Gas Gas World Round Bikes
Dale Malasek at Gas Gas USA has informed us that he will have minder
and rider bikes available after the Tennessee World Round. Please
call Dale at (816) 741-7615.
Sherco World Round Bikes
Sherco USA will also have a few 2008 Sherco 2.8 minder bikes
available after the event at $800 below retail price. You can
contact RYP at (800) 607-8742, or check with your local dealer.
2008 Issue of MotoTrialsport Magazine
The
2008 Trialsport magazine is better than ever. Like last year, this
year’s issue is all color and includes bios on the top world and
national riders, as well as a wrap-up of the 2007 US National
Championship Series, which was won by Sherco’s Patrick Smage, and a
recap of the 2007 World Outdoor Championship, which was dominated by
Montesa’s Toni Bou. You will also find coverage of last year’s US
Indoor Championship event in Tennessee, plus all the latest trials
news, including who switched teams during the off-season and who got
what prestigious award. As usual, there is a segment devoted to the
US Support classes and the history of the sport in the US.
Click <HERE> for
additional information.
Trials des Nations Gets Sponsor
Kip Webb, manager of the U.S. Trial des Nations effort, has
announced a title sponsor for the 2008 team which will compete at
the annual team trials event this September in Belgium. “We are very
fortunate to have Specialty Welding Machine, located in Pampa, Texas
to support us,” said Webb. “Owners, Sid and Dawna Mauldin, have
graciously contributed a substantial sum to our TdN effort. The team
name and continued effort will now be referred to as the SWM/NATC
Trial des Nations Team. This corporate sponsorship is in line with
the current trend in marketing that is now prevalent in many
different sporting venues. Specialty Welding Machine will have the
option to use this name in advertising and for their business
development needs. “We are very excited to be working with Sid and
Dawna,” adds Webb. “They are long time Trials supporters and have
many good ideas that will help us to definitely achieve our Team
goals. It was important to put this deal together as it has been a
huge boost to our supporting fund. It also raises our level of
professionalism and our ability to attain the objective of continued
positive support for our young men and women’s TDN team members.”
Last year’s U.S. team finished sixth at the event on the Isle of
Man, the best ever finish for an American squad.
2009 Provisional World Schedules
The FIM has just convened its annual jury meeting for 2008 and has
released provisional schedules for the 2009 seasons, and
interestingly enough a US World round is on the outdoor schedule.
The following are the provisional dates for the 2009 season:
2009 Provisional Outdoor Calendar
April 4-5 - Bangor, N. Ireland or France
April 25-26 - Canon City, USA or France
May 17 - Carlisle, UK or France
June 6-7 - Twin Ring Motegi, Japan
June 21 - Barzio Milano, Italy or France
June 28 - St Julia, Andorra (also Ladies)
July 5 - Alicante La Nucia, Spain
Sept 13 - Andon, France (also Ladies)
Sept 19-20 - Trial des Nations - Darfo ...Boario Terme, Italy
(also Ladies)
2009 Provisional Indoor Calendar
January 3 - Great Britain or France
January 24 - Marseille, France
February 8 - Barcelona, Spain
February 14 - TBA, France
February 22 - Bielefeld, Germany
March 1 - Nice, France
March 7 - Milan, Italy or France
March 14 - Madrid, Spain
All dates/venues are PROVISIONAL and awaiting confirmation from
the FIM/Organizers.
2008 Ute Cup Set
The 2008 Ute Cup is set for August 17-18 at the Rainbow Trail near
Coaldale, Colorado. This year’s event is expected to be a good one
since the conditions are perfect due to heavy moisture through the
winter. There will be no pre-registration this year. Registration
will be at the staging area on Friday afternoon and evening and then
again on Saturday morning (early). Everyone is encouraged to stay at
Cutty’s Hayden Creek Resort which is 3/4 mile north of the staging
area (www.cuttysresort.net).
The forestry service camping is limited and costs $11.00 per day.
OHV stickers will not be required for the two days of the event.
However, if you plan to ride any other time or anywhere else you
will need to get one. Get one online at:
www.parks.state.co.us/registration.
Team Smage Press Release
It's been a whirlwind off-season for 2007 AMA/NATC Observed Trials
Championship and AMA Athlete of the Year Patrick Smage from Elkhorn,
Wisconsin. AMA District 16's little kid is now a 17 years old and
setting his sights globally in 2008. Patrick Smage will contest the
entire FIM World Trials Championships, starting in Ettelbruck,
Luxembourg at the end of March - and ending the ten round
world tour at Castelloli, Spain in September.
