Smage Earns 13th Trials Championship
F
actoryONE Sherco's Pat
Smage could not have asked
for better weather in which to
clinch his 13th AMA/NATC Na-
tional Mototrials Championship.
Hosted by the Upper Midwest
Trials Association (UMTA) at the
Iron Range Off-Highway Vehicle
State Recreation Area in Gilbert,
Minnesota, riders and specta-
tors were treated to bright, sunny
skies, mild temperatures and a
slight breeze, a much-needed
contrast from the unfortunate
snowstorm at the previous
rounds in Colorado.
Twelve sections were placed
along a six-and-a-half-mile
course. With the rocks provid-
ing plenty of traction, many of
the Pro riders agreed that the
sections were on the easy side,
making competition all the more
difficult as one lone point/dab
could cost a podium finish.
For the Pro class, Saturday's
competition consisted of two
loops (24 sections) with a spec-
tacular Pro Shootout finishing off
the day. Smage took only three
points out of the two loops (2-1),
serving more as safety dabs to
avoid failing a section.
GasGas's Josh Roper proved
that he is a serious contender
for the top step of the podium.
After taking eight points in the
first loop, he found his flow and
cleaned every section for the
second loop.
Reminiscent of the Pro Shoot-
out held at this location in 2019,
Pro riders had a total of four sec-
tions, each of which was ridden
twice. The format is more of a
spectacle for the crowd; larger
obstacles are favored over more
technical lines to showcase the
power and precision of both bike
and rider. Start order was de-
termined in reverse of the point
standings from the morning's
competition, meaning TRS's Sam
Fastle had the honors of put-
ting wheels in first. Rather than
the typical 90-second time limit
imposed on standard sections,
riders now had a full two minutes
to navigate the ribbon and exit
the finish gates.
Section one flowed well, with
only Beta's Alex Niederer and
FactoryONE Scorpa's Alex My-
IN
THE
WIND
P32
Pat Smage swept the final round of the AMA/NATC MotoTrials
Championship in Minnesota and wrapped up his 13th title.
