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AMAINATC Ryan Young Products National Championship Trials Series Rounds 5/6: Tillamook National Forest 16-mile loop used for the event was the problem; however most will agree that when you give a trials rider a seven-hour time limit - he'll take seven and a half! "Nowadays trials are getting shorter and shorter, and all the emphasis is on the sections," said John Isherwood, who was in charge of engineering the loop for COTA, the organizing club. "Traditionally, the whole event was a challenge, not just the sections. This area lends itself to a long loop, and if you've got it - use it." The loop in question was 16 miles of beautiful single-track, which wound through the Tillamook National Forest, just across the coastal mountains from Portland, Oregon. As with last week's event in Washington, the riders used too much time on their first lap and had to take dangerous chances on the unforgiving trail to avoid disqualification. (Left) Geoff Aaron came away with back-to-back wins in Oregon to extend his series points lead. (Below) Ray Peters was actually the top rider on Saturday, but he was DQed for taking too long to complete the 16-mile loop. Geoff Aaron extends his points lead with two more wins in Or~gon . each of the first two laps, Beta USA's By SHAN MOORE/ TRIALS COMPETITION NEWSPAPER Ray Peters eclipsed the 3D-minute grace period allowed in addition to TILLAMOOK, OR, MAY 31/JUNE I or the second week in a row; Geoff Aaron proved that he has what it takes to win in slippery conditions at the AMA/NATC Ryan Young Products National Championship Trials Series. And for the second week in a row, time was a major factor. After leading 48 JUNE 18, 2003' cue I e the seven-hour time limit designated for the event and was disqualified. With Peters out of the picture, Aaron came back from a bad first loop to take Saturday's win with Ryon Bell second and U.S. Montesa's Chris Florin in third. According to the riders, the rugged n e vv s On Sunday, Aaron again took the win, this time after trailing Gas Gas teammate Wilson Craig for the entire event, but a horrendous final loop by Craig dropped the Canadian to third behind Aaron and Bell. With seven rounds remaining in the series, Aaron leads the standings 171 to 151 over Bell, with Craig in third with 125. DAY 1 With the extremely long loop (by trials standards), the key for the riders was to go as quickly as possible without giving up unnecessary points in the sections; a good theory, but extremely hard to execute. New York's Peters found the Oregon terrain to his liking and did the best job of limiting his mistakes on lap one, posting the only clean of the day or;' section eight and the only clean of the first lap on section 14. At section six, Bell and Florin made the first significant gains on the pack with clean rides in what turned out to be a very difficult section. An abrupt climb over a moss-covered rock stopped Aaron, Peters and Craig at midsection, while Bell and Florin unloaded up the obstacle with ease.