FREIXA, SMAGE TRADE OHIO MOTOTRIALS WINS
R
ounds five and six of the
2017 SWM US National
MotoTrials Series was held in
Garrettsville, Ohio, June 17-18,
where Montesa USA's Marc
Freixa and Sherco USA's Pat
Smage traded wins over the
course of the two-day event.
The competition couldn't have
been closer, with Freixa getting
the win on Saturday by a single
point, while Smage pulled off a
squeaker on Sunday, winning
on a tiebreak after the two riders
finished the event deadlocked at
eight points each.
SATURDAY
Saturday's event featured the
unique "Shootout" format, and
this was where the Pro class
was truly decided, since both
Smage and Freixa finished the
two preliminary loops clean.
The Shootout format has the
Pros ride two loops in the morn-
ing and then in the afternoon
they ride four spectator-friendly
sections two times each.
Sherco USA's Andrew Putt
went into the Shootout sitting in
third position after posting loop
scores of eight and two points.
Meanwhile, GasGas North
America's Bryan Roper was a
close fourth, though he held
third after the first loop with an
impressive one-point lap.
The first Shootout section
consisted of sand-covered rocks
on the side of a big ledge and
this section cost Smage dearly
when, after cleaning it on his
first trip through, sand from his
rear tire dislodged a marker after
he had already passed by it, giv-
ing him a five for the ride—a truly
unlucky occurrence. Freixa was
able to pass through clean on
both attempts and took the lead
by five points.
Section three was perhaps
the most technical of the four
sections and also included
some difficult steps and big
drops. Smage cut into Freixa's
margin by one point when he
posted a pair of cleans com-
pared to Freixa, who had a clean
and a one.
Section four was the most
impressive from a spectator
standpoint, with a series of nar-
IN
THE
WIND
P36
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
SHAN
MOORE
Marc Freixa came
out swinging in
Ohio by winning
the first day of
completion.
