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The shootout sections were much enjoyed by all who attended. Many support riders greatly enjoyed the opportunity to see the top 5 Pro riders finish as a group in a setting where everyone could watch and know the score. There was a nice crowd Sunday, and even a good crowd of hardy folks who watched the shootout on Saturday in a pouring rain! The pro riders seemed to enjoy taking center stage for the shootout, and the feeling I got was that they really like this format. The guys at MavTV loved it, as it makes for great TV. Pat Smage was really on his game and put on a show, and all of the riders got enthusiastic applause from the many fans watching. The shootout scores were added to the scores from the 1st 2 loops to determine the final results, which came out the same each day. Results and total prize money for the 2 days was as follows: 1st Pat Smage, $2,000 2nd Cody Webb, $1,000 3rd, Will Ibsen, $600 4th, Keith Wineland, $400 5th, Ronnie Commo, $200 This format was my proposal to the NATC and was used as a one time test of the format. It will be the subject of discussion at the NATC meeting I'm sure, to see how people like it, whether it might be continued, and how it might be improved. I think the Oklahoma guys would like to do it next year. regards, dan brown p.s., MavTV is covering all the nationals on their network, which is available on Dish and many local cable systems if you get the sports/adventure package. The coverage is excellent, a one hour broadcast of each individual round which airs a couple weeks after. I just saw the 1st round of Nebraska last Friday, it was great. Now that it is on Dish satellite, anybody can get it. And if you do, be sure to tell the network that you got it because you enjoy the coverage of Trials. The Mav guys have inquired about trying to get the world indoors to broadcast in the states, I hope they can work out a deal for it.

Help! We need a language translator for the upcoming World Round in TN on April 26/27! Our FIM rep is from Italy but is said to speak French quite well. Officially, we are obliged to provide French and English translation, but our French-speaker in the STRA that helped before is unavailable so we need some help. Maybe some French Canadians could help out here. Italian speaker would be ideal, since our guy is Italian. Section inspection is on Thursday, April 24, so we need somebody who can be in TN on Thursday through Sunday for the section walk-thru and for Jury meetings & official stuff. thanks, dan p.s., we got a lot of photos and also a video preview of some of the sections on the website at www.trialstrainingcenter.com, check it out!

The AMA notary deal is intended to speed up signup at events so that you are on file with a release and you really won't need to sign one at the event. Of course if it's a trial with 30 guys that's hardly a concern, but most amateur AMA events end up with a long line at signup so I can see the overall benefit to the average member. My bank will notarize something for me without charge, so it's just the minor one time hassle to go by there sometime to do it.

Cody Webb 1st, Chris Florin 2nd, Big surprise Diego Ordonez from Guatemala was 3rd! Fantastic show and a good time was had by all. Cody was definitely on and riding extremely well, close race for 2nd among the other 3 finalists. Will Ibsen put in a good performance and should have made the final but crashed in the race and got bumped from the final 4 by a lucky Chris Florin. Keith Wineland was riding well and was 2nd going into the final races but crashed over the bars in the 1st race and the spinning rear tire injured his hand. He was unable to continue in the final race. Full report tomorrow, I'm going to bed. dan

Hey guys, lots going on and everybody is running full bore but here are the championship results: Youth A: 1. Josiah Mizell, 2. Andrew Oldar, 3. Karl Davis Jr. Youth B: 1. Chase Harker, 2. Ian Delaney, 3. Homer Hensley Youth C: 1. Matt Schubert, 2. Zeke Mizell, 3. Dean Bechard Youth D: 1. Ty Cullins, 2. Brooks Davis, 3. Luke Littlefield Youth E: 1. Douglas Dapp, 2. Joey Jackson, 3. Jacob Mizell other classes will be posted soon on TTC website. Friday course was on limestone side of the property towards the spring. Weather was warm & dry for the event, traction excellent, and then towards the end there was just a trace of a sprinkle but enough to affect traction on two of the sections with big limestone steps. Great BBQ last night in the pavillion. Today's event goes up Sawmill creek along the 1st 4 world round sections. Indoor tonight is looking good, riders are here & final details are being attended today. dan

What's all this about a press bib? In the middle of someone riding section 11 Saturday on the steep hillside that was section 2 of the world round, I see some clown in a press bib tumbling ass over teakettle down the hill (guess who!?!). Camera was saved, photographer seemed a bit dingy but I think he was already like that. Wish we would've had video. dan p.s. good job Craig

p.s., the first broadband show on the web airs at 9PM Thursday night, June 14.

TMavTV broadcast of the 1st two rounds of the series from Colorado will be coming very soon. I did the color commentary with Brian Drebber announcing. Rounds 1 and 2 will each be a separate 1 hr show, focused on the Pro class of course. Excellent video coverage in High-Def, if you are lucky enough to have the MavTV network on your cable system. If not, you are still in luck because the shows will be broadcast via broadband over the web, at the location & time shown below. If you miss the broadcast I think there's still a way to get video-on-demand later. Check it out, this is the dawn of a new day for televised coverage of our National Championship Trials! And don't forget to thank them for their coverage and to call or email your cable provider and tell them you want MavTV! They will have full coverage of the nationals this season, as well as some other AMA motorsports. Spread the word! http://www.mavtv.com/pages/public_motorsports.asp -dan brown

P.s., we discussed setting up a collection fund to help Pat go to Europe this summer, and Brad Baumert at RYP said he would do it. We'll start a collection at the STRA event at TTC this weekend (April 28/29). dan

I didn't get many photos as I was running the loop with Noel carrying water & shouting times to Pat (he didn't have a real minder!) Anyway, There's a few on the TTC photo album. My favorite of course is the podium girls, Pat only just made it into the view. dan

Pat will ride the youth class for 16-18 yr olds riding 125cc bikes. He has been practicing a lot on the 125 Sherco and looked good on it a few weeks ago at TTC. Bruce LeRiche and Keith Wineland and Pat were practicing together and Pat was riding the 125 and riding all the same stuff (and very well!). I think a podium finish is a very realistic goal for him, and I wouldn't be surprised if he finishes on a high step of the podium. No pressure, though, this is his 1st real competitive international event. Brad Baumert & I are going down to cheer him on! dan

Great weekend, with about 115 riders and everyone had a big time. Will get a blog up on the TTC website soon. Meanwhile, photos are available at: http://trialstrainingcenter.com/gallery/album04?page=1 dan

Stay tuned, interview with Pat recorded today & coming soon. Also many others, we're having a big time here at Training Days except it's so dry it's dusty and the rocks have too much grip! Fun time today, all the Pro riders showed off after lunch in the area around WR section 15. Chris Florin stole the show with a spectacular climb to a jump across a gap to a splatter that was pretty outrageous. Everybody having a fun time, 115 riders attending. I lead about 20 or so on an adventure ride to waterfalls & such and we had 3 or 4 survivors of that. dan p.s. citytrials is here, I'm surprised he hasn't chimed in and posted photos already. He has been pretty well behaved, Noel must be medicating him.

Ringo, Steve Ahlers has your press pass, swing by Duluth on your way over and pick it up.

In case you don't peruse the FIM press releases, I'll bring attention to the recent one at: http://www.fim.ch/sec/documents/f_4277.pdf which has the tentative 08 schedule. While it is preliminary, I'm told it's 99% certain at this point. It's ON! Late April is perfect spring weather in TN, sure to be water in the creek. Mark your calendar for April 26/27! dan