Casales Wins MotoTrials Title
T
he 2025 AMA/NATC National
MotoTrials Championship
Series came to a thrilling conclu-
sion over the July 19-20 weekend
at Lightning Raceway in Tippeca-
noe, Ohio. Known for its unpre-
dictable weather, the venue lived
up to its reputation, with heavy
rain leading up to the event, mak-
ing for a muddy, slippery chal-
lenge for the riders. As is often
the case at this venue, the ground
didn't absorb water quickly, which
left competitors bracing for
tough, sloppy conditions.
The section designs for the
final round emphasized techni
-
cal riding with a few larger hits
thrown in for added excitement.
However, despite the rain, some
sections dried out, providing rid-
ers with better traction in areas
that received more sunlight.
The mud, however, remained a
constant challenge, forcing com-
petitors to stay on their lines and
avoid sliding off, which could
result in costly mistakes and un-
necessary points.
The weekend was filled with
high stakes, as many riders were
vying for crucial championship
points. Among the front-runners
were U.S. Montesa Honda's
Jorge Casales and Pat Smage,
who had both been fighting for
the championship throughout the
season. FIM Trial2 riders Sondre
Haga and Jarand Gunvaldsen,
fresh off the previous weekend's
FIM TrialGP round in Rhode
Island, stayed on to compete in
Ohio and were warmly welcomed
by fans and staff alike.
The Pro class saw some im
-
pressive rides despite the chal-
lenging conditions. On Saturday,
Haga delivered a near-perfect
performance, taking the win with
only two points. Trials Super-
store GasGas USA's Josh Roper
also impressed, finishing second
with just 11 points, while Casa-
les rounded out the podium with
WIND
IN THE
P42
Spaniard Jorge Casales
celebrated his birthday
on Sunday by winning the
2025 AMA MotoTrials
Championship in Ohio.
PHOTOS: STEPHANIE VETTERLY
