northernnorm

We just got home after a tough but fun TTC/WTC and have to say Alexz rode and finished so much better than the rest of the 125s if that gap is sustained it would seem that his progress would be hindered if forced to stay in that forced bracket (age/cc) for very long . Yes the difference from the 125 scores and the NATC Experts was a huge shocker ,in USA defense Cody was right in the 4th slot on JR line so we have not been completely in the dust as many Brits want to believe. Wonderful experience we had even w/such slick conditions it was great meeting up with the Danby and Wiggy teams as much as was possible . Hate the fact its a year before it can happen again.

Yeah <lets get it on > if we start having more than 10 riders per class somehow the event course set up cresws will do a much more enthusiastic job IMHO

Hey GREAT photos,super terrain What a nice club to be involved in it looks like the young Sweeten kid has got some excellent form no doubt should be one of the top teens for America soon . Wondering about the points dropped ,when results are posted it means so much more to know how close the battles were.

About Sanz beating US Pros I feel unless a lot has changed w/ her riding over the last year she will fall in right where Ray Peters would normally be when he rode Pro,somewhere close to 5th place,as in Duluth when they were on the same line I think they were very close in points probably swapping wins against each other. She rides very well but probably has a little trouble with very difficult,larger things ,regardless the event will be a great one with many great riders,sounds like some of these posters would maybe want to be placing wagers like at a dog track? As far as what lines are being ridden by whom,now that it's too late to change I feel the NATC round should have been a week before or after and run by itself as usual . Many tough decisions ...

From the results in Florida it looks like Chris Florin will be hitting the podium hard all year . He is 1 of only a few riders ever to beat Aaron. He certainly seems the hungriest of the bunch (meaning determined and with a good amount of experience)only a few weeks to wait now.

I was wondering what kind of points were dropped by the Pros escpecially between the S African brothers that will be the battle of the year I would think.

Yes it is obvious Jordi and Gas Gas are the major force now and most likely for many years ,makes everyone else the underdog team. Waiting for the dvd to be available.Great job Raga great style and performances.

I agree the pilot is probably just got a bit of gunk in it be careful not to bend the float tab or put floats in wrong a new plug seldom hurts and Shercos need an occasional road gear run until rear silencer shoots sparks for a while a nd smokes like crazy

Sooner or later first he needs a passport a drivers license and a block of time w/ no school. That means August at the soonest . I am hoping to meet people at the USA World Round that live in the U.K. to get some relationships started . Would Atomant be coming over or Andy from TC . We have talked w/ the Conners and G. Jarvis but havent pryed as to where we should try to go for the best trials experience. I have also let the Webbs know that we are interested in doing a rnd or 2 of 125 WTC when the pcs. are in place as they have been over to Spain or ? competing already. I did some research as to where trials dealers are compared to airports and where events are held but still need more info. pm me if more appropriate w/ details thanks Again we will be at TTC up to a full week so anyone who knows which Brits are coming across fill me in please.(the week of the World Round )

I am also wondering about the results ,I sure thought someone who new someone that was there would have posted by now. As for as the smog factor we have found by riding indoors if you can keep the Gas Gas ers out the air stays much better ,not sure why but they do seem to spew alot more smoke than our Shercos. It helps to have the race fuel too it seems .

Hi we just got back from a long weekend snowboarding the Bohemia Bluffs great fun ,plenty of deep and steep stuff . First thanks Atom for putting the movie up ,it came out great I never get tired of watching his footage ,one of the cool things is he does 90% of the shooting and all the editing,plus much of this is already ancient ,some of the moves in our building are way better,I just sent the only disc I could find that was written. Smage is Latvian has soft a hard g hard e like smaaggy .We look forward to many events as most likely these youth will be the crop of riders for the next decade,many guys 20 to 26 and older are the prime participants,persistance and patience should pay rewards. Cheers All

Lets hope this poster is just trying to be funny. But whats not funny is the number of people wishing that trials was NO_STOP ,,tell me how do you get square and balanced and get the bike cleaned out to attack the 7 foot undercut ledge? Yeah thats right they have never tried it and may barely have a clue how,other thing is many of these folks are scoring for the World Riders even moving kickers out of sections for the 15 foot splatters .Its like hey they can do the impossible lets make sure it is (impossible).I think the stop w/ penalty was more about getting rid of the big straight rollbacks of the Jordi and Eddy Lejuene days .Now I think w/ the time limit the sections flow well enough to please spectators so why change? The hard part of scoring is how do you call a big slide sideways and backwards on a hard obstacle if the rider goes from the spot the bike settled from and gets over log or rock is that a 5? Even tougher is when the handlebar hits the ground its a 5 but leaning on a tree or rock face is a 1 at what angle does the bike or rock have to be before its a crash ???