Last year Patrick rode five of the 12 World Rounds, with two
first place finishes, two third place finishes and a over-all 6th
World place ranking in the FIM 125 Youth Championships. This year,
Patrick, who's been dubbed by the European Press as "America's
Wunderkid" has his eye on the top World spot. To say it's been
awhile would be a understatement. The last American to win a World
trials title was Bernie Schreiber in 1979. Pat will spend few weeks
in Spain at the Joan Pons Sherco Academy. He's been there a week
already. Pat competed in his first Spanish National last weekend,
finishing by his own admission, a disappointing 11th place in the
TR2 class. He will be home mid-March for the Sooner Cup in Oklahoma
and spend time with the family for Easter before heading back to
Spain and stay with David Chavez.
Keeping with the global theme, Pat will fly back to the United
States to contest the non-conflicting U.S. National Trials rounds,
hoping to defend his 2007 title. He will be mounted on a specially
prepared Paxau Sherco 125 for the World Rounds and his RYP Special
Sherco 2.9 for the AMA Nationals.
Brad Baumert, has set-up Pat's personal blog so everyone can keep
track of his World adventures. Also, we would humbly like to request
any monetary donation to help off-set the huge costs to attempt the
entire World series. With the exchange rate at its current high
level, your donation to his effort to be a World Champion is very
much appreciated. After all, this isn't just for Patrick. This is
for America!
Donate link:
http://www.trialsworldfund.com/new.cfm?trigger=ps&who=r1
Pat's blog link:
http://www.trialsworldfund.com/new.cfm?trigger=pblog&who=r1
Any Questions. Contact: GPI - Craig Gernhardt (Chicago, Il.
773-988-8997)
Gas Gas News
Gas Gas Usa would like to announce its Pro team members for 2008:
Returning again for this year is veteran rider, National #3,
Chris Florin, from Florida. He will be joined by two exciting, young
riders, Will Ibsen, from Atlanta and Colton Haaker, from Sacramento,
California. This is Will's second year in the Pro class, finishing
in 4th place last year. Colton won the Expert 125 class last year
and moved up to ride the last two rounds in New Mexico in the Pro
class to finish out the season. He is also a very talented Enduro/MX
rider, finishing 4th overall in the Maxxis EnduroCross championship
in Las Vegas last November. In addition to riding the National
Trials Championship this year, he will also be competing in various
Enduro and MotoCross events this year including the very grueling
Last Man Standing event where he placed 12th overall last year. GAS
GAS USA will be sponsoring him in these events aboard a new GAS GAS
MC250.
Another very talented rider to join the GAS GAS team is Louise
Forsley, the #1 National Women's champ. We are looking forward to
working with her to improve her riding skills both here nationally
and in European competition. New to the GAS GAS team this year is
veteran 50 rider, Curt Comer, who will be riding a GAS GAS 280 Pro
in National Trials competition. In addition, he is also competing on
a GAS GAS EC250 Enduro model in the National Enduro circuit and a
Honda in the Dirt Track National Grand Championship. Curt has the
ultimate goal of being the first triple crown winner in Trials,
Enduro and Dirt tracking if he wins his class in each category.
The 2008 RAGA REPLICA will be available again this year in
June/July. I think this year's production will be one of the best,
as it will offer the new, red frame that Adam Raga is using now, as
well as more refinements that will be on the '09 standard models. I
can only get 30 of these RAGA models, so if you are interested,
please put an order in with your dealer soon. We are also planning
on having Shaun Morris, a top world ranked rider from England, who
was here for a few national events last year in the Exhibition
Class, to come over to give some riding schools for the public and
provide training for our Pro riders. Right now dates are unconfirmed
for the schools but if you are interested in attending a school or
riding with Shaun, please contact GAS GAS USA at 816-809-8404.
Also, a very warm welcome and sincere thanks to all the other GAS
GAS riders out there!
See you on the loop,
Dale Malasek, GAS GAS USA
MotoVentures Opens Web Site Store
MotoVentures (MV) has just added a “Dirt Rider Department Store” to
their award winning web site. Their store features easy navigation
for shoppers to browse through ten different and unique departments:
1) Gift Certificates 2) MV Apparel 3) Motorcycle Accessories 4)
Rider Accessories 5) Instructional Products 6) Trials Goodies 7)
Trials Motorcycles 8) Used Motorcycles 9) Stickers and Stuff 10)
Garage Sale. The store was created as a convenience for MV Tours,
Training and Trials customers who want products before and after
riding with MV. MotoVentures is an authorized dealer for many top
brands of motorcycle parts and accessories. In addition to many
popular brands and products, they feature specialized products like
trials goodies, exclusive MV apparel, instructional books and DVD’s,
riding gear essentials and used motorcycles. “Our new web store
features high quality products we count on to provide and compliment
our high quality services, so it was only natural to make them
available to our customers, too, who can expect the same level of
service from sales that they have come to know from our services,”
says Gary LaPlante, President/Owner of MotoVentures. For info go to
the web site at
www.motoventures.com.
