The 2025 AMA/NATC National MotoTrials Championship Series came to a thrilling conclusion over the July 19-20 weekend at Lightning Raceway in Tippecanoe, Ohio. Known for its unpredictable weather, the venue lived up to its reputation, with heavy rain leading up to the event, making for a muddy, slippery challenge for the riders. As is often the case at this venue, the ground didn’t absorb water quickly, which left competitors bracing for tough, sloppy conditions.
Story & Photos by Stephanie Vetterly
The section designs for the final round emphasized technical riding with a few larger hits thrown in for added excitement. However, despite the rain, some sections dried out, providing riders with better traction in areas that received more sunlight. The mud, however, remained a constant challenge, forcing competitors to stay on their lines and avoid sliding off, which could result in costly mistakes and unnecessary points.
The weekend was filled with high stakes, as many riders were vying for crucial championship points. Among the front-runners were U.S. Montesa Honda’s Jorge Casales and Pat Smage, who had both been fighting for the championship throughout the season. FIM Trial2 riders Sondre Haga and Jarand Gunvaldsen, fresh off the previous weekend’s FIM TrialGP round in Rhode Island, stayed on to compete in Ohio and were warmly welcomed by fans and staff alike.
The Pro class saw some impressive rides despite the challenging conditions. On Saturday, Haga delivered a near-perfect performance, taking the win with only two points. Trials Superstore GasGas USA’s Josh Roper also impressed, finishing second with just 11 points, while Casales rounded out the podium with 17 points. The easier section conditions on Saturday led to a lower-scoring day, but small mistakes were still costly, as each point could make the difference between victory and defeat.
Sunday’s competition saw Casales shine, securing the win with an impressive single-point performance in the final lap.
“Yesterday was my nightmare, and today was my dream day,” explained Casales, who was also celebrating his birthday. “Yesterday, I rode very nervous. There was a lot of pressure, and I was thinking about the championship. Today, I tried to ride my own race and just enjoy myself. I’m grateful for my team and my family and everyone who makes this possible. I’m happy that I came over [to the U.S. to compete] and happy with the welcome from everyone in the championship and the fans.
“It’s hard to be far from home and speaking a language that, for me, is hard. I love America! I feel like a rider here. In Spain, trials looks like one small sport, but here, I feel like the people are talking to me with respect, and we are factory riders giving them a show.”
In the Women’s Pro class, it was a tight contest between Trials Superstore GasGas USA’s Maddie Hoover and Beta’s Alicia Robinson. Hoover managed to claim the win on Saturday by a narrow two-point margin, but on Sunday, Robinson was forced to withdraw from competition due to an ear infection.CN
2025 AMA/NATC National MotoTrials Round 7-8 Results
SATURDAY (Top 5)
- Sondre Haga (GG) 2
- Josh Roper (GG) 11
- Jorge Casales (Mon) 17
- Pat Smage (She) 17
- Ryon Land (She) 20
SUNDAY (Top 5)
- Jorge Casales (Mon) 1
- Sondre Haga (GG) 4
- Jarand Gunvaldsen (TRS) 8
- Pat Smage (She) 12
- Ryon Land (She) 25
