TrialsUSGP.com, the web site for the 2008 Wagner Cup, is now up.

The event, also known as the United States Grand Prix (USGP), World Trials Championship, will be held on April 26-27, at the Trials Training Center (TTC) in Sequatchie, Tennessee.

See the right sidebar on the site to subscribe to the Wagner Cup blog via RSS feed or email.

Congratulations to the U.S. Men’s and Women’s TDN teams, each of whom had an excellent result and finished 6th overall in the 2007 Trials des Nations held at the Isle of Man. Our men’s team has a very youthful look, with veteran Chris Florin (GasGas) leading three teenagers including Cody Webb (Sherco) and newcomers Pat Smage (Sherco) and Will Ibsen (Scorpa). The U.S. Women’s team was represented by Louise Forsley (Sherco) and Sara Duke (GasGas).

See the FIM reports on the Men’s results and Women’s results on Trials Central.

Photo by Bill Ibsen. Click to enlarge.

I’ve found that the best way is to:

1. From the homepage, click the Watch Now navigation tab at the top

2. At the bottom of the Watch Now page, select the Motors channel.

3. Click the ’search’ link in the right sidebar and type ‘trials’ in the search box

4. Select one of the trials shows on right sidebar; use the internal scrollbar to see them all.

Show #9 (July/August, 2007) of the podcast, On the Pegs, Motorcycle Trials World Radio is now available. It includes:

• 0-2:55: Opening remarks with show host, Griff Wigley
• 2:55-29:15: News with OTP managing editor Dan Brown and interviewer Brad Baumert
• 29:15-54:15: AMA Indoor Trials National Championship interviews: Dan Brown, Diego Ordonez, Chris Florin, Cody Webb, Phil Smage, Bruce LeRiche, Keith Wineland, Will Ibsen, Kip Webb, Ted Gansberger.
• 54:15-1:10:00: NATC rounds 7 and 8 interviews in Donner, California: Cody Webb, Pat Smage, Will Ibsen, Keith Wineland, Andy Johnson, Geoff Aaron, Howard Galbreath, Bill Markham, Mike Harker.
• 1:10:00-1:43:00: NATC rounds 9 and 10 interviews in Sipapu, New Mexico: Chris Florin, Cody Webb, Pat Smage, Bruce LeRiche, Will Ibsen, Colton Haaker, Shaun Morris, Noel Smage.
• 1:43:00-1:45:00: Closing comments

Cody Webb (Sherco) took 2nd place and Chris Florin (GasGas) took 3rd. Year-end results for all classes here (PDF) on the NATC site.

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

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.
• Closing comments

Show #7 (May 2007) of the podcast, On the Pegs, Motorcycle Trials World Radio is now available. It includes:

• 0-2:50: Opening remarks
• 2:50-26:30: News with OTP managing editor Dan Brown and guest interviewer Brad Baumert
• 26:30-76:30: Brad’s interviews at the Colorado Nationals with Adrian Lewis, Bruce LeRiche (day 1 and 2), Chris Florin (day 1 and 2), Cody Webb (day 1 and 2), Colton Haaker, Geoff Aaron, Kerry Williams, Louise Forsley (day 1 and 2), Nick Mantzoros (day 1 and 2), Pat Smage (day 1 and 2), Ron Commo, Ryan Young, Andrew Oldar, Andy Saum, Larry Lund, and the guys from MAV TV.
• 76:30-78:14: Closing comments

Show #6 (Special Guatemala World Round Edition, April 2007) of the podcast, On the Pegs, Motorcycle Trials World Radio is now available. It includes:

• 0-1:30: Opening remarks with show host, yours truly
• 1:30-15:10: News with OTP managing editor Dan Brown
• 15:10-39:45: Dan’s Guatemala World Round interviews including Pat and Noel Smage, Allajandro and Diego Ordonez, Alexz Wigg, Michael Brown, Bill Matheson, Martin Lampkin, and miscellaneous spectators, observers, and scorers.
• 39:45-41:37: Closing comments