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K.tth Wineland finished fourth
_ both days for fourth overall.
third overall, but it has been five years
since the Nebraskan was a regular on the
national circuit. Since dropping out of the
trials scene at the end of the 2000 season,
Kempkes has spent the last few years performing stunt shows for Team Extreme.
However, he has been keeping his competition skills honed by practicing and riding at local events, and when the opportunity presented itself to compete in the
only pro trials event in the country, he
couldn't resist. And while Kempkes
looked a little rusty in the opening sections, he gained confidence as the event
wore on and, at the finish, topped Chaves
by seven marks for the win.
"I just took my time," Kempkes said. "I
was stopping and resting and saving my
energy for the exhibition sections,"
Kempkes said. "You can definitely tell a
difference in my style of riding - which is
old school - and the kids'. I ride the big
stuff all the time, so I was right at home in
this stuff, but I was starting to get worn
out. We rode all day, and I am not really
used to that anymore."
Kempkes wasn't the only rider who
was a little rusty at the Pensacola Dam
event, as Chaves was also riding one of his
first major trials events of the year. The
Spaniard, who is now living in Kentucky,
skipped the U.S. National Trials Series this
year in order to ride the GNCC series for
the U.S. Sherco importer. Needless to
say, it took a few sections for him to get
his trials legs under him, as well.
Before the event, youngsters Keith
Wineland of Colorado and Cody Webb
were the odds-on favorites to battle for
the top prize. After all, both had just
returned from a victorious trip to the Trial
des Nations, where they, along with
teammates Geoff Aaron and Chris Florin,
claimed the International Trophy for the
United States in the annual team competition. However, it was the two veterans,
Kempkes and Chaves, who proved to be
the steadiest of the lot after two days and
59 sections' worth of riding.
The Gas Gas USA Pro Invitational Trials
is a unique event in which each competitor rides three laps of nine sections each
day, over a 5-mile course. Then, on
Saturday night, the spectators are treated
to three exhibition sections, ridden by the
Pro class only. These sections are much
more difficult than those found on the
morning course and are situated in an
area where the fans can watch the top
riders up close. It is in these exhibition
sections that the real competition begins
for the Pros.
Kempkes was perfect going into
Saturday's exhibition, haVing completed
the morning course without dropping a
point. Webb hadn't taken a dab either, but
he took a fIVe-point penalty for breaking
the ribbon in the ninth section. Chaves
dropped three single dabs over the morning lap and sat in second, while Wineland
was fourth with 10 marks lost.
In the exhibition, Webb continued to
churn out clean rides and aced all three
sections.
Chaves failed to climb one of the giant
rock slabs in the opening section and fell
backward for a five.
Kempkes took his first points of the
day in section two, which featured a splatter onto a vertical wall. Chaves and
Wineland took points there as well.
The final section of the day was mainly
set up for the spectators. It was the most
spectacular of the three, but it was easy
for the riders and no points were taken
there.
At the end of Saturday's event,
Kempkes led with two points. Webb was
second with five, while Chaves (10),
Wineland (12) and Darrow (42) rounded
out the top five.
Sunday was cold and Windy, and the
organizers tightened up a few sections to
further challenge the Pros. Kempkes was
steady again, though, and ended up dropping only one point for the day on a loosedirt climb.
Webb once again had the misfortune of
collecting a five for breaking a ribbon.
Had it not been for breaking ribbons,
Webb might have won the event. He
added two more points in a dirt off-camber section and ended the day with seven,
while Wineland finished with nine.
Chaves, on the other hand, was perfect on the day and turned in a clean card.
After taking a few shaky points on
Saturday, Chaves took his time on Sunday
and studied his lines well. The strategy
paid off and he won Saturday's event and
moved past Webb for second overall.
Kempkes finished the event with
three points total and collected $1000
for the overall win, while Chaves finished with 10 points and took home
$600 for his efforts. Webb's total of 12
points was good enough for third overall, ahead of Wineland with 23 and
Darrow with 80.
eN
PENSACOLA DAM
LANGUY, OKLAHOMA
RESULTS: OCTOBER
22·23, 2005
Saturday
PRO: I. J"" Kempk., (2); 2. Cody Webb (S); 3. DavKl
Chaves (10); 4. Ke;th Woneland (12); S..... Darrow (42).
MASTER: I. J""" Ca