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/495160
IN THE WIND P28 Patrick Smage had little difficulty winning both rounds of the Aires U.S. National MotoTrials Series opener in Texas. PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHAN MOORE THANKS BUT NO THANKS D id Honda really turn down Casey Stoner in favor of Hiro- shi Aoyama? Yes. A buzz of spec- ulation in the wake of peevish tweets from the retired champion was confirmed at Austin during the MotoGP. The approach had come from the Australian, the "thanks but no thanks" from HRC itself, explained vice-president Shuhei Nakamoto. The 2007 and 2011 World Champion offered to step in for the stricken Dani Pedrosa; Nakamoto (for some years a constant presence at the track) was initially surprised and de- lighted. But a series of meetings at Honda HQ led to the refusal. Stoner's response was: "Bummer I'm not racing, no prep was needed as I wasn't plan- ning on winning, just replacing a good friend and having some fun in Texas!" "Having fun," however, didn't come into HRC's deliberations. "For HRC, Casey is quite important—he is a VIP," said Nakamoto. He needed to be at least fight- ing for a podium finish. With no chance to test, and no appropri- ate team structure, this was too much to hope for, they decided. "I don't want to see Casey fighting for fifth or sixth posi- tion," said Nakamoto. "To me Casey is like a son. So this was very tough." Stoner had taken part in one test this year, circulating Sepang within 1.5 seconds of his best. There was not the time available to find the set- up that could close that gap, thought Nakamoto. When Pedrosa's absence was known in Qatar, Repsol- Honda's Livio Suppo laughed off an approach to Stoner. Nobody expected an approach from the rider. Honda may have said no. There's always Stoner's other title berth, Ducati. Michael Scott No one could quite believe Casey Stoner made the approach to Hon- da about replacing Dani Pedrosa, not the other way round. SMAGE STRIKES FIRST S even-time U.S. MotoTrials National Champion Patrick Smage took a positive first step toward a possible eighth National title with a double win at rounds one and two of the 2015 Aires US National MotoTrials Series near Claude, Texas, April 11-12. The Sherco USA-back rider from Wisconsin had little trou- bles winning both days, taking a relatively stress-free victory over Cody Webb on Saturday and Bryan Roper on Sunday. Webb, a former trials champ and current EnduroCross Champion, was expected to give Smage more of a challenge but struggled with bike setup on the Montesa Cota 4RT 260 he received and rode for the first time just a day before the event. Webb finished a distant second on Saturday and third on Sunday. Sherco rider Roper, competing in just his second year on the trials circuit, went 4-2. Shan Moore