Haaker Extends Points Lead Over Webb in Denver

In the first few laps it became clear Webb was clearing the track’s obstacles more cleanly and consistently than the rest of the field. Haaker was fast, as usual, but the nasty matrix was his nemesis and slowed him numerous times as he fought to gain ground on the defending champion. At one point, Webb made a mistake on the large tractor tires, hitting his kill switch with his hip and actually going backwards down the tires to make another attempt. Haaker closed the gap and was poised to make a move only to have the matrix stop him again.

During laps two through fourteen, Webb and Haaker held their one-two position and simply decimated the rest of the field, lapping third place in the process. It wasn’t until the second-to-last lap that Haaker was once again in position to make a move and Webb left the door wide open. After the firewood pile, Webb wasn’t cleanly jumping into a corner where Haaker was. On lap 14, Webb went extra wide into the corner after getting off-line through the firewood. The stumble and extra room in the corner was all Haaker needed to put a wheel in and secure the first-place position. From there, the 2016 points leader raced to the finish Webb would give it all he had to finish a close second with Gerston a lap down in third.

“This one was hard,” Haaker said. “I kept messing up the matrix and Cody was nailing it. Soon, I got over making mistakes in the beginning and started racing smoother and kept on it through lappers. Then, Webb had a mistake after the firewood and I got in there. I just needed to get in front on the last lap and I’m glad I made it happen.”

“It was a great race here in Denver,” Webb said. “Honestly, it was a rough day for me after going down really hard in the heat race and had to ice both my wrists, my shoulder and tailbone and take some advil to get out here. I got an ok start in the main and knew I was nailing the matrix so when Brown and Haaker had trouble in there I made it to the front. It was really crucial to jump out of the firewood tonight and I just couldn’t quite commit while I was in the lead. I knew right away Haaker jumped it and had a line on me for the lead. I was riding at the top of my game and know I could have had it tonight. After the two-week break I know I’ll be ready to be back.”

“I am super stoked,” Gerston said. “I got off to a rough start but I was able to find some cool lines through the firewood pit and get by some guys. At that point I was in fifth and had to battle through fourth and then had to battle my teammate Kyle Redmond to get into third. We had some fun block passes and I’m just stoked to be up here at the end of the night even though I was lapped by the top two guys. I honestly don’t know how I could go any faster than I was and I was still lapped.”