Here's the press release by Dan Brown (click photos to enlarge):

Sherco-mounted Cody Webb rode with a combination of precision and daring to capture the 2007 AMA/NATC Indoor Trials National Championship.

With the retirement of Geoff Aaron, the field was wide open and unpredictable. Eight contenders tackled the Ted Gansberger-designed course of man-made blocks, pipes, steps, and jumps with varying degrees of success in their attempts to qualify for the four man final.

Team ERE-Montesa rider Keith Wineland challenged Webb with a close ride in the qualifier, followed by a surprisingly strong performance by 17 year old Latin American champion Diego Ordonez of Guatemala on his Sherco and pre-race favorite Chris Florin of Florida on a GasGas. The more difficult layout used in the final separated the field with several spectacular crashes to the floor of the arena.

Webb rode with great confidence, using bold maneuvers including a leap from a steep incline across a large gap onto an elevated landing platform and a no-stop attack up a series of steps onto a tower section that stopped most of the riders. The enthusiastic crowd was treated to an exciting finish as the podium field was decided in the final two side-by-side race sections, which added the pressure of the race for points to a series of obstacles that were already difficult on their own.

These races were the motorcycle equivalent of a gunfighter showdown and lead to crashes in the first race by Ordonez and Wineland. Wineland suffered a race-ending injury to his hand as he was hit by his flying Montesa after a trip over the bars, handing third place to Ordonez. The more experienced Florin kept a cool head in the race sections and rode through the carnage to sneak up from fourth to take the second place podium spot. Webb had established his lead in the previous sections and rode confidently through the races to take the win and his first AMA Pro national championship.

Report by Dan Brown
Photos by Bill Ibsen

Day 3 results (PDF)

Updated 7/9 11:00 AM CDT: PDF for Day 3 updated with correct header and a small error in one of the classes corrected.

1. Cody Webb, CA, Sherco
2. Chris Florin, FL, GasGas
3. Diego Ordonez, Guatemala, Sherco
4. Keith Wineland, CO, Montesa

Photos/story to come.

Day 2 results (PDF)

Day 1 results (PDF)

UK-based TrialsCentral has an interview (text and photos) with Pat Smage after he won the 125 Youth Class yesterday at the Italian World Round.

And we have their permission to show this video (1 minute) of Patrick on the podium while the US national anthem is played.

The Pat Smage fundraising page on the Sherco USA website has been scrapped in favor of a more generic Trials World Fund. Here's the opening paragraph:

The Trials World Fund was formed to help American Youths wanting to travel to Europe and abroad to contest World Championships in Trials. Since the sport of trials does not get much corporate sponsorship, it needs the donations of trials enthusiasts like you to ensure America has a chance to contest World Trials Championships.

Show #8 (June 2007) of the podcast, On the Pegs, Motorcycle Trials World Radio is now available. It includes:

• 0-3:30: Opening remarks with show host, yours truly


• 3:30-31:15: News with OTP managing editor Dan Brown and guest interviewer Brad Baumert
  


• 31:15-52:10: Brad's interviews at the Tennessee Nationals with pro riders Pat Smage, Chris Florin, Cody Webb, Will Ibsen, Keith Wineland, and Diego Ordonez.


• 52:10-71:45: Brad's interviews at the Ohio Nationals with pro riders Pat Smage, Chris Florin (and Chris' minder Chad Kimbrell), Cody Webb, Bruce leRiche, and Will Ibsen


• 71:45-78:55: Dan's interview with Southeast Trials Riders Association (STRA) member Glenn McNeal.
  


• 78:55-81:31: Closing comments with our show theme song: Music, Motorcycles and Money by Gary Dean Jennings, courtesy of the Podsafe Music Network.

Miscellaneous show notes/links:

• MAV TV


• Trials World Fund (to help American youths wanting to travel abroad to contest World Championships)


• NATC results

Click play to listen. Drag the slider to the segment you want to hear. Or download the MP3. Or subscribe to the RSS feed. Or one-click subscribe with iTunes. You can also subscribe to the show's email alerts so you'll be notified via email as soon as we've published a new show/episode. See the On the Pegs homepage for the archives.

Tennessee audio addendum (21:59)

Brad Baumert's additional interviews of other riders and other people at the Tennessee nationals: Alex Bedley, Andrew Oldar, Brian Roper, Charlie Roberts, Colton Haaker, Connie Manning, Jim Gawn, Keifer Jacobson, Louise Forsely, Max Malsbary, Nick Mantzoros, Ron Commo, Terry Ansomo, and Todd Roper.

Ohio audio addendum (16:24):

Brad Baumert's additional interviews of other riders and other people at the Tennessee nationals: Brian Roper, Brock Sattlemeyer, Chase Harker, Colton Haaker, Laura Galbreath, Olivia Young, Ray Peters, Ron Commo, Sam Fastle, Stephanie Commo, and Will Altman.

We want your feedback... and ideas for what you'd like to us cover in future shows. You can email us via the TTC Contact Us page. Or you can attach a comment to the blog post for the show.

Our sponsors are: Gas Gas USA, Ryan Young Products, and Trials Competition Newspaper. We're grateful to Dale Malesek, Brad Baumert, and Shan Moore for their support.