Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Huffman Takes First-Career EnduroCross Win
September 15, 2008, 9:41pm
Irvine, Calif. – Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Damon Huffman rode to a dominating win during round three of the AMA EnduroCross at Florence Civic Center in Florence, South Carolina, while teammate Rocky Dietrich rounded out the podium in third. The two Kawasaki riders top the points standings with Dietrich in first over Huffman by only one point.
Kawasaki Under the Kawasaki Tent
First Win For Huff Daddy
After qualifying third during the hot lap session, Huffman went on to earn his second heat race win of the season to advance him straight to the main. With a great gate pick, Huffman shot off the line to earn the holeshot and eventually the main event win by over 15 seconds.
“The track here was a lot tighter than we’ve seen the past two rounds and it was a little hard to get into a good flow,” said Huffman. “Once the main event rolled around, I just wanted to put in really clean laps and when I got around the lappers I knew that I just had to ride steady. It was a good race overall. I felt really, really good.”
Points Leader
Going into the race as the points leader, Dietrich started the night on top with the fastest hot lap time. He continued his night with a win in his heat race and a great gate pick in the main event. On the first lap of the main event, he went down in a wood section and got up dead last. For the next several laps, he turned on the speed and made his way up to finish on the podium in third.
“That main event was probably the craziest I had ever ridden,” said Dietrich. “The first lap, people were flying everywhere and I was just trying to dodge people and stay up. The course was really tight and you could tell people really felt it when the main event came around. I honestly don’t know how I got up to third, but I was happy with what I got.”
Two For Kawasaki
With Huffman’s win on Saturday night, it marked the second win in a row for the Kawasaki KX™250F.
“The Kawasaki has really worked well in this type of racing,” said Huffman. “The bikes been running awesome and I think I’ve gotten almost every holeshot in the last three rounds.”
Clean Sweep Heats
Kawasaki dealer-assist rider Jamie Lanza (Carter Powersports of Las Vegas, Nev.) made it a Kawasaki sweep of all the heat events with Dietrich and Huffman also earning heat wins. In the main, he went from last to finish sixth and maintain good position in the point standings.
“I was really excited about winning the heat race,” said Lanza. “I felt really good going into the main and felt like I could podium. Obviously I’m bummed that I went down, but I’ve been making all the mains which can be really hard to do.”
Good Shot
With three races left in the six-race series, Huffman is trying to stick to his game plan.
“Right now I’m only one point behind,” said Huffman. “I’ve told myself going into this series that I would take it one race at a time. I go out at each race and give it my best shot and do everything I can do that’s in my control to win. The starts are crucial and I’ve had pretty good starts this year. I want to continue to go out and ride clean races. I’m confident for the last few races.”
KX™250F to KX™450F
Next week the Monster Energy Kawasaki riders will be at Honey Lake MX for the penultimate round of the WORCS series in Milford, Calif. For Dietrich, it will be his first race on the KX™450F since the beginning of August.
“It’s going to be fun to get back on the big bike,” said Dietrich. “Its been awhile since I’ve been racing EnduroCross and ISDE on the KX250F.”
AMA EnduroCross Championship Series
Florence Civic Center- Florence, S.C.
September 13, 2008
Expert Class Main Event Results
1. DAMON HUFFMAN, VALENCIA, CALIF., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI
2. Bobby Prochnau, KTM
3. RICKY DIETRICH, MENIFEE, CALIF., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI
4. Colton Haaker, Gilroy, Calif., KTM
5. Ty Davis, Oak Hills, Calif., Suzuki
6. JAMIE LANZA, BEAUMONT, CALIF., KAWASAKI
7. Nick Brozovich, Bayfield, Colo., Suzuki
8. Stephen Edmondson, KTM
9. Mike Brown, KTM
10. Wallace Palmer, Mullica Hill, N.J., KTM
Expert Class Point Standings
1. RICKY DIETRICH, MENIFEE, CALIF., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 72
2. DAMON HUFFMAN, VALENCIA, CALIF., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 71
3. Colton Haaker, Gilroy, Calif., KTM, 54
4. Nick Brozovich, Bayfield, Colo., Suzuki, 50
5. Ty Davis, Oak Hills, Calif., Suzuki, 44
6. JAMIE LANZA, BEAUMONT, CALIF., KAWASAKI, 41
7. Bobby Prochnau, KTM, 36
8. Taddy Blasuziak, Poland, KTM, 30
9. Geoff Aaron, KTM, 25
10. Phil Smage, Elkhorn, Wis., KTM, 21
For all the pictures, videos and most recent Kawasaki racing action, visit www.kawasaki.com/racing
Kawasaki Under the Kawasaki Tent
First Win For Huff Daddy
After qualifying third during the hot lap session, Huffman went on to earn his second heat race win of the season to advance him straight to the main. With a great gate pick, Huffman shot off the line to earn the holeshot and eventually the main event win by over 15 seconds.
