WORLDS TOUGHEST RACE SERIES
GEICO ENDUROCROSS OPENER
Story and Photos By Winged Nut & Associates
Arguably, America’s best race action series got underway in the air-conditioned comfort of the Orleans Arena, located in America’s gambling mecca-Las Vegas. Of course, outside the temps hovered at around 112 degrees.
This made for some heated racing, where the riders were much cooler on the track, then they were outside in the scorching pits. The opening race saw defending Geico Endurocross champion, Red Bull/KTM rider Taddy Blazusiak, take the win ahead of multi-time Trials champ, Geoff Aaron, aboard his Christini backed KTM. Look for the battle between these two riders to heat up as the season heats up.
Following the two top KTM riders to the podium was ZipTy Racings Husqvarna mounted Cory Gaffunder. Cory edged out another KTM racer, FMF’s Mike Brown, for the final podium spot at the end of the nights racing racing.
A gaggle of Kawasaki’s were next, with Justin Soule, Gary Sutherlin, Kyle Redmond, Jamie Lanza, and Destry Abbott filling in the remaining top spots. A disappointed Cody Webb filled out the tenth spot on his Gas Gas racer, after a gaff in the water hole, kept him off the podium.
MISSING IN ACTION
Since the very nature of Endurocross racing is that nothing is certain, some of the top prospects for the new season were missing in action at the series opener in Las Vegas. Kawasaki’s 2008 Endurocross champ, Ricky Dietrich, had to view the action from the sidelines, as he didn’t make the cut to the main event.
Another top prospect, last years Junior champ, Colton Haaker, who can always be counted on for putting in some spectacular rides, also had to sit on the sidelines, after a chain derailment put him out of the running.
Regardless, the racing action was hot, furious and kept the throngs in attendance anticipating who was going to cross the finish line first. Next stop on the tour is the
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- Taddy Blazusiak (111), Geoff Aaron (2), Kyle Redmond (6), Corey Gaffunder (118), Destry Abbott (38), and the rest of the pack, head into the Orleans Arena first turn for the main event final at the Geico Endurocross opener. The race was a nail-biter, right up to the finish.
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- While ZipTy Husqvarna Racings Cory Graffunder gets interviewed on the podium, overall winner Taddy Blazusiak (left) acknowledges a fan in the crowd. Euro machines dominated the first round of the Geico Endurocross standings, taking the top four finishing positions in Vegas.
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- Red Bull Racing KTM mounted Taddy Blazusiak started his defense of his Endurocross title in fine style with a win at the series opener in Las Vegas. Taddy and his Katoom look to be the odds-on favorites to repeat his championship in this toughest of off road series. Of course, in Endurocross, nothing is ever certain.
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- Pitting riders against all forms of obstacles is what makes Endurocross such an exciting event to watch. The track included monster truck tires, giant logs, a slick drop-away stream crossing, and most difficult of all….a boulder-strewn rock garden. Here you can see Geoff Aaron out ahead of Taddy Blazusiak in the main event final. Hot on their footpegs areJamie Lanza, Kyle Redmond, Cody Webb, Cory Graffunder, Justin Soule, and Mike Brown.
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- The Orleans Geico Rock Garden was, literally, the downfall of many of the nights top pros. Here Cycle World magazine test rider, Ryan Dudek, biffs his Kawie in this treacherous section of the track. Jason Argubright (911) manages to amble through, while Gary Sutherlin (10) prepares to wheelie over the new obstacle (Dudeks bike), and Ron Commo (22) looks for a way around the whole mess.
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- Team Kawasaki Monster Energy riders Destry Abbott (38) and Kyle Redmond (6) battled all night long at the Vegas Endurocross event. Kyle ended up taking seventh overall, with Destry finishing ninth.
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- Husqvarna mounted Cory Gaffunder put his ZipTy Racing Husky out front early in his heat race. Cory worked his way through the pack in the main, to take a well deserved third overall at the Orleans Endurocross. Look for Cory to give the KTM and Kawie riders fits in the coming weeks in this ultra competitive series.
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- Mike Brown was on the gas in the main event, and took his FMF powered KTM to the fourth spot in the Geico opener, after a lackluster start. Look for Mike to work his way up the podium as the series progresses.
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- The Monster Energy trophy girls were a site for sore eyes (or even not so sore eyes) at this event. Form fitting pants are nice, especially with these particular forms.
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- With jam-packed racing action, from start to finish, the Geico Endurocross Series is one of the best venues for spectator viewing in off road racing. This is one series that the saying….”It ain’t over, till its over,” does ring true.
Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Oklahoma.
2010 Las Vegas EnduroCross Expert Class results:
1. Taddy Blazusiak KTM
2. Geoff Aaron Christini KTM
3. Cory Graffunder Husqvarna
4. Mike Brown KTM
5. Justin Soule Kawasaki
6. Gary Sutherlin Kawasaki
7. Kyle Redmond Kawasaki
8. Jamie Lanza Kawasaki
9. Destry Abbott Kawasaki
10. Cody Webb Gas Gas
11. Kevin Rookstool KTM
VET PLUS 35 RESULTS:
1. Martie Wells….Kawasaki
2. Steve Leivan…Yamaha
3. Adam Booth…Kawasaki
4. Trent Sandoval….KTM
5. Mark Blackman…KTM
TRAILCROSS RESULTS:
1. Phil Smage….SHR
2. Ryan Sandoval…Gas/Gas
3. Mike Damm….Gas/Gas
4. Max Gerston….KTM
5. Clive Belvoir…SHR
OPEN AMATEUR RESULTS:
1. Ryan Sandoval…KAW
2. Harrison Oswald…KTM
3. Ian Blythe….KTM
4. Max Gerston…KTM
5. Justin Ross…KTM
DASH FOR CASH RESULTS:
1. Phil Smage…SHR
2. Harrison Oswald…KTM
3. Steve Leivan…YAM
4. Ryan Sandoval…KAW
5. Ian Blythe…KTM
COMING EVENTS:
Aug. 14…Lazy E Arena, Guthrie, OK
Aug. 27…Pepsi Coliseum, Indianapolis, IN
Sept. 11…Comcast Arena, Everett, WA
Oct. 30…National Western Complex, Denver, CO
Nov. 20…The Orleans Arena, Las Vegas, NV