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IiiIiIiI Rounds 8 Q a OFF-ROAD 2004 AMNNATC National Observed Trials Cha mpionships e o ff Aaron claimed his eighth Nat ional win of the year and wrapped up an unprecedented eighth National title, while Chris Florin took his first-ever National win at rounds e ight and nine of the AMNNATC National Trials Championship Series in Burlington, Vermont. In addit ion to a dramatic come-frombehind win by Aaron on Sunday, the final two rounds of the season were highlighted by the superb riding of Montesamounted Florin and 16-year-old rookie Cody Webb, wh o was riding for Aaron's ERE-Gas Gas team. Florin surprised everyone by carrying a 25-point lead into t he final lap in Satu rday's round, riding sections that were difficult to gauge and deceivingly slick, and then holding off Aaron's late charge to take a solid win. The next day, Web b drew an early sta rt time and was the first rider to attempt most of the secti o ns, something that is normally considered a big disadvantage, but he responded by leading after each of the first tw o laps. Aar on's second- place finish on Saturday was more than enough to wrap up his eighth championship title - two more than U.S. trials legend Ryan Young. Ryon Bell ended the year in second ove rall, with Florin taking th ird . South African brothers Brent and Bruce Ie Riche rounded out the top five in thei r first season of AMA competition . "Iworked real hard to win this year, and as a general rule, because of my experience, I think I made better decisions in the sections than some of the rookies coming up," said the 3 1-year-o ld Aaron when asked about winning his eighth title. "I'm just glad to be still at the to p of my game and having fun do ing what I like to do." The Burlington event was held in the dairy-farming district of northern Ver mo nt and consisted of moss-covered granite rocks and ledges, which be came increasingly slippery as t he day wore on . For t he most part, the host ing club, the Gre en Mountain Plonke rs, set t he sections at a moderate but very technical level to allow for the "slip factor," with the exception of one section pe r day. O n Sat urday, section 14 featured a 12-foot vertical wa ll, wh ich was conquered by only a handful of riders. O n Sunday, section three was highlighted by an uphill run at an equal ly tall but more angled wall. The uphill run made the obstacle even more difficult than Saturday 's menace. and hay bales were placed around the climb to catch those who failed to make it. O n Saturday, Florin held a nine-po int lead over Brent Ie Riche after the first lap. This included a two-point ride at the wall in section 14. The only other riders to get G 36 SEPTEMBER 22, 2004 • CYCLE NEWS 40th Anniversary