IN
THE
WIND
P36
SMAGE CLINCHES
P
at Smage clinched his eighth
U.S. National MotoTrial title
with two rounds remaining on
the schedule by taking a double
victory at rounds seven and
eight of the Aires AMA U.S.
National MotoTrials Series in
Toronto, Ohio, June 20-21. So
far, the Sherco USA rider is un-
defeated through eight rounds,
and is looking at a sweep of the
entire series if he can win the re-
maining two rounds in Wyoming.
Much like the week before
in Nebraska, heavy rains left
eastern Ohio heavily saturated
and after Saturday's round,
Smage called the event one of
the muddiest and slickest he'd
ever ridden.
"You couldn't rely on grip
anywhere it was so muddy,"
said Smage. "It was some of the
toughest conditions I've ridden."
On Saturday, Smage took a
small initial lead after posting a
19-point score for the opening
lap. This included a five at sec-
tion two where he hit the ground
so hard his helmet came off.
Smage's Sherco USA team-
mate Bryan Roper was not far
behind at the end of lap one with
a score of 18, while Cody Webb
was right there on his U.S.
Montesa-backed Cota 4RT.
Smage picked up the pace on
lap two, knocking 10 points off his
first lap total for a score of nine for
the lap, while Webb came in with
13 marks. Roper's card showed
24 points, while teammate An-
drew Putt began to move into the
podium picture after dropping 20
points for the lap.
Pat
clinched
eighth
National
Championship
