EnduroCross Second Round Features Unique Venue and Familiar Podium

Colton Haaker on his way to a second consecutive EnduroCross win (Photo by Ian Reid)

There were several firsts for professional EnduroCross in the second round of the 2016 season. The race was the first major EnduroCross event held in South Dakota. An even bigger novelty was the fact that Badlands Motor Speedway is an outdoor venue. The series is typically staged exclusively in indoor arenas.

While the venue held some firsts for EnduroCross, the top two places on the podium looked very similar to round 1 in Georgia – identical, in fact. Colton Haaker proved that his win in Atlanta was anything but an anomaly. The win in the main race did not come easily for Haaker. The Husqvarna rider fought his way up from a mid-pack start before seizing and maintaining the race lead. “I didn’t get the best jump off the start but I stayed calm in fifth or sixth and tried to stay calm and not make dumb mistakes like I did in the heat race,” said Haaker. This second consecutive win of the season gives Haaker a 4-point series lead.

Defending series champion, Cody Webb, raced his KTM to the second spot, which is also a repeat of round 1 in Atlanta. In the later laps of the main, the battle for second was where the action was and Webb was not to be denied. The third spot on the podium was claimed by Mike Brown. Brown won the holeshot out of the race gate and piloted his Husqvarna to his first podium finish of the young season.

Cody Webb hitting a berm under the South Dakota sky (Photo by Ian Reid)

The EnduroCross return of 5-time former champion Taddy Blazusiak was sidetracked in this second round with a hand injury. After an impressive heat-race win, Blazusiak’s thumb injury on the first lap of the main event forced him out of the race. EnduroCross fans certainly hope Blazusiak makes a quick and full recovery.

K&N is proud and excited to be a major sponsor for the EnduroCross national series, which will continue in Salt Lake City, Utah on September 10. If the first two races are any indication of the excitement to come, fans are in for a real treat. The upcoming EnduroCross schedule will include stops in six Western US states.

Remember, whether you ride a KTM, Husqvarna, or virtually anything else with wheels, K&N is the place to find high-performance filtration products for your application. Use the search by vehicle tool to find the right part for your needs.

Haaker, Webb, and Brown share the podium at Badlands Motor Speedway (Photo by Ian Reid)

Remaining Schedule:

September 10, 2016 – Salt Lake City, Utah – Vivint Smart Home Arena
September 24, 2016 – Scottsdale, Arizona – WestWorld – Intl Off-Road & UTV Expo
October 1, 2016 – Denver, Colorado – National Western Events Center
October 22, 2016 – Everett, Washington – XFINITY Arena
November 5, 2016 – Nampa, Idaho – Ford Idaho Center
November 18-19, 2016 – Ontario, California – Citizens Business Bank Arena

South Dakota Results:

1. Colton Haaker, Husqvarna
2. Cody Webb, KTM
3. Mike Brown, Husqvarna
4. Ty Tremaine, KTM
5. Noah Kepple, KTM
6. Tyrstan Hart, Husqvarna
7. Cory Graffunder, KTM
8. Nick Thompson, KTM
9. Max Gerston, Beta
10. Ty Cullins, Beta
11. Geoff Aaron, Gas Gas
12. Kevin Rookstool, Suz
13. Taddy Blazusiak, KTM