On The Pegs September 2019 - Volume 4 - Issue 9 | Page 71

On The Pegs
Vol. 4 Issue 9 - September 2019
71
At one point the 2019 EnduroCross series didn’t look like
it was going to get off the ground. However, thanks to
EnduroCross architect Eric Peronnard and Arenacross
entrepreneur Tod Hammock, not only did the 2019 sea-
son get underway, but it appears to be alive and well.
Saturday August 24 saw the opening round of the 2019 Endurocross season kick
off with a bang. With a new format and the return of Taddy Blazusiak to the series,
expectations were high. Taking place in the Findley Center in Prescott Arizona,
the track had some familiar obstacles: rock piles, The Matrix, logs, and tractor tires.
Missing was the water feature, but a new, pro only, obstacle was a concrete barrier
followed by a giant steel drum.
As for the format, the pro’s would need to qualify during the day, with a LCQ
to start the night show. If you qualified, or got through the LCQ, there would be
three motos with a double starting line. The starting order of moto 1 is based on
the Hot Laps qualifying times, the starting order of moto 2 is an inverted finishing
order of moto 1, and the starting order of moto 3 is the finishing order of moto 2.
Basically if you do well in moto 1, you get to start from the second row of moto 2.
The overall winner is the rider with the best score.
This format made for a great night of racing. When the flag dropped on for
the first moto, Ty Tremaine got the holeshot. In the first few laps, the riders were
jostling back and forth. Tremaine went down and Cory Graffunder took over the
lead and held on for the moto 1 win with Colton Haaker in second and Ty Cullins
in third.
In moto 2, the top finishers had to start from the back row. When the gate
dropped, it was Haaker with the holeshot. He said, “When the gate dropped, there
was a small gap and I just pinned it and ended up with the holeshot.” Haaker kept
the lead entire moto for the win, with Tristan Hart in second and Noah Kepple in
third.
Moto 3 was a fight. Taddy Blazusiak got out to an early lead. Colton Haaker was
in a close second and started to battle for the lead. The battle lasted most of the
race. With just a few laps left Haaker went for block pass leaving Blazusiak stuck
for a few seconds. That was all Haaker needed to take the win. Bazusiak fought