“The track here was a lot tighter than we’ve seen the past two rounds and it was a little hard to get into a good flow,” said Huffman. “Once the main event rolled around, I just wanted to put in really clean laps and when I got around the lappers I knew that I just had to ride steady. It was a good race overall. I felt really, really good.”
Points Leader
Going into the race as the points leader, Dietrich started the night on top with the fastest hot lap time. He continued his night with a win in his heat race and a great gate pick in the main event. On the first lap of the main event, he went down in a wood section and got up dead last. For the next several laps, he turned on the speed and made his way up to finish on the podium in third.
“That main event was probably the craziest I had ever ridden,” said Dietrich. “The first lap, people were flying everywhere and I was just trying to dodge people and stay up. The course was really tight and you could tell people really felt it when the main event came around. I honestly don’t know how I got up to third, but I was happy with what I got.”
Two For Kawasaki
With Huffman’s win on Saturday night, it marked the second win in a row for the Kawasaki KX™250F.
“The Kawasaki has really worked well in this type of racing,” said Huffman. “The bikes been running awesome and I think I’ve gotten almost every holeshot in the last three rounds.”
Clean Sweep Heats
Kawasaki dealer-assist rider Jamie Lanza (Carter Powersports of Las Vegas, Nev.) made it a Kawasaki sweep of all the heat events with Dietrich and Huffman also earning heat wins. In the main, he went from last to finish sixth and maintain good position in the point standings.
“I was really excited about winning the heat race,” said Lanza. “I felt really good going into the main and felt like I could podium. Obviously I’m bummed that I went down, but I’ve been making all the mains which can be really hard to do.”
Good Shot
With three races left in the six-race series, Huffman is trying to stick to his game plan.
“Right now I’m only one point behind,” said Huffman. “I’ve told myself going into this series that I would take it one race at a time. I go out at each race and give it my best shot and do everything I can do that’s in my control to win. The starts are crucial and I’ve had pretty good starts this year. I want to continue to go out and ride clean races. I’m confident for the last few races.”
KX™250F to KX™450F
Next week the Monster Energy Kawasaki riders will be at Honey Lake MX for the penultimate round of the WORCS series in Milford, Calif. For Dietrich, it will be his first race on the KX™450F since the beginning of August.
“It’s going to be fun to get back on the big bike,” said Dietrich. “Its been awhile since I’ve been racing EnduroCross and ISDE on the KX250F.”
AMA EnduroCross Championship Series
Florence Civic Center- Florence, S.C.
September 13, 2008
Expert Class Main Event Results
1. DAMON HUFFMAN, VALENCIA, CALIF., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI
2. Bobby Prochnau, KTM
3. RICKY DIETRICH, MENIFEE, CALIF., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI
4. Colton Haaker, Gilroy, Calif., KTM
5. Ty Davis, Oak Hills, Calif., Suzuki
6. JAMIE LANZA, BEAUMONT, CALIF., KAWASAKI
7. Nick Brozovich, Bayfield, Colo., Suzuki
8. Stephen Edmondson, KTM
9. Mike Brown, KTM
10. Wallace Palmer, Mullica Hill, N.J., KTM
Expert Class Point Standings
1. RICKY DIETRICH, MENIFEE, CALIF., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 72
2. DAMON HUFFMAN, VALENCIA, CALIF., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 71
3. Colton Haaker, Gilroy, Calif., KTM, 54
4. Nick Brozovich, Bayfield, Colo., Suzuki, 50
5. Ty Davis, Oak Hills, Calif., Suzuki, 44
6. JAMIE LANZA, BEAUMONT, CALIF., KAWASAKI, 41
7. Bobby Prochnau, KTM, 36
8. Taddy Blasuziak, Poland, KTM, 30
9. Geoff Aaron, KTM, 25
10. Phil Smage, Elkhorn, Wis., KTM, 21
For all the pictures, videos and most recent Kawasaki racing action, visit www.kawasaki.com/racing
