SMAGE WINS AGAIN
P
at Smage took another big
step in his quest for a 10th
U.S. National MotoTrials Cham-
pionship with a pair of wins at
rounds three and four of the
AMA/NATC U.S. National Mo-
toTrials Series in Texas Creek,
Colorado, April 28-29. The
Sherco USA rider competed with
focus and discipline for most
of the two-day event. However,
a mental lapse on lap two of
Saturday's round, resulting in two
fives, required a mental reset by
the Wisconsin rider that ulti-
mately produced a near-perfect
one-point lap on the final tour of
the course.
The Colorado round is typi-
cally one of the more demanding
venues on the schedule and the
2018 event lived up to its reputa-
tion by featuring giant granite
climbs and drops, combined with
tight and technical markings.
Throw in power-grabbing altitude
(the event started at 6500 feet
in elevations) and you have an
event that can make even the
toughest of competitors crumble
under the pressure.
Smage kicked off the event
cleaning the first three sections
of the first lap. The Sherco rider
took a point in section four when
the one-way valve on his fuel vent
tube stuck, causing the engine to
starve. Recognizing the problem,
Smage was able to yank the
vent tube off the fuel tank while
maintaining his balance. He then
completed the section as fuel
spewed onto his face.
Smage completed the first lap
with just four points lost. On lap
two, his score ballooned to 11
when he took a pair of fives and
a single point. After having a "talk
with himself," Smage managed
to compete the final lap needing
only one dab, which was remark-
IN
THE
WIND
P40
Pat Smage
doubled up again
in the 2018 U.S.
National MotoTrials
Championship in
Colorado.
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
SHAN
MOORE
