Monster Energy Kawasaki's EnduroCross Team Competes in Southern California
. By Bikeland Staff
Monster Energy Kawasaki’s off-road team wrapped up Round 4 of the AMA EnduroCross series at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, Calif. Justin Soule’ rode smooth all night, but a mid-pack start in the main resulted in a sixth-place finish. Destry Abbott scored an impressive win in his semi-final heat and advanced to the main where he finished 10th. Taylor Robert got off to a great start in his semi-final heat, but a crash cost him a spot in the main event.
Charging Forward
Soule’ came out to Ontario feeling confident and ready to put on a charge. In his first heat of the night, he grabbed second and advanced to the main event. In the main Soule’ didn’t get the jump off the gate he needed and ended up mid-pack coming around the first corner. He rode smoothly over the course, but couldn’t seem to get past the battle for fifth place. He finished the main event in sixth and currently sits sixth in the points.
“I’ve been working on my starts all week and felt confident going into Ontario,” said Soule’. “In the main I got pinched on the start and pushed to the middle of the pack. I tried to charge, but it was a tough track to make passes, it was very one-lined. There were small windows of opportunity to get around people, but the course was so tight you always ended up having to funnel back into the main line around the corners and over the obstacles. I ended up battling the entire race with Geoff (Aaron), but I couldn’t get my pass to stick. I felt I rode well, but I just needed a better start. It’s frustrating to not get the results you’ve been working hard to achieve. Moving on we’re just going to keep charging forward, that’s what it’s all about. I know I’m going to rise to the top soon, I just have to keep working hard.”
For the Fans
Abbott is a fan-favorite because of his great personality and knows how to put on a show for the crowd. In the semi-final heat, Abbott grabbed the holeshot and led wire to wire with fans cheering the entire way to the checkers. The impressive race resulted in a win and advanced Abbott into the main event. In the main, he didn’t get the start he wanted and got pushed to the back of the pack by the second turn. Undeterred, Abbott started picking off riders, but lost ground due to a mid-race crash and finished 10th.
“It was awesome how loud the crowd was tonight,” said Abbott. “I could hear everyone rooting me on around the track during my semi-final heat. It felt great grabbing that win in the semi. Going into the main event my confidence was high, but after the second corner I got pushed to the back of the pack. EnduroCross is like no other race, if you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time, like if someone goes down in front of you, your race is over. In the main I was starting to move up though the field and made it into eighth, but went over the bars and lost my position. I am disappointed because I really wanted a better result for the fans. EnduroCross is one of my favorite things to do. I love racing in a stadium and hearing the fans cheer me on, and I wanted to do something really great for them. My KX™250F ran great, the suspension was dialed. I really feel like I rode better than my results show. I had fun tonight because there was such a good turnout in the stands, with lots of green shirts, and I always love hearing the roar of the crowd.”
On the Gas
In the first heat of the night, Robert finished fourth and went to the semi-final determined to earn a spot in the main. In the semi-final he got a good jump off the gate on his KX250F, and was charging for a holeshot, but hit a log and went over the bars. Although he got up and rode off the track without injury, the crash took him out of contention for the main event.
“I’m not too happy with how the night went,” said Robert. “The track was good, but the dirt was different than I expected. It was surprisingly slick for southern California. I was expecting it to be more like Vegas, dry and hardpacked, but it was wet and greasy. In the semi-final I was pushing for a holeshot and I just hit the first log weird and it sucked me straight over the front. My whole body is sore from my knees to my neck. My KX250F had plenty of power off the line, but I just hit that first log wrong and that was the end of my night. I’m going to put this race behind me and am looking forward to the WORCS race next weekend.”
Water Hazard
Although most EnduroCross tracks have some type of water hazard, on this course the water made the entire race more challenging. The water hazard was situated right in the middle of the track so every time a racer splashed through it, water would soak all of the surrounding obstacles which included a rock pile on one side and a log matrix on the other. The log matrix proved to be the most challenging obstacle on the course because it was so slippery being continuously soaked with water each time a racer splashed through the water hazard.
Back to WORCS
Next weekend the Monster Energy Kawasaki off-road team heads to Round 8 of the World Off Road Championship Series at Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, Calif. Soule’ will be working hard to grab more points in the WORCS series before heading back to the EnduroCross series the following weekend. Robert, who currently sits second in points in the WORCS series, has his sights set for the top of the podium at Glen Helen. Abbott will also be working hard to continue his climb up the WORCS leaderboard.
Results
AMA Geico Powersports EnduroCross Series
Citizens Business Bank Arena
September 17, 2011
EX Pro Race Results
1. Taddy Blazusiak, KTM
2. Colton Haaker, KTM
3. Cody Webb, Beta
4. Kyle Redmond, Honda
5. Geoff Aaron, Honda
6. JUSTIN SOULE’, MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI
7. GARY SUTHERLIN, KAWASAKI
8. Mike Brown, KTM
9. Keith Sweeten, KTM
10. DESTRY ABBOTT, MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI
EX Pro Points Standings
1. Taddy Blazusiak, KTM, 120
2. Mike Brown, KTM, 81
3. Cody Webb, Beta, 73
4. Geoff Aaron, Honda, 72
5. JUSTIN SOULE’, MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 70
6. Colton Haaker, KTM, 63
7. GARY SUTHERLIN, KAWASAKI, 46
8. Kevin Rookstool, KTM, 31
9. Kyle Redmond, Honda, 30
10. DESTRY ABBOTT, MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 26
12. TAYLOR ROBERT, MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 23