The Slavens Racing AMA EnduroCross Series presented by Progressive Insurance hosted the third round of the six-round series at the Mountain America Center in Idaho Falls, Idaho on Friday night
Race Report and Images by AMA EnduroCross
Colton Haaker took the early lead in the first Moto after grabbing the Moose Racing Holeshot. He was followed closely by teammate Ryder Leblond who was in second before a hiccup in the rock garden set him back. Jonny Walker started the moto in ninth place and steadily worked his way back to third throughout moto one. But it was all Haaker in the first Moto, who started and finished in first, ahead of Hart in second and Walker in third.
To establish gate picks for the second moto, the sixteen riders’ finish positions from race one are inverted, meaning the top eight from race one start on the second row. Olszowy took advantage of a front-row start to grab the lead at the first turn with Brandon Petrie and Braxton Hintze not far behind.
Cooper Abbott was the first from the back row to make a charge for the top spot but just narrowly ahead of moto one winner Colton Haaker. Haaker then passed Abbott in the turn before the rock garden in the third lap.
Haaker then started his charge for the moto two leader Olszowy, almost getting in another pass in the rock garden, before both racers got held up by lapped traffic.
On the next and last lap of the race, Olszowy saw some trouble in the rock garden, but this time Haaker took advantage, taking the inside line in the rocks to pass Olszowy and take the lead for the first time in the second moto.
Haaker would hang on to that lead to the checkered flag and his second straight moto win ahead of Olszowy in second and Abbott in third.
The third and final moto on the night saw Haaker again jump out to an early lead but this time Hart was right behind him, looking for a moto win in the third round.
This deciding moto would see Haaker and Hart in the one and two spots for almost the entirety of the race. Haaker would try to pull away, but Hart kept pressing at every turn.
When lapped traffic started to become an issue, things began to heat up between the five time champion and the defending champion.
On the final lap of the race, Haaker was still in the lead, but just barely. The rock garden again brought the drama, with Hart passing Haaker as they headed into the rocks, only to be passed right back after a rock stopped him in his tracks.
Haaker turned into the final half lap barely ahead of Hart. Hart didn’t give up, trying to steal the win away at the finish line, as both racers went over at almost the exact same time.
Haaker and Harts bikes collided as the checkered flag waved and Hart went to the ground, immediately getting up and throwing his goggles in the direction of Haaker. Haaker would swing back around and jump off his bike to confront Hart. Things got heated as the two exchanged words and shoves in the middle of the track.
Haaker took the overall win in round three, ahead of Hart in second place and Abbott in third.
Round 4 – Saturday
Having finished fourth overall on Friday, Jonny Walker came into Saturday’s race looking for redemption and knowing this was scheduled to be his final outing at this year’s EnduroCross series before returning to Europe.
Hart carried a 15-point lead over Haaker after Friday night’s results, with Walker another 14 points back and still looking for his first overall win. Setting the fastest qualifying time in practice set the tone for the race for the British rider as they moved onto Hot Laps which would tell the tale of the tape.
Haaker it was who turned an impressive 00:30.450-second lap time to top Walker second at 00:31.957, with Abbott (00:32.006), Hart (00:32.085), and LeBlond (00:32.334) finishing third through fifth.
Moto one
Hart was first out of the first turn to start Moto One, with Haaker and Abbott in tow. The rock garden was the most technical part of the course again and that’s where most of the passing took place. It was, in fact, where Hart snuck around Haaker to take the lead on lap two, as Abbott followed suit, dropping Haaker to third.
Walker eventually passed Haaker for third, again in the rock section, and a short time later displaced Abbott for second. At the finish, the order was Hart, Walker Haaker, Abbott and Olszowy.
Moto two
Starting in reverse order for moto two, Haaker was the first of the top riders out of the first turn in fourth with Abbott seventh, Walker and Hart in eighth and ninth.
By lap four, the cream had risen to the top and Haaker, Walker, Hart and Abbott occupied the top four positions.
Walker pulled to within striking distance of Haaker on the final lap, but Haaker was able to hold on for the win, with Walker second, Hart third, Olszowy fourth and GasGas-mounted Braxton Hintze in fifth.
Crucial Moto 3
Haaker, Walker and Hart went into the final moto tied in points for the overall win, all three with four points, meaning moto three would be a “winner take all” affair.
Walker was quickest off the line, a rare fast start for the new Triumph Racing rider which would prove crucial. Haaker and Hart moved into second and third by the end of lap one, setting up the big showdown.
After a couple of nights of at times chaotic racing, Walker looked calm as he pulled away and rode a steady race to the flag, while Haaker and Hart battled over second. Haaker got jammed up between two logs midway into the race and dropped to sixth, moving Hart into second.
At the finish, Walker got his first moto win of the season, with Hart second and Abbott in third. For the overall, it was Walker with the victory, Hart second overall and Haaker third overall. Abbott and Olszowy in fourth and fifth overall.
After the two nights of racing, Hart extended his lead in the championship standings to 16 points ahead of Walker, 110 points to 94 points. Haaker sits in third with 91 points, with Abbott (75) and Olszowy (63) in fourth and fifth.
In the Expert Pro Women division, Shelby Turner dominated again, taking the early lead ahead of Marks and Harten in moto two. Gutish made a late run from last to end up second and some chaos in the rocks, leaving the order at the finish Turner, Gutish, Marks, Melissa Harten (KTM) and Bailey Lerwill (GG).
Idaho EX Pro Class Round 4 Top 10 Results:
1. Jonny Walker (Tri) 2-2-1
2. Trystan Hart (KTM) 1-3-2
3. Colton Haaker (Hsq) 3-1-4
4. Cooper Abbott (Shr) 4-7-3
5. Dominik Olszowy (Rei) 5-4-5
6. Ryder LeBlond (Hsq) 6-9-6
7. Braden Petrie (GG) 10-6-8
8. Braxton Hintze (GG) 11-5-9
9. Tim Apolle (Bet) 13-8-7
10. Max Gerston (Bet) 7-11-12
The Slavens Racing AMA EnduroCross Series presented by Progressive Insurance resumes on November 9th at First Interstate Bank Center in Redmond, Oregon.
