Phoenix EnduroCross Race Report 2016

Circular 4 began in Phoenix’s West World, home to art in motion and thoroughbred champions, and the land of the rising sun. This intimate setting was turned inverted by two-strokes and race gas on Saturday. When it was all over, we had a new face this season for the podium. The champ had restored the night, and the red plate had been firmly in place.

Coming into Round 4, Rock-star Husqvarna’s Colton Haaker had 2 top steps in three races plus was going for the hat trick. FMF KTM’s Cody Webb is at a close second and within reach of red. Mike Brown came in with two podiums in as many rounds and was going for three within a row. Then FMF KTM’s Taylor Robert stepped into the room plus everything changed. He set the fast lap early in very hot laps only to be bettered by the current points leader who took to the track last. Then Robert took the holeshot in the main and gave the crowd a spectacular tv show of big air and incredible rate.

The particular longest course of the season, with 6 lanes, the Schaefer track crew built a solid track once again. The particular rocks here were sharp such as granite, the dirt was perfect, the logs were a struggle, as well as the tires in the tire wall had been like a spider's web waiting for victim. The matrix was challenging as well as the pressure to perform 10 feet from the crowd took many to the sidelines. This course was no easy problem.

Shelby Turner operated her KTM to her third earn of the season, and the battle with Beta’s Morgan Tanke is hot along with only 8 points separating the two. Rachel Gutish is within striking range of a "W" at any moment. Plus newcomer to the series, SRT’s Ryann Bradley, sits in fourth upon points and is definitely earning her top rookie badge in 2016. Tarah Gieger is pushing the particular limits of the women’s air force at every round. Gieger's motocross history gives her time on the competition, but she has struggled in the technical challenges of EnduroCross and Phoenix was much of the same. We had eleven ladies take the floor in Az and this made for one of our the majority of exciting races of the season. In the end, Turner would retain the plate as well as the rest would have to wait for Denver to higher. After it was all over, Turner still left with 97 points, 8 points ahead of Tanke in second, along with Gutish sitting in third along with 78 points.

Rockstar Husqvarna’s Colton Haaker has proved once again he can come from the back, pick his way smartly to the front, and wave to the crowd doing so. Haaker's speed this season is spot-on, his technical skills untouchable and Saturday night in an electrified arena, he showed the particular crowd why he bears the red plate of the points head.

Haaker's start was not great, mid group and on the inside wall into the very first turn. He sliced his method to 2nd on the first turn. Robert was out front. Then Haaker marked him heading into the matrix and picked off local child for clean air and put him within the rear view mirror. Robert would pursue, but he couldn’t get the bunny. Haaker was gone. Robert might have other problems after Haaker hit the afterburners, and it would be by means of current champion FMF’s Cody Webb.

Webb had a good start in the main, and he locked on to the Robert/Haaker train early. The champ was there, he or she was in third, but he wasn’t closing it down. It would be this way till the end.

In no time Haaker was at 110% and tugging away from Robert. Webb wasn’t reeling Robert in, and by lap three or more, two Bulls and a Rockstar had been starting to lap the field. On the series' longest course of the year those three showed the entire field the blue flag. Robert and Webb were holding time steady and were within striking distance if Haaker were to blow, but that never happened. By the end of the race, most three would lap the entire field including top contender FMF’s Paul Brown.

After lapping Brown in fourth late within the race, Webb was still running after the Haaker/ Robert runaway. Along the way, Webb beat his machine into submission, broke his chain (no doubt from a hard impact in the sharp edges of the matrix) on his 15th lap that would end Webb's quest Saturday night to get the “W”. Since Webb's lap 14 beat Brown's lap 14 time, this individual still retained his much needed podium and left Brown looking up in disbelief.

Canadian rider Trystan Hart had a breakout week with a fifth behind Brown, SRT’s Cory Graffunder would put his past behind him with a much deserved sixth on the night, Beta’s Redmond can have lucky number 7. Of all the locals, none shone brighter than DA8/Husqvarna’s Cooper Abbott with an eighth place on the night. With a home crowd that will filled half the stadium bearing his family name, he accepted the evening with the fifth fastest panel in practice. The young Abbott will be coming into solid form. It will not be too long until Cooper starts tapping the top 5 on the glenohumeral joint regularly saying “Excuse me, sir, passing please”. Trials expert and Gas Gas’ Geoff Aaron just flowed smoothly to ninth while Wyatt Hart rounded out the very best ten.

Heading into Denver, Haaker with 101 points has a strong buffer over Webb for that points lead. With 94 points, Webb is 7 points at the rear of Haaker. Brown is in a strong 3rd in his own world with seventy seven points, and then the rest are combating to beat Brown. For Tremaine, Gerston, Aaron, and Redmond, Paul Brown is the man to defeat if they want on that podium at the end of the season. Without passing Brownish, they're not going to get there, and Brownie is not going to make that easy.

With Haaker and Brown’s lead, Husqvarna maintains its dominance with 178 factors in the manufacturers cup over KTM, who stands 6 points at the rear of. Beta holds a strong third along with 108 points. Denver is always an excellent venue and well attended from the Rockies' prevalent motorsports community.