2008 ITSA Schedule
The 2008
International Twin Shock Association's North American
Championship schedule, Southeast ITSA schedule, and the Midwest ITSA
schedule have been set.
The ITSA North American Championship will consist of four (4)
rounds. All four rounds count towards the championship:
- Rounds 1 & 2 are in Marion, IL on June 7th & 8th
- Rounds 3 & 4 are in Dickson, TN Sept 28th & 29th
ITSA's Midwest Championship Series is as follows:
Apr 20 - Cuba, MO- May 10 - Cape Girardeau, MO
- Jun 7/8 - Marion, IL
- Sep 27/28 - Dickson, TN
- Oct 25 - Marion, IL - TENTATIVE.
ITSA's Southeast Championship Series is as follows:
Mar 30 - Palmyra, TN (Seminar Mar 29)- May 18 - Goodlettsville, TN (NEW TRIALS AREA)
- Jun 7/8 - Marion, IL
- Jul 13 - Lenoir City, TN
- Aug 17 -Greeneville, TN
- Sep 27/28 - Dickson, TN
- Nov 15 - Dickson, TN (Final 2008 event with awards banquet
afterwards)
- 2009 Round 1 ITSA SE Series - Nov 16, 2008 - Dickson, TN.
Gas Gas USA Importing Enduro Models
Gas Gas USA, Inc. announces that it is the new importer of the Gas
Gas Enduro/MX line of Motorcycles and Quads. For more than 18 years,
Gas Gas USA, Inc. has imported and distributed the Trials line and
will now be the sole US importer of the complete line of Gas Gas
motorcycles. GoFasters, a company from Ortonville, MN, will be the
parts distributor for the Enduro/MX Motorcycles and Quads. In
addition, they will provide technical, warranty and racing support
in their role as a partner company with Gas Gas USA, INC. They are
very involved in Enduro/MX and Cross Country competition and have
been supporting the Gas Gas official factory team in World Enduro
Championship (WEC) rounds in North America. Rising Sun Imports, who
has partnered with Gas Gas USA, Inc. for more than 18 years with
parts distribution, warranties and technical support for the Gas Gas
Trials line, will continue in this very important role. They are
recognized around the world as one of the best experts and sources
of Gas Gas Trials parts and technical information. We, together with
our dealer network, will continue to expand Gas Gas recognition and
support for our customers and riders by offering top quality
products, along with professional and efficient service and parts.
2008 Sherco & Scorpa National Contingency
Program Announced
Ryan Young Products, importer of the Sherco and Scorpa brands in the
U.S.A., is pleased to announce details of their 2008 AMA/NATC
National Event Contingency Program. Riders in any AMA/NATC National
class who purchase and participate in all six of the rounds on a
2008 Sherco or Scorpa will receive $300.00 in RYP bucks. The RYP
bucks can be used for any RYP item including OEM parts, clothing,
accessories or lubricants. Registration is easy. Go to the RYP pits
at round one in Colorado and let them know you are planning to ride
all six rounds. They will record your VIN and you are registered to
receive the contingency. With just two locations in the 2008 series,
RYP is looking forward to great rider participation. In addition to
the contingency, RYP will be at each round
with spare parts, food, fuel, and fun for all Sherco and Scorpa
riders. For more information, call the guys at RYP at
1-800-607-8742.
2008 AMA/NATC National Schedule
The annual meeting of the North American Trials Council (NATC)
concluded on Sunday October 28, 2007 with a new, condensed national
schedule for the coming USA National Trials season in 2008. “The 2008
competition year will have a six (6) round series, making it easier
for all to attend multiple national events. They are to be held at two
world-class trials locations, each using a three (3-day) format,”
noted Brian Behling, NATC C.E.O. This six event series staged at only
two locations, (Canon City, Colorado, and Spirit Mountain, Duluth,
Minnesota), will enable the Importer Pro-teams and National Trials
competitors to plan their calendars to make these two sites in 2008.
“It will dramatically reduce travel costs; even with the increased
entry fees for ‘08, this lower event count will be good for all,” said
Behling. “We are excited by the initial response from the trials
community on the 08 series and feel it will be good for the long-term
growth of the sport.”
2008 AMA/NATC National Schedule
Rounds 1, 2, & 3: May 24, 25, 26, 2008 (Memorial Day Weekend) Canon
City, CO
Info:
www.coloradotrials.org.
Rounds 4, 5, & 6: August 22, 23, & 24, 2008 SPIRIT MOUNTAIN, Duluth MN
Info: www.umta.org
or
www.natctrials.org
Pros count all six, Support classes count 5 of 6 count for overall
championship.
