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Rounds 9·10 OFF-ROAD .... AMA/NATC National Trials Championship Series CLINCHES GEOFF AARON WRAPS UP NINTH TITLE By SHAN MooRE/TR.IALS COMPETITION NEWSPAPER. th two rounds still remaining on the schedule, Geoff Aaron wrapped up an unprecedented ninth AMA National Trials title with a win on the second day of competition at rounds nine and 10 of the AMNNATC National Trials Championship Series in Highgate, Vermont. Aaron came into the two-day event in New England having won all but one of this year's rounds and sporting a healthy lead in the championship standings; the ERE/Gas Gas rider needed only to finish in the top five each day to claim the title. South African Bruce Ie Riche and Florida's Chris Florin were the only riders with a mathematical chance of dethroning Aaron, but one or the other would need to win both days in Vermont and do the same the next week in New York and would still need something drastic to happen to Aaron in order to get it done. And with Aaron's history over the last 12 years, chances were that wasn't going to happen. For over a decade, Aaron has been the dominate rider in the NATC Series, and the well-spoken New Englanderturned-Californian has been one of the sport's greatest promoters, along with former champ Ryan Young. Despite his domination, Aaron was humble about his achievement. "Obviously, it feels great." Aaron said of his ninth title. "I'm super excited to win another one. There are a couple of guys who are really pushing me, like Bruce [Ie Riche), Chris [Florin), Keith W [Wineland) and Cody [Webb), so it feels good to accumulate as many wins as I can and keep this thing going against this kind of talent. It's been a huge part of my life for the last several years, and it feels good to achieve another championship." Despite the poor odds, however, Florin and Ie Riche were up for the challenge and, after Saturday's first lap, looked to be in even better shape to compete for the title. Both Ie Riche and Florin got off to great starts on the technical and slippery sections, dropping only single marks over their first few rides, while Aaron took fives in each of the first two sections. He would add another three fives before the end of the lap and finish the first lap with a total of 27 points, while Ie Riche came home with 17 and Florin 15. "I guess I just rushed through a little bit too qUickly," Aaron said. "New England has always been tough for me anyway. I usually have the 'New England jitters' because I have a lot of friends and family who come out to watch, and I just got off to a shaky start." By the end of the second lap, however, Aaron was starting to get into a rhythm and came back with the best second-lap score, a nine. But Florin was not giving in and matched Aaron almost ride for ride over the second lap. Florin 46 AUGUST 17, 2005 • CYCLE NEWS would be the only rider to go clean all weekend over the giant wall in section I I, and he held an I I-point advantage over Aaron going into the final lap. Le Riche was still in the hunt, as well, after turning in an I I-point card, and he was up by eight points over Aaron. With an I I-point cushion, Florin knew he only needed to avoid any major mistakes to claim the win and did so, dropping just three single dabs across the final lap for his first win of the year. Aaron also dropped just three marks but would end up third after finishing five points behind Ie Riche in the final tally. "It felt pretty good to get the win, but I was too exhausted to enjoy it," said Florin, who was fighting off the effects of a cold. "There was just a lot of technical stuff that would get you, and my arms started pumping up in the sections. I haven't been able to ride lately because I've been sick, and I was just totally worn out." California Sherco rider Webb finished fourth, while Colorado's Wineland on a Gas Gas was fifth. With a chance to close out the championship on Sunday, Aaron wanted to come out strong and clinch the title with a win. The 33-year-old left nothing to chance during the opening lap and recorded the best loop score of the day with six marks. Florin followed in second, another four points back, while Wineland moved into the mix with a 16-