2014 Las Vegas EnduroCross Results
Though his 2013 season was hampered by injury, Beta USA/GEICO/Stillwell Performance pilot Cody Webb wasted no time Friday at the 2014 GEICO AMA EnduroCross season opener at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
Webb took the win at round 1 of nine, finishing ahead of Lucas Oil/Rockstar/JCR Honda’s Colton Haaker and the reigning EnduroCross Champion, Factory KTM’s Taddy Blazusiak.
When the round began, Bel-Ray/FMF/Moose/Husqvarna’s Mike Brown took the $500 NEXEN Tire Holeshot award with a clean jump off a unique elevated starting line, beating the rest of the Pro Main Event competitors out of the tight first turn.
It didn’t take long for Webb to move into the lead as the tight pack of front-runners moved around the first lap. Haaker,Blazusiak and CYCLENANO/Everrev/FMF/Kenda’s Kyle Redmond and Gary Sutherlin all were in the mix right away as well—making for an exciting battle for the top spots in the initial laps.
By the end of the first lap it was Webb, five-time Champion Taddy Blazusiak and Kyle Redmond across the line for the top three. Right after the line, Redmond’s machine suffered a mechanical issue stopping him in his tracks. Husqvarna’s Mike Brown eventually pulled off the track due to a finger laceration and possible hand injury suffered earlier in the evening, ending his race evening as well.
It quickly looked to be an exciting showdown between the evening’s three heat-race winners (Webb, Blazusiak and Haaker) and the opening round of AMA EnduroCross didn’t disappoint. Webb quickly focused on a mission to pull ahead and put down flawless laps to stay out front. Behind him, carnage ensued, with Haaker passing Blazusiak on lap two after a rare mistake by the Factory KTM racer.
By the end of the lap, Blazusiak had moved back into third after Haaker made a similar bobble in a tricky rock turn. Gary Sutherlin moved into fourth place in striking distance of a podium spot. By halfway through the 12-lap main event, Blazusiak had found trouble in the rock corner, already coming into lapped riders, allowing the hard-charging Haaker to get back into second. That standing didn’t last long as Blazusiak moved back into second and looked to stay there. Meanwhile, Webb moved steadily forward, lapping up to fourth place by lap nine.
In the final laps, Haaker remained in-the-hunt, gaining on Blazusiak when the defending champ stalled in a challenging rock corner after trying to get around lapped-traffic, and going down. Webb stayed the course, pushing forward and riding a nearly flawless race without a challenge for the lead from the second lap on. Geoff Aaron, Sutherlin, Taylor Robert and Bobby Prochnau battled for the top five positions. Haaker made a last-lap pass on Blazusiak for second as he was stuck in the final rock turn. Webb took the convincing win with Haaker in second and Blazusiak in third.
2014 Las Vegas EnduroCross Quotes:
Cody Webb: “I only made a few mistakes the whole main event” Webb said. “I have been practicing just racing the track at home and when I passed Taddy on the first lap, I just focused on the track for six laps and did not even know how much of a lead I had.”
Colton Haaker: “I won in Las Vegas a few years ago and I did not even know how I won so this second feels better because I have been working really hard to get everything dialed in on that big 450.”
Taddy Blazusiak: “The start was amazing….I went into the tunnel way back and somehow came out in first. I think Brownie went down” Blazusiak said. “Third was an OK way to start the season because I think we are going to have to be consistent to win the championship.”
In the women’s class, Factory FMF/KTM’s Kacy Martinez took the win ahead of Shelby Turner and Morgan Tanke.
2014 Las Vegas EnduroCross Results:
1. Cody Webb, Beta
2. Colton Haaker, Honda
3. Taddy Blazusiak, KTM
4. Bobby Prachnau, KTM
5. Taylor Robert, KTM
6. Geoff Aaron, KTM
7. Gary Sutherlin, KTM
8. Cory Graffunder, KTM
9. Bryan Roper, KTM
10. Jamie Lanza, Husqvarna
2014 GEICO AMA EnduroCross Remaining Rounds:
- June 6, 2014 – Austin, Texas. X Games, Circuit of the Americas
- June 21, 2014 – Sacramento, California. Sleep Train Arena
- August 23, 2014 – Atlanta, Georgia. Gwinnett Center
- October 4, 2014 – Denver, Colorado. National Western Complex
- October 11, 2014 – Salt Lake City, Utah. Energy Solutions Arena
- October 18, 2014 – Everett, Washington. Comcast Arena
- November 15, 2014 – Boise, Idaho. Ford Idaho Center
- November 22, 2014 – Ontario, California. Citizens Business Bank Arena
