King Andrew

[ringo]

Tucker Ranch

Oldar Rules the Rockies

By Tim Holm

Cotopaxi, Colorado, May 26 , 27, 2007

Factory Sherco rider, Andrew Oldar, took the points lead with strong

performances at rounds one and two of the first ever 125cc US National

Trials Series held high up in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.

On Saturday, round one of the new 10 round series, Oldar rode a smart,

consistent trial to finish second overall to the more flamboyant, some

would say wild, riding style of Team Gas Gas rider Colton Haaker. Team

Beta up and comer, Ron Commo, rounded out the podium with a solid third

overall performance. These three riders separated themselves by over 20 points

from the rest of the field. They were all there to win, and it was apparent

this was going to be a long hard battle for the championship.

As evening set in there was an eerie quiet in the pits and the riders

hit the sack early to insure they would be rested and ready for what was

sure to be an intense competition at day break for round two.

With bikes prepped to perfection and poker faces intact, Oldar, Haaker,

and Commo took off on their first loop. All three were overflowing with

confidence and ready to challenge the treacherous terrain of the Rocky

Mountains. The opening round jitters were gone. A crisp fresh breeze was

in the air as the three athletes hit section one with total commitment.

Oldar: clean. Commo: two. Haaker: three. It was "game on". All the cards were

on the table. It was going to be a long, testing day of concentration and

endurance as these three warriors battled each other in an effort to

control their emotions and their machines.

At the end of loop one, they were only three points apart. Commo was up

one over Oldar, and Oldar was up two over Haaker; 23, 24, and 26 points

respectively. All three were grinding with 100 percent effort going into

each one of the 12 sections.

Loop two: same song, same dance, only this time around it was Oldar with

a slight two point advantage over Commo; 23 to 25. Haaker repeated his

loop one score with another strong 26 point loop.

The pressure was unbelievable going into the third loop. They were only

five points apart with one loop, twelve sections to go. Oldar cleaned

section one again, but so did Commo. Haaker slipped and got a five.

Section two proved to be the pivotal point of the trial. With a steep sandy off

camber hill covered with loose rocks as an approach to a launch rock,

the riders needed to maintain momentum, hit the kicker, and jump an uphill

gap to a large bolder just wide enough for their back tire to land on. Once

they got on the big bolder they needed to hold pressure and drop down

five feet off the other side. Endos in this section were plentiful. Haaker

regrouped nicely here only dropping two points. Commo scored a five. Now

it was Oldar's turn.

Oldar entered the section. As he approached the launch rock, he

hesitated, loosing his line and his momentum. Miraculously he maintained

his balance. Revving his 125 wide open, he started slipping the clutch

and inching his way up the nasty hill towards the launch rock. The sound was

deafening. It looked like it would be too little, too late, as Oldar

only had about three feet to go, and still not enough speed! Suddenly, with

determination bursting from his pours and his engine screaming, Oldar

let go of the clutch. His Sherco started violently roosting sand and rocks

in all directions when at last the spinning tire reached the kicker rock

and catapulted rider and bike up and completely over the next bolder! Down

into the dirt gully he flew. Spectators were blown away as Oldar gathered

himself, feet still on the pegs, and finished the section with a clean.

Riding a wave of confidence, Oldar went on to clean an astonishing six

out of the next seven sections. He finished the loop with just eleven

points and took first place for the day. Commo finished second place on

the day, eighteen points back of Oldar. Haaker finished third, one point

behind Commo. Oldar left Colorado with the series momentum and the points

lead.

[alan bechard]

COOL!

Nice read

[copemech]

You see there Al, Ringo actually included the credits in that post!

Is he turning soft or just getting old, like Craig?

[no jive]

Nice to see a post from Ringo. I was driving home the other day and thought what the _ _ _ _ happened to Ringo. Maybe he couldnt handle the severe verbal abuse Copey was throwing at him. Maybe Copey put him into therapy. I have heard Ringo is the sensative type.

Anyhow that was a great article and I really think the 125 class is a great class and happy the NATC put that class together. If you listened to the Trials Radio Show it sounds like Colton was never a threat.

Andrew will be a tough one to beat but Ronnie could pull it off also.

3 different brands of 125s at the top. Cant wait untill the next round.

Edited June 8, 2007 by No Jive

[ringo]

I miss you guys too! Therapy has been swell. I'm on step 11 and almost ready to go home but I keep getting hung up.

[ishy]

Give Paris a call Ringo, she has going home early dialed

[sirhc]

more flamboyant, some

would say wild, riding style of Team Gas Gas rider Colton Haaker.

What I'm surprised nobody has mentioned is that Colton has only been riding trials for 2 years!! and this was only his second national.

Knowing what Andrew can do and seeing what Colton could do on my last couple trips up north I figured they would be close. I have only seen Ronnie at the Youth Nationals, but from what I had seen I knew he would be in there too. I am not at all surprised by the results. Three good kids battling it out Good luck to them all for the rest of the season.

[bama]

more flamboyant, some

would say wild, riding style of Team Gas Gas rider Colton Haaker.

What I'm surprised nobody has mentioned is that Colton has only been riding trials for 2 years!! and this was only his second national.

Colton rode AZ as well as TN last year.