Monday Hot Press
Another season champion was crowned while the battle for Endurocross continues. Read on for the weekend updates of off-road...
Caselli Crowned 2012 National Hare & Hound Champion
100's MC hosted the final round of the AMA National Hare & Hound series this weekend in Lucerne Valley, California. It all came down to the wire this year as THR/Precision Concepts rider Dave Pearson gained the points lead mid-season when FMF/KTM's Kurt Caselli missed multiple rounds due to injury from round five. The 2011 National Hare & Hound champ, Caselli, made it clear that he was back and healthy at round seven when he took the overall win, inching his way to Pearson's lead.
After two consecutive wins, Caselli sat just 8 points from Pearson and the championship would rely on the last and final round. All Pearson had to accomplish was a first or second place finish to reclaim his championship since 2007. Impressively, Pearson physically finished second overall behind Caselli after racing against the tough 80+ mile course, but it wasn't long before a protest was filed and Championship smiles began to fade for the Kawasaki rider.
Basically, Pearson came in after the 40 mile loop to gas in the pits, but not in proper fashion. The rule is simply this- racer's must gas on an absorbtion mat. When Pearson came in, he was handed the dumpcan and began to fuel but suddenly he took off and continued down the pits while fueling himself. He then proceeded to discard the dumpcan at the end of the pits and took off onto the racecourse. Rules are rules, and in this day and age of harsh BLM requirements, it can be (and is) viewed as an extremely serious matter. An offense serious enough that the series could lose all privledges in the Johnson Valley area. The penalty consisted of a 5-minute dock; which moves him down to 6th overall in the results.
Team Green Kawasaki's Jacob Argubright found himself on top of his fifth podium of the season after breaking his collarbone at round one. Argubright physically finished third overall but moved up to second after Pearson's penalty.
Although Pearson's season and ride was completely commendable, an unfortunate lapse in logical judgment cost Pearson the championship in the end. We are still awaiting official results to be posted, but the top 5 will look something like this;
Top 5
Kurt Caselli
Jacob Argubright
David Kamo
Nick Burson
Skyler Howes
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Taddy Blazusiak Challenged at Boise Endurocross
Round 7 of the AMA Geico Endurocross series headed North to Boise, Idaho for another tough round of racing. With just one round left in the series, KTM's Taddy Blazusiak sits over 30 points ahead of Monster Energy Kawasaki's Taylor Robert. Kicking off the early evening, Colton Haaker won the MVP Hot Laps over Cody Webb and Mike Brown after Taddy Blazusiak had a mistake-filled hot lap and finished 17th.
Strangely enough, Taylor Robert completely missed chance to compete in the main after srtuggling to qualify while FMF/KTM's Mike Brown called it quits when he decided to sit the rest of the night out after battling a sickness the past few weeks.
Stillwell Performance/ Factory Beta's Cody Webb challeneged Blazuaik yet again, nearly taking the win. Off the start Webb moved into the lead while Blazusiak got lost in the bunch. But of course, Blazusiak floated his way across the course and up to Webb, eventually making the pass. Webb was unable to gain back the lead but finished a solid 2nd ahead of Husqvarna rider Cory Graffunder.
In the Women's class, Maria Forsberg made her return and took the overall win ahead of Louise Forsley and Kacy Martinez.
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West Chec Enduro
Round 8 of the AMA / Flexx Bars Western Checkpoint Enduro Championship
Elkins Flat, Ca - Hosted by Polka Dots MC
www.ridechec.com
The Final round of the 2012 WEST CHEC series was one of the best rounds to date! More the perfect conditions after 3 days of rain in the El Dorado National Forest, several inches of snow on the ground on many sides of the mountain and endless amounts of traction.
For many of the classes this final round would decide the Championship. While not taking the overall on the day ISDE Gold Medalist Jordan Brandt would still be crowned the Overall Champion. "I'm pretty bummed about burning a check today but it is what it is..." Said Brandt while flipping through the AMA Rulebook regarding mileage marking placement.
The results are still not final but once they are even more championship will be crowned. One battle that went all the way to the finish was in the 250 A class between 3 Bros KTM rider Erek Kudla and good friend Thousand Oak's rider Kel Postel. While Kudla would win Round 7 he would not gain the points he needed to overtake Postel. The two KTM 250 riders would go back and forth in the series but Postel would come out on top utilizing the work points he would gain on the weekend. Which would prove that Enduro's are not only about winning and competing in as many rounds as possible but also about doing your part and volunteering to make the events happen!
The Western Enduro Promoters Group would like to extend a huge thank you and congratulations to all the clubs within the series who made each event unique and successful! go to www.ridechec.com for standings, results and more information regarding the 2013 season to come!
Click here to view AA Rider Nolan Irwin ripping through the snow and loam at Round 8 - http://youtu.be/6zN-cIaSd-I
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