Kit Palmer | November 21, 2015
Taylor Robert finished off the season with a victory at Ontario. Photography by Kit Palmer
The race for the 2015 GEICO AMA EnduroCross Champion came down to the final race at Citizen’s Bank Arena in Ontario, California, November 21, and defending champ Cody Webb, on the FMF RPM KTM/Team Maxxis 250 XC, held on to keep the number-one plate for at least another year.
Webb held a nervous 10-point lead over Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Colton Haaker going into the final race of the year. It was, however, reduced to just nine points going into the main event. Earlier in the program, Haaker gained a point on Webb for topping the Hot Lap segment, but, as it turned out, it was all for naught.
Webb got off to a second-place start in the 15-lap final, and Haaker, like the previous round in Idaho, found himself in last place after getting caught up in a first-turn pileup. This all but assured Webb the title.
Although Haaker turned in another impressive come-from-behind ride, it was not enough to catch, or pass, Webb for the championship. (Haaker would have to had have won and Webb would have had to finish sixth or worse in order for Haaker to snatch away the title from Webb.)
Webb was hoping to finish off his championship season with a win, but Taylor Robert played spoiler. Robert had Webb in his sights by the midway point and eventually got around the leader and ran off with the win, his first AMA EnduroCross of the year and the second of his career.
Cody Webb celebrates his second EnduroCross Championship. Photography by Kit Palmer
Third on the night went to Haaker, followed by Beta’s Max Gerston and KTM rider Cory Graffunder.
An excited and emotional Sandra Gomez Cantero wrapped up the Women’s EnduroCross Championship after an exciting final. Cantero led Rachel Gutish by just one point going into the final, and Gutish nabbed the holeshot and put herself in a good spot to take the title, but she struggled in the rocks and got stuck a couple of times, allowing Cantero to take the lead and eventual win. Gutish went on to finish second in the race and in the championship. Just four points separated the two riders.
Lexi Pechout also finished third in the race and third in the championship.
GEICO AMA EnduroCross Series
Citizen’s Bank Arena
Ontario, California
Results: November 21, 2015
PRO MAIN
- Taylor Robert (KTM)
- Cody Webb (KTM)
- Colton Haaker (Hus)
- Max Gerston (Beta)
- Cory Graffunder (KTM)
- Geoff Aaron (GG)
- Ty Tremaine (KTM)
- Wyatt Hart (Hus)
- Jamie Lanza (KTM)
- Ty Cullins (Beta)
FINAL POINTS STANDINGS
- Cody Webb (215)
- Colton Haaker (204)
- Mike Brown (145)
- Cory Graffunder (136)
- Taylor Robert (131)
- Max Gerston (131)
- Kyle Redmond (131)
- Ty Tremaine (117)
- Geoff Aaron (88)
- Destry Abbott (85)
WOMEN’S PRO FINAL
- Sandra Gomez Cantero (Hus)
- Rachel Gutish (KTM)
- Lexi Pechout (Shr)
- Shelby Turner (KTM)
- Melissa Harten (Beta)
- Morgan Tanke (Beta)
- Regina Webb (KTM)
- Sabrina Webb (KTM)
- Ryann Bradley (KTM)
- Bibi Carmouche (Kaw)
- Veronica Whitesell (Beta)
WOMEN’S FINAL POINTS STANDINGS
1. Sandra Gomez Cantero (171)
- Rachel Gutish (167)
- Lexi Pechout (149)
- Shelby Turner (142)
- Morgan Tanke (141)
- Melissa Harten (120)
- Veronica Whitesell (95)
- Tarah Gieger (64)
- Sharon Mowell (57)
- Kaci Martinez (51)
