Cody Webb captured his third win of the season in Idaho. Photography by Drew Ruiz
The 2014 GEICO AMA EnduroCross Championship looks like its Cody Webb’s for the taking when the final round rolls into Ontario, California, next week. Webb claimed his third win of the season Saturday night, November 15, at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa, Idaho, and is firmly in the driver’s seat with a 13-point lead in the championship.
Webb again relied on smooth and consistent yet still very fast riding to claim the win over previous-round winner Taylor Robert, and Colton Haaker. Defending champ Taddy Blazusiak was fourth.
Only a few points separated Webb, Haaker and Blazusiak going into the Idaho race, and it was Webb and Robert getting off to the fast start in the final, while Blazusiak and Haaker struggled through the first few corners and were left mired in the pack.
Webb broke through quickly and opened up a small lead that he ultimately stretched out to a somewhat comfortable margin, but Haaker was on the attack.
The Rockstar/JCR/Lucas Oil Honda rider kicked it up a notch and steadily worked his way up through the pack. He eventually got into third and then slipped by Robert for second. With the racing winding down, Haaker closed in on the leader Webb and, with one lap to go, was threatening to make a pass. Haaker made a desperate attempt for the top spot through the woodpile section but ended up dropping his Honda, putting an end to his outstanding charge that had the crowd on its feet.
Webb went on to take the win on his GEICO/Stillwell Performance-backed Beta, while Robert, on the FMF KTM, got around the downed Honda rider, Haaker, to take second.
Haaker ended up holding on to third just ahead of Blazusiak (Red Bull/KTM), who spent the entire race coming up through the pack after his bad start.
KTM rider Cory Graffunder rounded out the top five overall.
“I heard Colton coming on strong there at the end and he was on it,” Webb said. “It’s hard to push that hard at the end of the race and, when he went down, I knew it was good for me. I’m happy to get the win in Idaho since I haven’t won here before.”
“I honestly have no idea how I came out of [the first turn] so well,” Robert said. “I was dabbing on the outside of the turn, fully leaning to the outside about to fall and someone ran into me from the outside and knocked me back upright. I think Colton was the fastest guy tonight. I want to keep mixing it up with these guys and now that I’m up here, I feel great.”
“I thought if I could jump the first firewood pile in front of Webb I would have him,” said Haaker. “Dang it, EnduroCross’ luck of the draw didn’t work out for me tonight.”
Sherco rider Lexi Pechout won the Cyclenano Women’s final. It was her first EnduroCross victory. Husqvarna’s Sandra Gomez finished second, while Shelby Turner rounded out the podium.
“I got a good start compared to the dead-last starts I usually get,” Pechout said. “Then, the second log on the course had a huge pile-up where a lot of us had to stop. I saw a spot and went for it. I saw the spotlight on me after going past Gomez and I thought ‘Oh my gosh! I’m in the lead!’”
Taylor Robert held on to finish second on the night.
November 15, 2014
Nampa, Idaho
GEICO AMA EnduroCross Series
RESULTS
1. Cody Webb (Beta)
2. Taylor Robert (KTM)
3. Colton Haaker (Hon)
4. Taddy Blazusiak (KTM)
5. Cory Graffunder (KTM)
6. Max Gerston (Beta)
7. Geoff Aaron (KTM)
8. Mike Brown (Hus)
9. Kyle Redmond (KTM)
10. Trystan Hart (KTM)
11. Ty Tremaine (KTM)
12. Kevin Rookstool (KTM)
13. Wally Palmer (Chr)
WOMENS FINAL
1. Lexi Pechout (She)
2. Sandra Gomez (Hus)
3. Shelby Turner (KTM)
4. Kacy Martinez (KTM)
5. Melissa Harten (Gas)
6. Rachel Gutish (KTM)
7. Chantelle Bykerk (KTM)
8. Tarah Geiger (KTM)
9. Nicole Bradford (KTM)
10. Megan Blackburn (Kaw)
11. Morgan Tanke (KTM)
12. Veronica Whitesell (Beta)
