2014 AIRES AMA NATC MOTOTRIAL USA NATIONAL SERIES
local rocks, which gives the organizers the green
light to set up really big and challenging obstacles.
The Texas Creek event had all of the above, includ-
ing a loop that wound its way up to almost 7000 feet
in elevation, putting constant stress on both rider
and machinery.
Smage seemed not to be affected by the alti-
tude, nor the massive rock walls and gaps that the
Rocky Mountain Trials Association series set up
along a nine-mile, 12-section course that was rid-
den three times each day.
Adding a bit of intrigue to this year's series was
the addition of Martin Matejicek from the Czech
Republic, who is riding the series for the U.S.
Gas Gas importer. Matejicek is the current Junior
Champion in his country and finished the 2013
Czech Republic National Series in second place.
He was expected to push Smage in Colorado, and
he may do so later in the series, however, at the
first two rounds he was still getting used to the ter-
rain and format of the U.S. series and admitted to
be suffering a case of "the nerves".
With rain forecast for later in the afternoon,
Smage did the wise thing and rode his opening lap
a bit faster than he normally would, hoping to get in
as many rides as possible before the wet weather
hit and made the sections slippery.
Despite looking a bit rushed at the start, Smage
still managed to turn in some amazing rides on
the first lap, and after one lap of competition he
was clearly in control of the event, losing just four
points compared to 30 for his Sherco USA team-
mate Logan Bolopue.
Meanwhile, Matejicek spent most of the event
adjusting to the obstacles, which he admitted
VOL. 51 ISSUE 21 MAY 28, 2014 P111
Briefly...
American Honda had a presence at the event for the
first time in many years, although they didn't have a
rider in the event. A team van was on hand to display
a pair of 2014 Honda trials bikes, which are available
in the U.S. by special order through local Honda deal-
ers.
The NATC (North American Trials Council) paid out a
Pro purse after each day, which paid $500 to the win-
ner of the Pro class, all the way down to $100 for fifth.
The signup area sported a new scoring monitor,
which prominently displayed scores of all of the class-
es as they were being turned in after each loop.
