Colton Haaker Wins South Dakota EnduroCross
Cycle News Staff | September 4, 2016
Colton Haaker Wins South Dakota EnduroCross
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Colton Haaker proved that his opening-round win last week in Atlanta was no fluke and that he is serious about wanting to win this year’s AMA EnduroCross Championship. In Sioux Falls, South Dakota, at Badlands Speedway, Haaker again came away with the victory at what was the first outdoor event of the championship. Haaker didn’t get the holeshot and just run away with it, either. He passed his way up from a fifth-place start, getting around some of the sport’s heaviest hitters along the way, like defending champ Cody Webb and multi-time EX winner Mike Brown. He also had to get around a very pesky Ty Tremaine before finding his way to the front and pulling away for the win.
(Left to right) Cody Webb, winner Colton Haaker, and Mike Brown celebrate on the Sioux Falls podium.
“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. “A couple laps in, I was in a good position in second when Cody went down. From there I felt solid, ran out a few laps that were fast and kept it together to cruise out for the win.”
Once again, Webb, on the FMF KTM, took second, but he did it the hard way. He bounced back from tip-overs and made two passes on the last lap to get the silver. Still, he had a good night overall after winning his Heat race and Hot Lap, earning two points toward the championship, so he minimized the damage when all was said and done. He trails Haaker by just four points after two rounds.
Brown, on the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna, took third and moved up to third in the championship. He trails Webb by 10 points.
RPM KTM Team Maxxis’ Tremaine took an impressive fourth, while KTM rider Noah Kepple rounded out the top five.
And what about five-time EX Champion Taddy Blazusiak? His bid for a sixth championship took a big hit in South Dakota. After winning his Heat race, the Red Bull KTM rider suffered a thumb injury during the first lap of the Main and had to withdraw from the race.
AMA EnduroCross Championship: Round 2
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Results: September 3, 2016
EX PRO FEATURE
- Colton Haaker (KTM); 2. Cody Webb (KTM); 3. Mike Brown (Hus); 4. Ty Tremaine (KTM); 5. Noah Kepple (KTM); 6. Trystan Hart (Hus); 7. Cory Graffunder (KTM); 8. Nick Thompson (KTM); 9. Max Gerston (Beta); 10. Ty Cullins (Beta); 11. Geoff Aaron (GG); 12. Kevin Rookstool (Suz); 13. Taddy Blazusiak (KTM).
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