Gas Gas USA's Chris Florin and Sherco USA's Bruce le Riche split wins at the final two rounds of the AMA/NATC National Trials Championships held in Alma, New York, August 6-7, while defending champ Geoff Aaron rode to a 3-2 finish after wrapping up a record ninth National Trials title at last week's round in Vermont.

With the title in the bag, Aaron tried to find the "Eye of the Tiger" in New York, but ended up with a mediocre finish, by his standards.

"I just put my head down and tried to have a good finish to the season, but with the pressure being off, I guess I didn't finish up as strong as I would like to," Aaron said. "But, this has been another awesome year for me and I am thrilled with the way everything has turned out for me and I am looking forward to next year."

With first overall a non-issue at New York, all eyes turned to the runner up position, where Florin and le Riche were engaged in a tight battle. The two riders went into the New York finale with only three points separating them and who ever came out with the best finishes would get the position. Since both riders took a win, it was their finish on the "other" day that decided the outcome and, in the end; le Riche's 2-1 finish outscored Florin's 1-3.

In the final standings, Aaron claimed the title by a 37-point margin over the South African le Riche, 286-249, with Florin in third with 244. Californian Cody Webb finished in the fourth-place position with 183 points, followed by Keith Wineland, of Colorado, with 177.