Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1542396
ng centor TN hie, ody Webb claimed his first- ever National win and then lost out to nine-time U.S. National Trials Champion Geoff Aaron by a single poant in a bid for a second one at rounds five and six of the AMAiNATC U.S. National Trials Series. held at Sequarchie, Tennessee. ln one of the toughest events held in many years, Webb used a steady and consistent approach, avoiding fives at all coss, en route to his win on Saturday. On Sunday, the l8-year-old Sherco pilot took the defending champ, Aaron, to the wire but came up one point shon after fiving the next-to-last section ofthe event. "l knew that I was in good shape on Saturday because I was avoiding the fives, and I saw everyone ahead of me having problems," Webb said. "Even though I only Bot one clean all day, I knew that those threes and twos and ones would pay off at the finish." ''The last couple of events have been way too easy for our abilities. Bi8 runs to big obstacles are easy and so everyone is close, and whoever makes the least mis- takes usually wins," Webb added. "But at a tough event like this, you can make a mistake and still recover from it." The term "tough" was actually an understatement when describing the severity of the sections for the national event. The fact that the event ran in con- junction with a World Championship event was one factor, and the fact that it rained the night before each round added to the difficulry but on Saturday, only nvo riders, Webb and Bruce LeRiche, logged scores under the century mark. The fact that the winner only had one clean was also amazing, however this is the type o{ event where these guys can really use thear skills and evidently the type that Webb thrives in. After relatively disappointing finishes at the first four rounds of the series. Webb was ready when he learned that the sec- tions for the Tennessee national would be difficult and proved he was up for the task when he and Gas Gas rider Chris Florin were the only two riders to make it through the opening section of the event. South African rider Bruce LeRiche, riding a Sherco, served notice that he was in the hunt as well by posting the only clean ride in the second section, Aaron had an uncharacteristic start to the event when he missed a marker in the first section and collecred a five. Thrngs wouldn't get any better for the Gas Gas rider as he would go on to suffer tvvo flat tires and miss another split before the day was through. With Aaron basically out of the running for the win, the event would boil down to Webb and LeRiche and at the finish, after two laps and 30 sections of comPetition, the two riders were nearly deadlock on points with LeRiche holding a one Point advantage over Webb, 89 points to 90. However. time would play a deciding fac- ror, and srnce LeRiche had been l2 min- ures late to rhe finish. he would incur six penalty points, givinS Webb the win. After time ad,ustments, Webb took the win with 9l points, followed by LeRiche with 95.5 and Aaron with 108.5. LeRiche's brother, Brent, finished fourth with I 17.5, with Florin taking fifth with 135.5. ''This feels pretty awesome," Webb said. "l am staninS to like the sliPpery st'rf{ a liftle more. l've noticed that Geoff [Aaron] does better in the dry and not so good in the wet, so I have kind of concen- trated on the slick stufl Maybe this will turn the year around for me-" LeRiche was disappointed to lose on time, while Aaron was iust happy to make the podium. ''Today was a rough day for me," Aaron said. "Usually sliPpery conditions are a little tough for me, and I did not feel comfortable at all. AnythinS that could go wrong, went wrong and to be able to sal- vage a podium finish is good-" On Sunday, Aaron was obviously out to redeem himself after his sr-rb-par per- formance on the previous day and dropped lo-less points than the next clos- est competitor, which was Webb, over the first lap. On the second lap, Webb duplicated his first lap score, tryinS again !o remain consistent and keep his fives to a mini- mum, while Aaron stumbled in a couple of sections, taking a five in a section that he had cleaned on the first lap and anoth- er flve in a section that he had oned. But the deciding factor might well have been the next-to-last section of the day where Aaron posted a three-point ride, com- pared to a five for Webb, giving Aaron the win by a single mark. "l was disappointed in my ride on Saturday, so ! tried to come out and ride as 36 JUNE 7, 2@6 C CYCLE NEWS TRIAIS !