The trials community celebrated the 50th running of the El Trial De Espana, which was held at the Moto Ventures facility in Anza, California, April 23-24, and hosted by the Southern California Trials Association. The event also was round nine of the SoCal Trials Championship and round two of the Conquer the West MotoTrials Series.
Photos by Photochalkboards
The El Trial de Espana was created in 1970 by trials enthusiast Fred Belair. The event started out as a fund raiser and a steppingstone event to help send American trials riders to Europe and compete on the world championship-level. Belair’s goal became a reality when Bernie Schreiber won the Observed Trials World Championship in 1979. Today, the El Trial de Espana raises funds to help send American riders to the Trials des Nations. This year’s ETdE raised approximately $4000.
A reported 130 competitors, from novices to pros, turned out for this year’s ETdE, including AMA National Champion Pat Smage, who was a favorite to take the win, but the Sherco rider ran up against a very determined Josh Roper. The two riders battled it out with the GasGas rider, Roper, outdueling the 2018 ETdE winner (Smage) to take the victory.
Daniel Blanc Gonnet was third aboard his GasGas. CN
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