On The Pegs May 2018 - Volume 3 - Issue 5 | Page 87

On The Pegs
Vol. 3 Issue 5 - May 2018
P 87
The 2018 AMA/NATC US National
MotoTrials Series got underway this
weekend with the opening two
rounds of its 10-round schedule
near Roswell, New Mexico, where
nine-time national trials champ Pat
Smage established himself as the
man to beat in 2018 by taking a pair
of decisive victories.
The Sherco USA rider rode with
skill and precision on the loose
climbs and demanding sandstone
boulders that made up the event,
winning Saturday’s event by 33
points and Sunday’s by 21 points.
Thirty-five mph winds blasted
the area on Friday as competitors
from all over the country converged
on Roswell for the series opener.
However, by Saturday morning the
winds had subsided and nearly a
hundred riders took to the eight-
mile, 12-section course, which was
be ridden three times each day.
On Saturday, after seven hours of
competition and 36 scored rides,
Smage produced the low score in
the Pro division with a total of 13
points, easily giving the Wisconsin
native the first win of the 2018 sea-
son. Smage bettered his score with
each lap, posting 6 points on lap
one, 4 points on lap two and 3 on
the final lap.
“It’s good to get a win right out of
the gate,” said Smage. “I was a little
shaky in the morning, but I was able
to clean it up after a few sections. At
the end of the day I’m pleased with
how I rode.”
With Smage seemingly riding at
an untouchable level, North Ameri-
ca GasGas teammates Daniel Blanc-