Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128169
Travis Fox went 7-9 on the weekend. Save the best for last: Crossett recorded a win on Saturday and a fifth on Sunday, which were good enough to eam him his second straight championship. Luckily for Crosset, the difficult course took plenty of 5s from the competition, allowing him to recover from his section-six fiascos. He went on to post loop scores of 21, 22 and eight for a total of 51 points and the win, easily clinching the title. Aaron recovered from a disastrous first lap (he scored 40 points on his first lap, nearly doubling Crosset's mark) to post the lowest scores for the second and third laps of the day, 20 and 6, respectively. Canadians Bell and Craig each finished with 80 points, tying for third. Bell grabbed the show spot by virtue of having more 1s than Craig. Ray Peters was fifth with 97. "My first loop was a disaster," said Aaron of Saturday's ride. "I knew it was going to put me out of contention. I was down deep in a hole after that - I think I was in sixth or so - and I just tried to redeem myself. I think I got really impatient on the first lap and I didn't take time to slow down and get technical. On the next loop, I paid more attention to what the others were doing, switched up a couple of lines and was able to improve a bit." Sunday On Saturday evening, the RMTA setup crew made a few modifications for Sunday's event, easing up a few of the tight areas and, in general, making Sunday's sections a little more straightforward. The biggest gripe the riders have had all year is that it's hard to set up sections to fit the new "no-stop" rules, and the RMTA tried to alleviate the problem on Sunday with slightly more straightforward sections. Aaron, who is at home on the massive, high-traction rocks, got off to a much better start for round 10, posting a seven- BRIEFLY••• The Colorado event Included one of the most unique sections ever featured at a U.S. National. Rocky Mountain Trials Association Club members, headed by Mike Wehling. constructed a man-made waterfall section in the main spectator area that served as the final section each day. Roughly 1500 gallons of water were trucked in, and a pump circulated the water at 200 gallons per minute over the falls. as riders tried to negotiate through the wetness. The large rocks that made up the waterfall were cemented into place to keep the section from deteriorating, and a rubber liner kept the water from seeping into the dry soil. Needless to say. this was the most popular section of the event. Because of the e _ fire ...... and the recent wildfires that have devastated the southwest. the RMTA commissioned the local fire department to keep a fire truck on site during the event. Even though the event was held on private property, the use of spark arrestors was strictly enforced. Just like at EI Trial de Espana the week before. the event in Colorado was held at high altitude. The start area at Cotopaxi was at 7600 feet and the loop wound its way up to 8200 feet before returning to the pits. After two weeks in the mountains, the riders were gelling used to riding bikes that were down on power. Ryon Bell's mlnder Bruce Monhlgan had a busy weekend. Monhigan flew Into Colorado Friday. set up the team's pit area, and then minded for Bell on Saturday. Immediately after Saturday's event, Monhigan flew back to Sacramento to attend his 35th high school reunion. After the reunion, he flew back to Denver and anrived at the trials in time to assist Bellon his final lap. point first lap, and credited his bike setup as part of the reason why. "Once you get out of the loose stuff and onto the grippy rocks, the bite here is incredible," said Aaron. "I ran Dunlop tires on my Gas Gas and 1 think that the stiffer sidewalls make a difference over the Michelins when you get onto the gripy rocks - they don't wash out as much and you're able to hold your line." U.S. Montesa-sponsored Bell was second best after one lap with 12 points, and Ray Peters, who was getting his first ride on the 2003 Scorpa, was having a good ride in third with 16. Crosset was visibly shaken after falling hard in section two and never really