13-point second lap and eight single dabs on his final circuit for his sixth win of the season. Aaron bettered each loop of the day, posting a 16 and an 11 for his final two laps to take second, ahead of Peters.