With round left in Las Vegas, Taddy Blazusiak has clinched the 2009 GEICO Powersports EnduroCross Championship.
The war is already won for Taddy Blazusiak who clinched the 2009 Geico Powersports EncuroCross championship at Round 5 in Denver, CO. With one race left in the series, Blazusiak raced his
KTM 250 XC to his fourth victory of the year and one step closer to the $50,000 Geico Triple Crown bonus for good measure.
It was evident right from the start that Sugar Taddy had no intention of being sweet on his opponents as he blazed the fastest qualifying hot lap by nearly a full second. “I thought everyone was riding well during practice and was happy to come out with the fastest practice time,” he said. The KTM rider then went on to win his heat race to set up for the show. In the main event, Blazusiak raked in the $500 Girardi Wealthy Management holeshot cash and set out for what might have been an easy stroll to the checkers.
A bobble in the first rock section allowed Round 3 winner, Geoff Aaron, to pull even and then work past heading into the water bowl. Taddy returned the favor immediately. A few turns later, the 10-time AMA Trials champion muscled by again, but Blazusiak sailed over the tires and went hot to the right-hander. A little contact, nothing dirty, saw Aaron on the short end as he lost the front wheel of his AWD Christini KTM.
Monster Energy Kawasaki's Damon Huffman started from sixth and worked his way up to the final-podium spot.
Next it was Husqvarna’s Corey Graffunder’s turn to take a crack at the leader. Blazusiak continued to have difficulties in the rock garden and offered a window of opportunity. The young Husky rider got a little over-excited as he bombed into the firewood and nearly went down letting the KTM rider off the hook and allowing Colton Haaker to move into second. Haaker, who won his heat race, got pinched off by Taddy in the opening seconds and tipped over, but the Lucas Oil
Kawasaki rider stormed back for another go-round. Ultimately, Taddy would survive and go on to win, now holding an untouchable 36-point lead and securing the series title.
“This is great, after all the things that happened last year with my crash and my injury and going through that with my team and my sponsors,” said the ecstatic Blazusiak. “They were behind me last year and it feels so great to pay them back with the championship this year. It’s just the best thing to happen.”
Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Damon Huffman is back from the ISDE in Portugal and overcoming crippling tendonitis in both arms to chase down another EX podium ahead of the hard-luck Aaron. Am-Pro Yamaha’s Kyle Redmond finished fifth.
Colton Haaker took over the points lead in the chase fo the E3 Spark Plugs' Pro Junior Championship.
Check out this link for a
video recap of the Denver action.
EnduroX moves back to Las Vegas at the Orleans Arena for the final round on November 21. Watch for coverage on the Lucas Motorsports Hour on Versus Network. Visit
www.motorsportshour.com for airtimes.
Denver Colorado, Geico Powersports AMA EnduroCross Expert Main Event Results
1. Taddy Blazusiak (KTM)
2. Colton Haaker (Kawasaki)
3. Damon Huffman (Kawasaki)
4. Geoff Aaron (Christini / KTM)
5. Kyle Redmond (
Yamaha)
6. Bobby Prochnau (KTM)
7. Jamie Lanza (Kawasaki)
8. Patrick Smage (KTM)
9. Cory Graffunder (Husqvarna)
10. Cody Webb (KTM)
