Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Colton Haaker scored the 2016 AMA EnduroCross Championship Series-opening win at the Infinite Energy Arena in Duluth, Georgia, Saturday night, August 27
Haaker, the reigning FIM SuperEnduro World Champion, put together a nearly perfect 15 laps in the Pro main event. He got through the first turn in second place, behind multi-time former AMA EnduroCross Champion Taddy Bazusiak of Poland, but Haaker moved into the lead through the firewood pit on lap two. From there, he rode a smooth race to take the win.
“I’m pumped to get the season off to a winning start,” Haaker said. “You just never know how things are going to turn out at round one so I’m more than happy that it all came together like this. I felt things started a little shaky during my practice and heat race but in a way that sort of ironed things out for me. When the night program came around I won the Hot Laps, and I knew with a solid start I could be in the hunt. I stayed out of trouble during those first two laps of the main event, got around Taddy cleanly and then went to work. To pick up the EnduroCross series where I left off the SuperEnduro Championship by winning is fantastic, and I’m excited for the rest of the season.”
Blazusiak, who has returned to racing in the series after stepping away from it last year, then battled with reigning AMA EnduroCross Champion Cody Webb for the next few laps. Webb was able to capitalize on a mistake by Blazusiak in the rock pike to take over second place. Max Gerston also moved past Blazusiak to take third place, but Blazusiak would catch the Beta USA-backed Gerston and re-pass him for the final podium spot on lap 10. Gerston finished fourth, ahead of Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Mike Brown.
Round two of the series is scheduled to take place at Badlands Motor Speedway near Sioux Falls, South Dakota, September 3.
2016 AMA EnduroCross Championship Series
Infinite Energy Arena
Duluth, Georgia
Results: August 27, 2016 (Round 1 of 8)
Pro Main Event
1. Colton Haaker-Hus
2. Cody Webb-KTM
3. Taddy Blazusiak-KTM
4. Max Gerston-Bet
5. Mike Brown-Hus
6. Kyle Redmond-Bet
7. Ty Tremaine-KTM
8. Geoff Aaron-Gas
9. Cory Graffunder-KTM
10. Noah Kepple-KTM
11. Wally Palmer-KTM
12. Mason Ottersberg-Hus
13. Nick Thompson-KTM
Read more at http://motocross.transworld.net/endurocross/haaker-strikes-first-take-atlanta-endurocross-win/#12ohEH8pMdppGZUC.99
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