Shan Moore | June 11, 2018
2018 Tennessee National MotoTrials Results – At the halfway point of the 2018 AMA/NATC US National MotoTrials Series, it’s clear that Pat Smage has stamped his name all over the MotoTrials series, having swept rounds five and six of the schedule at the Trials Training Center in Sequatchie, Tennessee, June 9-10.
Pat Smage Wins Tennesse National MotoTrials
Building on a theme he established at the previous four rounds, the Sherco USA rider started with authority and finished with a strong push, posting relatively easy wins on each of the two days of the Tennessee National MotoTrials.
On Saturday, Smage bettered his scores on each successive lap, posting a total of five points for lap one, two points on the second lap, and one point for the final lap, making a total of eight for the day, topping the second-place finisher by a whopping 47 points.
Sunday’s event was like riding three different courses, with the first lap being run under dry conditions. A light rain moved in during the second lap making the sections slippery, but then the rain quit on the third lap, making the sections tricky due to some rocks drying up and others getting slicker from the mud getting dragged onto them. Despite the changing conditions, Smage still managed to go 13/16/8 on his three laps for a total of 37, which was 40 points better than second.
“The course was tricky even when it was dry, and I had a crash early on the first lap, which kind of unsettled me,” said Smage, winner of the Tennessee National MotoTrials. “When it started raining, it was like a completely different event. Some of the rocks were like ice and there was no traction at all. When the sections are super technical to begin with and then you throw in changing conditions, then that takes a lot of concentration. Overall, I had a few more mistakes than I’m happy with, but I had some good rides, too, so I have to be happy overall.”
2018 Tennessee National MotoTrials Results
Floridian Karl Davis Jr. was the surprise of the weekend. The Scorpa USA rider has been busy performing with Marvel Universe Live and hadn’t ridden a national in almost a year. However, after brushing off the dust, Davis finished a solid third on Saturday. He backed it up with an impressive runner-up finish on Sunday.
Davis went 26-14-17 for a total of 57 on Saturday for third and then 21-28-28 for a total of 77 on Sunday.
“I knew it was going to rain on Sunday, so I jumped out in front and tried to get through the sections before the rain hit,” said Davis, who made it all the way into the second lap before the rain hit. “I wasn’t really surprised with my finishes because I come into these events expecting to do well. It did take a few sections on Saturday to get in the swing of things.”
Gas Gas North America teammates Alex Niederer and Daniel Blanc-Gonnet picked up where they left off in their uniquely personal battle they’ve been waging in 2018, which has seen the two riders swap positions at each of the previous four rounds. In Tennessee, Niederer was second on Saturday, while Blanc-Gonnet was fourth behind Davis. However, on Sunday, Niederer edged Blanc-Gonnet by a single point to take third.
“It’s crazy, but we just always seem to be riding at about the same level,” said Niederer. He was behind Blanc-Gonnet heading into Sunday’s final lap, but managed to finish ahead by a single point.
Sherco USA’s Sam Fastle finished fifth on each day, with Beta USA’s Andreas Niederer claiming a pair of sixths.
2018 Tennessee National MotoTrials Results
SATURDAY
- Pat Smage (Shr) 8
- Alex Niederer (GG) 55
- Karl Davis Jr. (Sco) 57
- Daniel Blanc-Gonnet (GG) 64
- Sam Fastle (Shr) 80
- Andreas Niederer (Bet) 87
SUNDAY
- Pat Smage (Shr) 37
- Karl Davis Jr. (Sco) 77
- Alex Niederer (GG) 86
- Daniel Blanc-Gonnet (GG) 87
- Sam Fastle (Shr) 112
- Andreas Niederer (Bet) 126
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