Irvine, CA (November 19, 2011) – KTM’s Taddy Blazusiak won both main events at the GEICO AMA EnduroCross Finals presented by Lucas Oil in Las Vegas. Monster Kawasaki’s Justin Soule finished second in the first main event followed by Husqvarna’s Cory Graffunder. In the second main event, Monster Kawasaki’s Taylor Robert earned his first ever EnduroCross podium with a second ahead of KTM’s Mike Brown. Blazusiak ended with a perfect 240 points and Brown had a solid second in the championship with Soule overtaking Geoff Aaron for third in the chase.
Beta’s Cody Webb set the fastest lap time during the afternoon Hot Laps, which determine the heat race gate picks and bragging rights. Blazusiak was second with Brown third, Graffunder forth and Soule fifth. Webb, Blazusiak and Brown won the three heat races for the direct transfer to the double main events. Destry Abbott and Colton Haaker were among the surprise non qualifiers.
Blazusiak took the $1000 Girardi Wealth Management Holeshot award to start the first main event followed by Soule, who stayed close during the entire main event to keep the race interesting; but Blazusiak rode a flawless race to keep his perfect season intact. Husqvarna’s Graffunder got on the podium in only his second race back after a broken wrist kept him out of most of the season. Brown passed Webb in the last turn to take forth. British KTM Rider, Johnathan Walker, rode a good race to finish sixth ahead of Robert, Bobby Prochnau, Kyle Redmond, Geoff Aaron, Jacob Argubright and Gary Sutherlin.
GEICO Honda’s Redmond took the $1,000 Girardi Wealth Management Holeshot award in the second main but Blazusiak quickly passed him to take the lead. Blazusiak held nothing back and immediately checked out to a large lead. Redmond held second for a few laps but then Monster Kawasaki’s Robert took over the position and held on for his first ever EnduroCross podium finish. Brown was a very close third ahead of Soule and Redmond, who held on for fifth. Aaron had an off night and finished sixth with Prochnau, Graffunder, Webb, Walker, Argubright and Sutherlin rounding out the main event in 12th.
Taylor Robert won the E3 Spark Plugs Junior Championship, which recognizes expert riders that are 21 and under. Keith Sweeten was second in the Junior Championship and Jacob Argubright was third even though he missed several rounds to race National Hare & Hound events.
Max Gerston won the Open Amateur EnduroCross Grand Championship ahead of Derrick Mahoney and Shane Cuthbertson. In the Vet 35-plus class, Kurt Nichol took the win Josh Adams and Shane Cuthbertson. Bryan Roper won the TrialsCross class ahead of Max Nelson and Chase Harker. The Baja Designs night race was won by Eric Rhoten over Ryan Rodgers and Wally Palmer.
The Freegun Underwear Women’s invitational was won by Louise Forsley, the top female Trials rider that used her consistency to make up for a crash on the first lap. Maria Forsburg, the current GNCC Champion finished second ahead of fifteen-year old Rachel Gutish, Kacy Martinez and Nicole Madsen.
The 2012 Championship will expand to eight events with the series kicking off in Las Vegas on Friday, May 4th on Supercross finals weekend.
GEICO AMA EnduroCross – Lucas Oil results – Main Event 1
1 Taddy Blazusiak 2 Justin Soule 3 Cory Graffunder 4 Mike Brown 5 Cody Webb 6 Jonathan Walker 7 Taylor Robert 8 Bobby Prochnau 9 Kyle Redmond 10 Geoff Aaron 11 Jacob Argubright 12 Gary Sutherlin
GEICO AMA EnduroCross – Lucas Oil results – Main Event 2
1 Taddy Blazusiak 2 Taylor Robert 3 Mike Brown 4 Justin Soule 5 Kyle Redmond 6 Geoff Aaron 7 Bobby Prochnau 8 Cory Graffunder 9 Cody Webb 10 Jonathan Walker 11 Jacob Argubright 12 Gary Sutherlin
AMA Geico Powersports Endurocross Championship – Final points
EX Pro Points Standings
1 111 Taddy Blazusiak - 240 2 311 Mike Brown - 166 3 3 Justin Soule - 146 4 2 Geoff Aaron - 144 5 247 Cody Webb - 131 6 6 Gary Sutherlin 90 7 5 Kyle Redmond - 87 8 33 Taylor Robert - 80 9 21 Bobby Prochnau - 77 10 7 Colton Haaker -76
