Monster Energy Kawasaki's EnduroCross Team Spars in Denver

2011-10-03 20:58
Monster Energy Kawasaki’s off-road team faced off at Round 5 of the AMA EnduroCross series at National Western Complex in Denver, Colo. Justin Soule’ got great starts in each of his races, but a derailed chain in the main event left him in sixth place. Taylor Robert put forth a valiant effort, but the rock piles seemed to haunt him all night and ultimately cost him a spot in the main event.


Good Charge
Soule’ has been training hard and working to improve his starts. His work was apparent in Denver where he grabbed holeshots in two of three races. In the first heat, he grabbed the holeshot and was leading, but got tangled with a group of riders. The incident cost him a few positions and he finished in third. In the semi-final, Soule’ grabbed another holeshot and stayed out front to take the win and advance to the main event. In the main, Soule’ he got another good start, but a derailed chain found him battling all the way from the back of the pack to finish sixth.

“The track was the best of the year in my opinion,” said Soule’. “It was a cool, unique layout and the dirt was the best we’ve had all season. It never got slippery and stayed tacky even after it was watered. I got great starts all night, but just got caught up in the carnage that is EnduroCross. In the main event I got off to a good start, but got tangled with another racer in the first turn. He must have hit me in the sweet spot because the incident derailed my chain somehow. I threw my bike down, put it in neutral, and spun it back on the sprocket. By the time I got the chain mounted, I was in dead last, about a half-lap behind the pack. I had a good charge and moved up to sixth by the last lap. I had fourth and fifth right in front of me, but got hung up on the log matrix and couldn’t get around them before the finish. My KX™250F ran great, but I just kept getting tangled up with other racers all night.”


Battling for Ground
Coming off a win at the WORCS at Glen Helen Raceway, Robert was feeling confident and ready to put down some fast laps in Denver. He got good starts in his heats, but got hung up several times in the rocks, which ultimately cost him a spot in the main event.

“This EnduroCross course was pretty tricky,” said Robert. “The rock pile and rock turn were really challenging. There were so many big holes in the rock pile, the line choice was limited and I kept getting sucked into holes. In the rock turn, the rocks were very unstable and seemed to shift every lap. In my first heat I got the holeshot, but got stuck in the rocks and lost my position. In the semi-final I didn’t get the best start, but worked my way into first. I was out front, but got stuck again, and finished in second. In the LCQ I didn’t get the start I wanted and ended up finishing in third, just seconds behind the leader. My mechanic Jeff (Decker) did a great job dialing in my KX250F for the high altitude, it had plenty of power. This is my first EnduroCross season so this has been a learning process for me. I’m going to put this race behind me because I need to focus on winning the next WORCS race in Adelanto.”


In the Matrix
One of the most challenging features in the Denver EnduroCross was the log matrix placed right before the finish. While many EnduroCross courses feature a log matrix, the matrix on this course proved especially arduous.

“The log matrix was the most difficult section of the course,” said Soule’. “The logs were too close together which forced you to frame case them in places just to get through them. It was a very difficult feature to hit consistently, in fact every rider in the main event crashed in the matrix at least once.”


Back to the Golden State
In two weeks, the Monster Energy Kawasaki off-road team heads to Round 9 of the World Off Road Championship Series (WORCS) in Adelanto, Calif. With only two rounds left in the series, Robert will be pushing hard to grab another win and close the gap on the current points leader. Soule’ will be looking to grab another WORCS podium before heading to Boise, Idaho in three weeks for Round 6 of the AMA EnduroCross series. Next weekend Destry Abbott will compete in the penultimate round of the AMA Hare and Hound series in Johnson Valley, Calif., before reconvening with the team in Adelanto for the WORCS.


Results
AMA EnduroCross Series
National Western Complex - Denver, Colo.
October 1, 2011

EX Pro Race Results
1. Taddy Blazusiak, KTM
2. Geoff Aaron, Honda
3. Mike Brown, KTM
4. Cody Webb, Beta
5. Kyle Redmond, Honda
6. JUSTIN SOULE’, MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI
7. Kevin Rookstool, KTM
8. Colton Haaker, KTM
9. Bobby Prochna, KTM
10. Kyle Calderini, Honda

EX Pro Points Standings
1. Taddy Blazusiak, KTM, 150
2. Mike Brown, KTM, 102
3. Geoff Aaron, Honda, 97
4. Cody Webb, Beta, 91
5. JUSTIN SOULE’, MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 85
6. Colton Haaker, KTM, 76
7. GARY SUTHERLIN, KAWASAKI, 56
8. Kyle Redmond, Honda, 46
9. Kevin Rookstool, KTM, 45
10. Bobby Prochna, KTM, 35
11. TAYLOR ROBERT, MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 32
13. DESTRY ABBOTT, MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 26

Source: KMC

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