Geoff Aaron picked up his first career EnduroCross win last weekend at the fourth round in Columbus, Ohio.
During last month's round at South Carolina, Taddy Blazusiak
(below) won his third EnduroCross main event with Geoff Aaron
(top) finishing in second. This past weekend at Ohio, Geoff Aaron returned the favor.
Harnessing the AWD power of his Christini
KTM, Aaron bested KTM factory rider Taddy Blazusiak in a thrilling duel that saw the duo swap positions at the front. Last round it was TB who won the faceoff, but ultimately it was the 10-time American trials champ’s relentless, fluid style that won out over Blazusiak’s blazing fast, but inconsistent pace this time around. Taddy survived a crash and made a last ditch charge but his second-place result still keeps him firmly in control of the series with two rounds to go. KTM’s star off-roader enjoys a 24-point advantage as the tour heads back west. It was the first time this season that Blazusiak has been beaten.
Colton Haaker nailed the $500 Girardi Wealth management holeshot award but a hang-up in the rock pile cost him some positions. He closed out the podium on his Lucas Oil
Kawasaki followed by Damon Huffman who rides for the factory Monster Energy Kawasaki program. Huff-Daddy is fending off Husqvarna’s Cory Graffunder for third in the title hunt. The KX-F rider was trailing by a single point coming in but Graffunder’s sixth-place in Ohio allowed the former Supercross 125 champion to establish a 73-71 advantage. Haaker is hot on their heels with 68 points followed by Mike Brown who tallied seventh at the Ohio State University campus.
Patrick Smage continues to use the skills that make him the current American National Trials champion and placed his KTM machine in fifth. Monster Kawasaki’s Ricky Dietrich has been out of action since Round 2 when he busted his foot in Oklahoma. He showed up on his EX-spec Kawi but the rust was showing and he squeaked into the main event via the LCQ. Unfortunately, the reigning series champ could only muster 10th and he’s languishing in ninth overall for the year.
Next up is the fifth round held in Denver, Colorado on October 24.
Colton Haaker took the holeshot award during the Ohio round.
1. Geoff Aaron, Christini KTM
2. Taddy Blazusiak, KTM
3. Colton Haaker, Kawasaki
4. Damon Huffman, Kawasaki
5. Patrick Smage, KTM
6. Cory Graffunder, Husqvarna
7. Mike Brown, KTM
8. Gary Sutherlin, Husqvarna
9. Kyle Redmund, Yamaha
10. Ricky Dietrich, Kawasaki
11. Jason Raines,
Yamaha
EnduroCross Overall Point Standings:
1. Taddy Blazusiak, 115
2. Geoff Aaron, 91
3. Damon Huffman, 73
4. Cory Graffunder ,71
5. Colton Haaker, 68
6. Mike Brown, 63
7. Kyle Redmond, 56
8. Jamie Lanza, 47
9. Ricky Dietrich, 36
10. Gary Sutherlin, 32
