Defending series champion Taddy Blazusiak scores a clutch win while Mike Brown struggles, leaving the two tied in the championship chase with one round remaining
After a frustrating result at the Washington round of the 2013 GEICO AMA EnduroCross Series, Red Bull KTM Factory rider Taddy Blazusiak earned his second victory of the season at the penultimate round at Idaho Center last night while his main series rival and Factory FMF/KTM rider, Mike Brown, finished fourth overall, thus turning the tables for Blazusiak and allowing him to leave Boise tied with Brown for the points lead as they head to the final round.
Brown’s woes began early, as he fell in the first corner of heat number one. Brown recovered quickly, but another crash in the wood chip section dropped him to sixth place. Brown moved up to fourth place, but another miscue ultimately dropped him to fifth place, and he failed to transfer directly to the main event.
Blazusiak pulled the holeshot in heat number three and went on to lead the first lap before crashing. Gary Sutherlin moved into the lead, but Blazusiak quickly caught back up and passed Sutherlin on the second lap, pulling away to a 14-second lead before taking the win.
In the Last Chance Qualifier, Brown took the holeshot but struggled again, ultimately battling with Kevin Rookstool. The pair ran side by side on the last lap, but after both riders got stuck, Brown was able to get going first and take the win, transferring to the main event.
Brown grabbed the holeshot in the main event, with Blazusiak slotting into second place, but then Brown got stuck on a rock on the first lap and both Blazusiak and American Beta’s Cody Webb got by him. Blazusiak and Webb battled wheel to wheel for the lead, and Webb gained the advantage after Blazusiak went off the track. On the sixth lap, Webb went down in the wood chips, and Blazusiak was able to cut the gap and pass Webb for the lead. Once out front, Blazusiak pulled away from the field and built up a 7-second advantage en route to the main event win.
Brown was running third when he stalled his bike with three laps to go, and Johnny Campbell Racing Honda’s Colton Haaker passed him for third place. Brown was able to hold on for fourth place, but his points lead evaporated, and he is now tied with Blazusiak in the championship points chase as the series heads to the final round in Las Vegas on November 23.
Idaho Center
Boise, Idaho
Results: November 9, 2013
Overall
1. Taddy Blazusiak-KTM
2. Cody Webb-Bet
3. Colton Haaker-Hon
4. Mike Brown-KTM
5. Justin Soule-Kaw
6. Taylor Robert-Kaw
7. Kyle Redmond-KTM
8. Geoff Aaron-KTM
9. Kevin Rookstool-KTM
10. Gary Sutherlin-KTM
GEICO AMA EnduroCross Series Points Standings
1. Mike Brown-130
2. Taddy Blazusiak-130
3. Cody Webb-110
4. Colton Haaker-108
5. Taylor Robert-105
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