regained his confidence. With the title in the bag, the Belgian cruised to a fifth-place finish for the day. Aaron experienced problems on section two as well, taking a five on his second lap. This section was one that was too difficult to ride without stopping because of its tight turns and abrupt steps. Despite his difficulties at number two, Aaron managed to stretch his lead on the second lap, and by the end of the final lap had taken an 18point win over Bell. Bell, in tum, finished 11 points better than Peters. Wilson Craig finished fourth, two points ahead of Crosset. "I kind of felt like I blew it yesterday, so I wanted to have a good day today," Aaron said. "Freddie's been beating me for quite a while and 1 wanted to try and go out on top and maybe have some bragging rights for next year." "Today, the sections were too difficult for me," Crosset said in broken English. "I took a hard fall in section two and it was all over for me. "To win the championship again is incredible," Crosset added. "This year cue. e was more difficult than last year and to win two years in a row is incredible fur me. CN Racily Mouatain Trials Association Cotopaxi, Colorado Results= August 10-11, 2002 lRaund 10 of 10J Saturday C'SHlP: 1. Freddie Crosset (51)); 2. Geoff .... ron (66)); 3. Ryon Bell (80); 4. Wilson Craig (80); 5. Roy Peters (97); 6. Chris Florin (109); 7. Travis Fox (110); 8. Andy Johnson (117); 9. Keith Winelend (131); 10. Adam Holbrook (139). EX: I. Juon Carpenter (47); 2. Chuck Sutton (49); 3. 20ch Clement (59); 4. Brad Villand (61); 5. Eric Tidmore (69). EX/SPRTSMN: 1. Andy Saum (19); 2. David Cole (20); 3. Cody Webb (21); 4. Ben Wehling (226); 5. Will Ibsen (28). SPRTSMN: I. James Espy (25); 2. Ryan Roznovsky (3 t); 3. Ken Melody (32); 4. Scott Muthler (46); 5. James Fastle (64). HIGH SCHOOL: 1. Sean Bird (5); 2. Adam LeGere (23); 3. Blake Binder (23); 4. Max Malsbury (36); 5. Miles Morgan (41). WMN: I. Kerry Williams (24); 2. Andrea Davis (71); 3. Kerne Brokaw (81); 4. u.ura Bussing (103); 5. Nicole Bradford (106). SR 30: 1. Lance Butler (29); 2. Keith Busch (31): 3. Rick Pisek (40); 4. Michael Craig (43); 5. Blaine Heppner (46). SR 35: 1. Kevin Busch (14); 2. Ron Lee (24); 3. Scott Williams (30); 4. Ion Smith (71); 5. Greg Arrants (97). SR 40: 1. David Rohrshneider (12); 2. Thomas Hedwall (17); 3. Trecy Zentz (24); 4. Brock Sattelmeier (25); 5. Ken Pedersen (25). SR 45: 1. Mike Komer (9); 2. Keith Adoms (10); 3. Allen Gohlike (18); 4. Howard galbreath (19); 5. Gllrry Hoover (25). SR 50: 1. Nils Mllntzoros (34); 2. Marvin Edgington (38); 3. David Aldo (79). sR 55: I. Dale Molasek (12); 2. Bob Bell (61); 3. Gary Pisek (74); 4. Jim Watson (9 I). SR 6S: 1. Bill Thompson (62). Sunday • C'SHIP: 1. Geoff Noron (27); 2. Ryon Bell (45); 3. Roy Peter> (56); 4. Wilson Craig (59); 5. Freddie Crosset (61); 6. Chris Florin (67); 7. Keith Wineland (Ill); 8. Andy Johnson (119); 9. Travis Fox (123); 10. Adam Holbrook (130). EX: 1. Chuck Sutton (45); 2. Eric TIdmore (49); 3. Brlld Villend (55); 4. Jason Carpenter (60); 5. 20ch Clemnent (70). EX/SPRTSMN: I. Cody Webb (9); 2. Bill Ibsen (13); 3. Andy Saum (14); 4. David Cole (24); 5. Adrian Lewis (27). SPRTSMN: I. James Espy (9); 2. Ryan Roznovsky (27); 3. William Burgener (28); 4. Ken Melody (31); 5. Todd Tucker (31). HIGH SCHOOL: I. Blake Binder (20); 2. Adam LeGere (24); 3. Cody Brandon (39); 4. Max Malsbury (47); 5. Eric Tmka (55). WMN: 1. Kerry Williams (t 8); 2. Andrea Davis (64); 3. Kerrie Brokaw (66); 4. Leura Bussing (91); 5. Nicole Bradford (115). SR 30: I. Keith Busch (15); 2. Lance Butler (26); 3. Rick Pisek (52); 4. Blaine Heppner (56); 5. Michael Craig (63). SR 35: 1. Kein Busch (5); 2. Scott Williams (50); 3. Ian Smith (74). SR 40: 1. David Rohrschneider (12); 2. Bob Caswell (24); 3. Barry Lee (27); 4. Thoma, Hedwall (28); 5. Brock Sattelmeier 29). SR 45: l. Mike Komer (19); 2. Garry Hoover (20); 3. Dale Higgenbotham (23); 4. Keith Adams (25); 5. Wayne Galvin (32). SR 50: 1. Morvin Edgington (24); 2. Nils Montzoros (29); 3. David AIdo (109). SR 55: 1. Bob Bell (47); 2. Gory Pisek (56); 3. Jim Watson (109). SR 60: 1. Bill Thompson (81). n e _ 50 • AUGUST 28. 2002 53