NATC Opener Raises the Bar at Kairos
T
he season opener of the
2026 AMA NATC National
MotoTrials Championship Se-
ries, presented by TrialStoreUSA.
com, took place at Kairos Wilder-
ness Resort in Glen Lyn, Virginia,
and any lingering talk in recent
years of Nationals being set too
easy was quickly put to rest.
Trials Master Ray Peters de-
livered sections that demanded
more than big moves—rather
than have a singular focus or
test in each section, they instead
required riders to string together
multiple techniques in a single
section. Off-camber turns, rock
ledges and steep, throttle-heavy
climbs were the focus of the
weekend, and with minimal gate
markers, especially on lower
lines, riders were forced to stay
sharp and precise, often navigat
-
ing by instinct as much as sight.
Saturday's conditions added
another layer of difficulty. With
temperatures reaching 87 de-
grees under clear skies, section
one immediately set the tone.
Many riders failed to complete it
within the 1:30 time limit or were
caught out by its early obstacles
or powdery topsoil. The chal
-
lenge didn't stop there—the loop
between sections proved just as
punishing, demanding constant
focus and energy throughout the
day.
At the front of the Pro class,
Trials Superstore's Sondre Haga
set the early pace with a con
-
trolled and efficient ride to take
the day-one win with 46 points.
TRS Hammer Nutrition's Jorge
Casales stayed within striking
distance, taking a time penalty
and finishing with 47 points,
while Daisy Import TRS's Alex
Myers held steady in third with
74 points, managing the difficult
conditions with consistency.
WIND
IN THE
P52
Sondre Haga set the
early pace with a
controlled day-one
win. He secured
second on Sunday.
PHOTOS: STEPH VETTERLY
