Shan Moore | April 23, 2018
MotoTrials New Mexico Results 2018 – Pat Smage took the first step towards claiming a record-tying 10th U.S. National MotoTrials Championship by sweeping the opening two rounds of the AMA/NATC U.S. National MotoTrials Series in Roswell, New Mexico, April 21-22. The Sherco USA rider easily outdistanced the competition on each of the two days of competition, leaving little doubt that the 2018 title is his to lose.
MotoTrials New Mexico Results 2018
The New Mexico event was held in desert terrain northeast of Roswell, and consisted of steep, sandy climbs and tight lines over huge sandstone boulders. The sections were technical but the markings were relatively open, giving the riders more than one option at the bigger obstacles.
Smage kicked off Saturday’s event by reeling off eight-straight clean rides to start the first lap. His run of perfection ended in section nine, however, when he was unable to master the massive three-step wall at the exit.
Finishing out the lap, Smage added a single dab in section 12 to the five he collected in section nine, which made for a total of six points for lap one. On lap two, Smage was able to get through section nine with just three points this time. Adding another dab in section 12, Smage was able to drop is second lap total to just four. He did one better on the final lap by turning in a three-point score card, giving him a grand total of 13 points for the day, which was 33 points better than his closest rival, and more than good enough for the overall win.
“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. As the day went on I warmed up and started making some solid rides.”
While Smage breezed to the win, a fierce battle for second emerged between North America GasGas teammates Daniel Blanc-Gonnet and Alex Niederer. Niederer held the upper hand after lap one with a total of 13 points, compared to 21 points for Blanc-Gonnet. On lap two, Blanc-Gonnet was able to trim 10 points off of his score, while Niederer’s second-lap score ballooned to 20. At that point, Blanc-Gonnet held a one-point lead over Niederer heading into the final lap. Both riders suffered fives in section 11 and after three laps, Blanc-Gonnet wound up securing the runner-up slot with a total of 46, while Niederer settled for third with 50.
Sherco USA’s Sam Fastle finished the day with 73 points to finish fourth ahead of Scorpa USA’s Quinn Wentzel with 88 and Alex Niederer’s brother, Andreas, riding for Beta USA, with 99 points.
MotoTrials New Mexico Results 2018
Smage kept his hot streak going on Sunday by cleaning the entire first lap. Smage added more of the same on the second lap, and entered the third and final lap with a real chance of cleaning the entire event. That notion was quickly squelched in the second section when a rock that Smage was using to launch up a giant ledge became dislodged, sending the Sherco rider to the ground.
Smage remounted and cleaned the remaining 10 sections, finishing the day with a grand total of five points for win number two on the season.
“At least it didn’t cost me the win,” Smage said about the five in section two. “I was in a pretty good zone all day. [Section two] was just one of those things that happens.”
Niederer got the jump on Blanc-Gonnet on Sunday, bettering his rival’s score by three points on the first lap and by four points on lap two. Blanc-Gonnet was able to make up three of those points on the final lap, but it was not enough to beat his teammate and Niederer claimed the runner-up slot with a total of 26 points. The finish marked the Florida resident’s best finish in the pro class.
Blanc-Gonnet settled for third with a total of 30, while Fastle and Andreas Niederer rounded out the top five with 55 and 79 points, respectively.
Quinn Wentzel was sixth with 80 points.
SHAN MOORE
MotoTrials New Mexico Results 2018
Roswell, New Mexico
RESULTS: April 21-22, 2018
SATURDAY
- Pat Smage (Shr) 13
- Daniel Blanc-Gonnet (GG) 46
- Alex Niederer (GG) 50
- Sam Fastle (Shr) 73
- Quinn Wentzel (Sco) 88
- Andreas Niederer (Bet) 99
SUNDAY
- Pat Smage (Shr) 5
- Alex Niederer (GG) 26
- Daniel Blanc-Gonnet (GG) 30
- Sam Fastle (Shr) 55
- Andreas Niederer (Bet) 79
- Quinn Wentzel (Sco) 80
Click here for complete results.