Blazusiak Wins Thriller in Boise
Boise, ID – The penultimate round of the 2012 GEICO AMA EnduroCross series took place inside the Idaho Center, just west of Boise and the packed house witnessed racing on the toughest EnduroCross track yet. The difficult track created a lot of action and KTM’s Taddy Blazusiak took another win despite a last lap crash that allowed Beta’s Cody Webb to get within striking difference. Husqvarna’s Cory Graffunder withstood pressure from multiple riders to earn the last podium position.
Lucas Oil backed Colton Haaker finally managed to stand on top of the results for the MVP Racing Hot Laps. The top 35 riders in the night show do a single lap against the clock to earn the best picks for the heat races. Haaker had finished second at the previous two rounds but this time he managed to set the fastest time ahead of Webb and Mike Brown. Blazusiak had two minor crashes during his lap and finished 17th.
Haaker won the first heat race over Ryan Sandoval. Blazusiak took the holeshot and won heat two over Webb despite a bad gate pick. Graffunder won heat three over GEICO Honda’s Geoff Aaron. In the semi’s, Kyle Redmond, Justin Soule and Gary Sutherlin won to get the only spots in the main. Then in the LCQ, Bobby Prochnau and Jamie Lanza took the last two spots for the main. Taylor Robert, second in the championship points coming into this event missed qualifying for the main. “This was a really tough track and it was difficult to race because you had to focus on getting through the obstacles”, Robert said. Destry Abbott, Bryan Roper, Bobby Garrison, Eric Rhoten and Keith Wineland were also among the riders that missed the cut. KTM’s Mike Brown chose to call it a night after the heat race due to an unknown illness that has been bothering him for the last few weeks.
Cody Webb made a late charge, but would have to settle for second in Boise.
Drew Ruiz photo
Webb blasted into the first turn with the lead and Blazusiak was buried in the pack as they hit the large log existing the first turn but then he quickly found his way into second. “I was about fifth exiting the first turn and then everybody went wide in the second turn and left the inside wide open for me. So I came out second behind Cody.” Webb led the first lap but then Blazusiak found a way by and led laps two through four before Webb passed Blazusiak back in the wood pile and led lap five. Blazusiak again passed Webb and slowly opened up a lead of eleven seconds and appeared to be on his way to another easy win until he got stuck on a tractor tire obstacle on the last lap and Webb got very close as they approached the finish but was not able to make a pass. The battle for the final podium position included several riders. Aaron held the position for the first four laps but then Graffunder and Haaker passed him. Haaker made a few mistakes and Redmond and Soule closed in on Graffunder and both took their shots at passing him but never found a way by Soule ended getting forth and Redmond fifth. Aaron went a lap down and finished sixth ahead of Haaker, Prochnau, Sutherlin, Lanza and Sandoval.
Each EnduroCross event also includes several support classes. The Open Amateur class was won by Canada’s Shane Cuthbertson over Ty Tremaine and Keith Curtis. For the second week in a row, Ty Tremaine came back to win the TrialsCross class. Shad Petersen was second ahead of Joey Hamilton. The Vet 35+ class was another close race with Robert Farrington taking the win ahead of Stephen Foord and Josh Adams. This event was the fourth round of the women’s championship (not all rounds count for points) and KTM’s Maria Forsberg took the win over Louise Forsley and Kacy Martinez.
Blazusiak is in firm control of the championship with just one round to go.
Drew Ruiz photo
Boise, Idaho GEICO EnduroCross, presented by Lucas Oil Expert Main Event results:
- Taddy Blazusiak KTM
- Cody Webb Beta
- Cory Graffunder Husqvarna
- Justin Soule Kawasaki
- Kyle Redmond Husqvarna
- Geoff Aaron Honda
- Colton Haaker Kawasaki
- Bobby Prochnau KTM
- Gary Sutherlin Kawasaki
- Jamie Lanza Honda
- Ryan Sandoval Yamaha
The Las Vegas event tickets are available at www.endurocross.com/buy-tickets/
For more information on the TV Coverage, check your local listings or www.motorsportshour.com.
For more information on EnduroCross, go to www.EnduroCross.com.
