On The Pegs June 2019 - Volume 4 - Issue 6 | Page 130

On The Pegs 130 PAT SMAGE GOING FOR #11 After putting in a typical spectacular ride to win the Super Trial in Texas, Pat Smage took the time to talk to On The Pegs about his performance in the Super Trial and his thoughts on where he’s at in his program on the eve of the US National MotoTrials Series. It definitely feels great to start this way, with a win, especially with my lack of confidence the past few months, but now I know I’m where I need to be. To tell you the truth, I actually felt terrible the past month or more. Mostly a mental thing, but it was really getting to me and affected my riding a lot. Just second- guessing everything I was doing, and I’m seeing everyone else getting better and better. I put a lot of pressure on myself to keep progressing and this year I just wasn’t seeing it when I needed to see it. So I was really frustrated com- ing into this. I was just hoping that once the competition started, things would change. Your mindset changes practicing versus competing, and I get a little bit tired of practicing when the off-season is so long. Trying to push by myself is tough at times. So I came in without confidence, just not feeling that good. Before the event started I just kind of changed my mindset. Got on the new competition bike. Getting on a fresh bike is always nice. Everything works well. Everything is fresh and ready to go. So once it started I just changed my attitude. I guess that’s the big thing. It really helped. This event is far from a natural terrain event, but just judging by how I felt in these sections and certain spots, I think it’s just the competition that I was lacking and looking for. Seeing these guys step it up is just going to continue to push me to ride better during the events, so I think it’ll benefit everybody. They’re pushing me and they’re pushing to catch me. I think it’s going to be a fun year. They’re going be closer and closer. The longer the time goes on, the closer they’re going to get. You never know when it’s going to be the next guy’s time. Just going to enjoy this year and try to keep progressing if I can.