![]() ![]() “I was a little shaky early on,” said Smage. Roper kept his sights set on the win, and turned in another clean loop card, putting his final score at only a single point to Smage’s two.įactoryOne Scorpa’s Alex Myers also had a solid ride, with 3-4-2 loop scores putting him in third place with only nine points dropped on the day. Unfortunately for Smage, the section bit him again when the rocks he had used as markers in the section on his clean loop were no longer in the same place. Defending champ Pat Smage came back to win round two on Sunday. Smage took a dab in a side-hill off-camber turn, but would return triumphant (and clean) in the second loop Roper took a single point in the second loop, meaning that the event came down to the final loop. On the first loop of the day, Roper returned to the pits with a clean scorecard, taking no dabs in any of the 12 sections. While the possibility of failing a splatter or double-step is less likely, a single dab could cost the top step of the podium. While the sections for Saturday’s competition were described by some as being slightly more on the “easy” side, a low-scoring day provides its own stress. The rocks and hills that comprised the sections are the result of the property’s history as a phosphate mine. More than 100 riders were present, competing in 12 sections on a 5.5-mile loop that ran around the perimeter of the property’s lake. Near 100-degree temps meant proper hydration and nutrition would be imperative to not only placing well, but simply finishing. Promise Ranch, a 1300-acre family-run cattle ranch located in Center Hill, Florida, played host to the opening weekend, which was organized by the Florida Trials Association (FTA). Smage would retaliate on Sunday, leaving the two riders tied in overall championship points. Josh Roper captured his first career NATC MotoTrials win at the season opener in Florida. GasGas’s Josh Roper got off to a strong start in the 2023 AMA NATC National MotoTrials Series by winning his first Pro-class event on opening day over 13-time National Champion, FactoryOne Sherco’s Pat Smage. ![]()
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