words & photos : Steph Vetterly Kingman , AZ ( July 32-Aug 1 , 2021 )
Rounds 5 and 6 of the AMA NATC Mototrials National Championship saw GasGas ’ Miquel Gelabert take the win over AMA / NATC 11-time Champion FactoryONE Sherco ’ s Pat Smage , finishing each with a clean scorecard .
With a free weekend in between Trial GP competitions , Gelabert was afforded the opportunity to travel to the United States and experience trials in the beautiful mountains of the Hualapai Mountain Resort in Kingman , Arizona . Smage would maintain composure and secure a 2-2 finish on the weekend , with Arizonanative TRS ’ s Josh Roper take a confident 3-3 finish , no more than 18 points behind the Sherco rider on either day .
Located in northwestern Arizona , the scenery in the Hualapai mountains is unlike the stereotypical desert image . In addition to large rocks , hardpacked “ soil ,” scrub brush , and cacti , the location is completely surrounded by trees . The location is also 7,000 feet above sea level , which would prove to be a challenge for riders from areas of lower elevation such as
ON THE PEGS // PAGE 104