Orl' aboard in Las Vegas
By TMX Archives on 4th Dec 08
KAWASAKI rider, Damon Huffman, topped the sixth and final round of the 2008 US Endurocross Championship, but it was his team-mate, Ricky Dietrich, who collected the biggest prize as the star of the US ISDE team earned his first Endurocross title with a runner-up result at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.With US trials ace Geoff Aaron claiming the final podium position, Taddy Blazusiak finished as the best placed European rider, a disappointed fourth It was billed as the talent-packed, end-of-series event that would bring the 2008 Endurocross series to a thrilling climax. And in many ways it delivered everything the sell-out crowd hoped it would. But it was the Endurocross regulars that dominated the proceedings, leaving newcomers like Sebastien Tortelli and Mike Brown wondering what the hell they'd got themselves into.
At the end of the night it was Monster Energy Kawasaki team that had most to celebrate as not only did former Supercross racer, Damon Huffman, win the main event but Ricky Dietrich, who only a few weeks earlier finished just one-point away from topping the WORCS championship, claimed his first ever Endurocross crown.
As always, making it into the main event proved to be anything but simple with former World Motocross Champion, Seb Tortelli, one of the biggest named riders to struggle to get to grips with the tight and technical Las Vegas course. While the Endurocross regulars didn't exactly make the track look easy, only those that were able to ride mistake-free made it into the final.
Despite adrenaline-fuelled action keeping spectators entertained during the heat and semi-final races, the main event proved to be somewhat of a letdown as far as bar-banging racing was concerned. Huffman shot into an early lead and completed each of the eight laps unchallenged. Claiming a deserved win, his victory wasn't quite enough to earn him the championship victory.
"I couldn't have asked for a better race,” commented the silky smooth rider. "I got a great start, managed not to make too many mistakes, and just kept myself out of trouble. I guess it is a little disappointing not to win the series, but ending the year with a win is great.” Riding with perfect timing and not too much aggression Huffman was one of only a handful of riders not to make the track look much harder than it actually was.
US ENDUROCROSS CHAMPS
Rd 6 (Final) – Orleans Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Overall: 1 Damon Huffman (Kawasaki), 2 Ricky Dietrich (Kawasaki), 3 Geoff Aaron (Christini KTM), 4 Taddy Blazusiak (KTM), 5 Bobby Prochnau (KTM), 6 Mika Ahola (Honda), 7 Patrick Smage (KTM), 8 Destry Abbott (Kawasaki), 9 Kyle Calderini (KTM), 10 Kyle Redmond (KTM).
FINAL SERIES STANDINGS: 1 Ricky Dietrich 136 points, 2 Huffman 131, 3 Blazusiak 99, 4 Aaron 96, 5 Colton Haaker (KTM) 86, 6 Nick Brozovich (Suzuki) 76.
FOR FULL REPORT SEE T+MX NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5
Taddy Blazusiak snatched a narrow third spot in the US Endurocross Champs, after claiming fourth spot on the night.