PUTT POUNCES AT 46
TH
EL TRIAL DE ESPANA
F
or 46 years, El Trial de
Espana has been one of the
most prestigious non-national
Trials events in the U.S. And
since its inception in 1970,
ETdE has attracted some of
the best talent in the nation.
Past "El Trial" winners have
included world champion Adam
Raga and national champions
Geoff Aaron, Lane Leavitt and
Scott Head. This year's winner,
Andrew Putt, is most certainly
destined for a national title. In
fact, the 17-year-old is expected
to challenge eight-time national
champ Pat Smage during this
year's NATC/AMA US National
MotoTrial Championship.
ETdE was held April 16-17
near Lake Isabella this year,
north of Bakersfield, California,
where over 70 riders partici-
pated. Putt came into the event
battle-harden having just com-
peted in the X-Trial des Nations
in Nice, France and the Sherco
USA-backed rider used that
momentum to dominate the
competition, easily winning the
two-day event over up-and-com-
ers Daniel Blanc-Gonnet and
Sam Fastle.
On Saturday, Putt wasted little
time separating himself from
the field, losing just three points
total over the three-lap, 10-sec-
tion course.
Blanc-Gonnet, on the other
hand, was making his first start
on a four-stroke after switching
from a two-stroke during the
off-season, and got off to a slow
start. He seemed to smooth
out over the final lap, and the
Oregon native turned in a total of
45 points for the day.
Meanwhile, Sherco USA's
Sam Fastle entered the event
under similar circumstances,
having spent the last two years
IN
THE
WIND
P32
Andrew Putt took a big
win at the El Trial de
Espana in Keyesville,
California.
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
SHAN
MOORE
