Casales, Smage Split Wins at Nebraska
R
ounds five and six of the
AMA NATC National MotoTri-
als Championship Series, Pre-
sented by Trial Store USA, saw
Montesa Honda's Jorge Casales
and FactoryOne Sherco's Pat
Smage split wins on a challeng-
ing low-scoring trial in Nehawka,
Nebraska.
Hosted by the Midwest Trials
Association (MWTA), over 130
riders took to the limestone
and shale of the Rock Riders
Quarry. Despite some sections
appearing to be rather lengthy
and requiring riders to use every
moment of their 90-second time
limit, the sections had a nice
flow, allowing competitors a
straightforward ride from start
to finish. Not that it was easy,
however. The ground held on to
some of the rain that had fallen
in the days prior to the event,
and the rocks were slick from
humidity, and after just a few
riders, the rocks developed a
light coat of slick mud. Adding
to the challenge, the sections
of sandstone and limestone
deteriorated over the course of
the day, making it easy to lose
traction and spin out.
Casales, who competes on
the international stage in the FIM
TrialGP circuit, kept in tight, nail-
biting contention with Smage
both days. A look at the final re
-
sults makes it clear that they are
on another level than the rest of
the field. Casales dropped only
a single point on the opening lap
to Smage's three points. With
both riders cleaning every sec
-
tion on the second lap, it came
WIND
IN THE
P38
Jorge Casales started
off the weekend with the
win at the AMA/NATC
MotoTrials in Nebraska.
PHOTOS: STEPHANIE
VETTERLY