A quick rundown of bikes Pat has ridden : in1999 got a beat up TY 80 then that winter got a 2000 Beta 50 (automatic and gutless but light and had brakes) bought a new GasGas 80 in 2001 (again gutless but great suspension and brakes) it became obvious he was into pushing to succeed and with a good number of Sherco 290's owned and ridden in our club that seemed like the bike easiest to come by used and also having myself and 2 to 3 of my boys all on the same bike, parts inventory would be easy. In 2002 he finished 2nd to Ronnie Commo splitting wins on day 1 and 2 and losing out on the 3rd day at the 3 day youth championships. In 2003 he won at 13 against several 15 yr old riders(Stevie Darrow and Andy Bowman were the closest comp, Will Ibsen missed that yr, was at Sherco Academy I think).03 was the first NATC ride in a very sloppy Pennsylvania event which he was about last place in the ES class,then in 2004 won the ES title and in 2005 finished 3rd in the NATC EXPERT division riding about at the level of Ex-Pro Travis Fox and a bit behind Ray Peters (except beating Ray when Ray rode a Beta 80 in Vermont for a crowd pleaser?) So yeah he has been on a 290 for a while and I see how jumping on a 125 may be tough, I see by a Ross Danby hillclimb clip that what is probably the biggest factor riding w/ so little power makes the rider develop incredible PATIENCE just having to stay balanced waiting and wondering if anything good will ever happed at the drive wheel ,man they abuse those little 125,s which is great if someone is taking care of it for you. Enough for now .

Yeah Hi I know the guy he is a woods bike enthusiast and has spent several long days spectating our man made outdoor stadium events. I don't recall his last name either but he did drag his young boy (maybe 8 yr old?) w/him and they showed high interest but are not regularly in contact or buying bikes yet. We do what we can here to try to get converts from MX and Enduro backgrounds to at least check out this sport.In this area land to ride on is a battle and trials at least is quiet and doesnt need large areas to practice. Our club largely rides on property owned by dairy farmers that happed to be members or related some how to a rider,one of the best riding spots was put into a Govt. conservancy and another is all big buck housing development .Do you ride and w/ what club?

Would anyone like to please inform me which of the many great under 20 yr old riders are planning to attend the USA WORLD ROUND. I am escpecially interested in meeting w/ riders and families who speak a little English.Also an idea of what dates of arrival are likely ,this would help my plans for when to head that way. With the first 6 NATC events held during our school year its a job to decide how much school Patrick can miss and still get his drivers license and passing grades that is one reason we are putting off till July or August any trips to Spain or G.B. Thanks ahead to anyone who takes time to read this and reply.

If Tony Bou is not allowed to contest full WTC/INDOOR series some problem w/ the rules needs fixing now. How can a board of men make him wait ,a rider w/ skills enough to win or even podium any WTC event is obviously up to par and should be part of the show. I would like someone who knows how the classification system works to eplain it please. What a year 06 should be w/ about 6 different riders realistically likely to score big points w/ overalls and podiums.

I would like to share that I share almost NONE of citytrials beliefs or style of dealing w/ people. I am not personally interested in bashing any current top riders in any way . Trials to me has always been about the personal challenge and ever increasing fullfillment when progress is made ,and of course the enjoyment of a semi-safe ,semi- low impact , somewhat low cost,family sport. The best riders are not built from funding but from an internal love and desire to excel. Noel Smage Hi Frank S. good to (see)you

Hi Pats dad here he will be 15 until 7/28/06 and our intent is to contest Pro class at Natc events on a SHERCO 290 in 06 and am very much trying to get to the Hawkstone and Spain rounds w/ a 125 bike traveling w/the Webbs if it works out. We are unfortunate to be in Southern Wisconsin where he cant really spend much time riding w/ riders who are as dedicated and intense as we would like so thats a definate issue for now. It is hard but not impossible to train w/ current Pro level riders . 06 should show that most likely Spain is still very much leading the charge . Does anyone know which riders will be doing the World indoor series? Too bad there isnt a day before the main event to let the next level(Jr class or125s even ) run the courses for a series. I also would prefer 2 day events at most WTC weekends to make travelling to them more worthwhile but I also like 10 to 20 mile loops at events which is not in the cards either . More later ,

Hey what happens when an American rides an AMA/NATC w/ a start time of 9:11? He has(I had) the worst rideof my life .

How pathetic our super scoop man has sent us precious little info on the event so far . Go Geoff Go Chavez kick butt team american trials guys..

Actually I have 2 2002 Shercos that if are not sold by then I would allow to be riden a bit if anyone is travelling w/o bikes. Our location is 1/2 way from Milwaukee to Beloit just off I 43 in rural Elkhorn.Anyone coming up through Chicago can use hwy 50 and US 12 to jog over to I 94 and then we are just 3 miles off that path.Plenty of time to think over the options . Bye

Hi trials riders, I live in southeast Wi 400 miles South of Duluth and would like to welcome anyone wanting to take a break from their trip either coming or going to the WTC a place to stop. We have a nice grassy area by farm pond and woods to camp and a pretty nice stadium trials practice area even an indoor riding spot . WOTA is holding a training day June 11 and a Dist 16 trials the 12th at our farm ,so if you want to really extend your vacation stop and help set up mid week and then ride the trials . E mail me if you have any interest at 6smagesbrayrd@elknet.net