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/128379
U.S. Trials Champion Geoff Aaron took a giant step toward a ninth National title with his double win in Tennessee. The 32year-old has been a dominate figure in U.S. trials for well over a decade and is one of the sport's biggest promoters. Aaron's expertise is not limited to just trials competition; in fact, his job description these days is sort of a mixed bag. In addition to his role as top rider and team manager for the U.S. Gas Gas importer, Gas Gas USA, Aaron stays busy doing shows for his business, Extreme Riding Entertainment. Aaron just signed a deal with Clear Channel Entertainment to do eight extreme shows during its 200S Moto X freestyle ramp-to-ramp competitions. When he is not doing a show or a promotion, Aaron spends his time working on his latest video or practicing for the upcoming National trials series. en: How do you stay motivated with all the things that are going on? geoffaaron: Honestly, I am just thrilled to be doing what I do, and I feel lucky to have opportunities to make a living riding motorcycles. I do treat it like a job and train as hard as I can, but I also mix it up. This year I did a Jason Pridmore Road Racing school and I raced the EnduroCross in Las Vegas. I have fun on all types of motorcycles, and I want to promote all types of motorcycling. I try to keep myself excited about riding by doing all types of riding. Trials right now is full time for me and when I am not out practicing for the Nationals, I am out booking as many exhibitions as I can. When I am not working on that, I am working on my video projects and doing some promotional stuff with the press or just trying to promote the sport and promote Gas Gas. So it all adds up to a full-time job. This past winter, Red Bull helped me build an all-new exhibition rig and followed that up by helping me promote it around the country. So, we have kind of stepped up our programs as far as doing the demonstrations, and we are trying to branch out into different areas and not only do just motorcycle rallies or races but to tap into some of the extreme sports events and kind of spread it around to new areas. en: Speaking of new areas, you competed in the first-ever Indoor EnduroCross race held in Las Vegas and turned a few heads. geoffaaron: Yeah, that was a pretty crazy race. It was kind of exciting to be a part of the first one in the U.S. Gas Gas helped me out with a 2S0 EC Enduro, and they threw me in the mix with some of the best off-roaders in the world, and I wasn't sure exactly how I was going to do because I really didn't get much time on the bike - I literally only burned about a half a tank of gas in the bike before that race. So, other than a little bad luck with a flat tire, which resulted in a bad qualifying position, I felt like I rode pretty good. I was just one position away from making the main in each of my races and ended up II th overall. en: How do you manage to cover all of the ground that you do? geoffaaron: I have restructured my program a little bit so I can bounce from a competition to an exhibition a little easier. In the past I have used separate rigs for competition and for exhibitions - one trailer folded out into our ramp show and the other we used for our competitions. But I just purchased a Freightliner Toterhome, so I can do everything with that. I will have my motorhome and my exhibition show with me at all times, so I will be able to set up a schedule for myself so that I can travel from a competition to a show more smoothly. en: What opportunities do you see available to you down the road? geoffaaron: A lot of that depends on my competition. If I am able to ride strong, I'll continue [to ride trials], but I have always liked the idea of not putting all of my eggs in one basket. I'd like to do more video projects, and I'd also like to playa part in getting more TV coverage for the sport, like X Games-type stuff for trials. Also, the exhibitions are really going off right now for me, and I can see more of a future there, whether it is me doing the riding or maybe in the future helping some of the younger riders in the U.S. book shows. I can see that being a big part of my program. Steve Lamson: The Veteran upcoming season may hold for him, as well as the talent-stacked 12Scc class. CN: How has your preparation for the National season been going so far? stevelamson: It's been kind of hit and miss between the supercrosses and outdoor. So we've been trying to stay focused on supercross but then put some time in testing for the outdoor series. So far, everything has been good I've just been training hard and been doing a little testing, too. Team Motosport Oudet/Honda's Steve Lamson has been on the professional circuit for quite some time now. He has never been much of a supercross rider - the outdoors is where he has cleaned up in the 12Scc National past. With two Championships to his credit, he has an abundant amount of experience that will no doubt come in handy this season. We sat down with him to find out what he feels the stevelamson: It's weird because I don't think there is going to be one person who is going to dominate, but I think there are going to be a lot of guys, like: [Andrew] Short, [Nathan] Ramsey, [Mike] Brown is going to be back for the Nationals, and that's just a few guys. There's going to be like IS guys who could maybe win a race, so it's going to be pretty interesting. ever help any of the your younger teammates? stevelamson: Yeah, I mean, I'm the oldest guy, I've been around a long time and been to a lot of races and stuff. Yeah, I try to help the guys out, the younger guys in any way I can. Outdoors I think I will be a little more helpful to try to get the guys to train and be on the right schedule and do well. CN: Do you have a lot of family who come out for Hangtown and cheer you on? stevelamson: Yeah a lot - a lot. Every year I get so many tickets. So, it's pretty cool. CN: Are you more prepared going into this year as compared to 2004? stevelamson: Yeah, I think I'm just as good. I've always wanted to be prepared for the first race. So I'm going out there feeling good and confident. I'm healthy, totally healthy, so that's good. CN: Going into Hangtown it's your hometown track. Do you expect to do good there? stevelamson: I'm comfortable there because it's the hometown track and it's pretty exciting to go there. And being the opening round, it's pretty good. I should be expected to do pretty well there. The 12S class is going to be pretty stacked. CN: Does it ever get distracting having all of your family and friends there? stevelamson: Not really. I separate all of that when it comes down to it. But I mean, in any way, its relaxing having everyone around. It kind of takes your mind off things. CN: What guys are you looking at In the i2S class to be fast? CN: Being the veteran on the Motosport Outlet Team. do you CN: How many more years do you see yourself rating? stevelamson: Idon't know, I'm... I'd like to race as long as I can, and if I'm healthy, doing good and producing results, then I'm going to keep going.