Hughes Wins EnduroCross

Kit Palmer | November 28, 2004

The first Maxxis EnduroCross is now history and ECC Honda’s Ryan Hughes came away with the hard-earned win, not to mention the $10,000 check that came with it. In front of an estimated 4000 spectators in the Orleans Arena (which holds approximately 6000) in Las Vegas, Hughes led all but a brief moment of the eight-lap race to take the win. Hughes got out in front early in the main event and, had it not been for a brief altercation with England’s David Knight, would’ve led every lap. Near the midway point, Hughes bobbled and Knight slipped past the Honda rider, but Hughes got him right back and held on for what was a popular win with the fans, who seemed to thoroughly enjoy what was an action-packed event.

Knight went on to finish in second place, followed by Husqvarna’s Mika Ahola. Fourth place went to Kawasaki Team Green’s David Pearson, while Sweden’s Anders Eriksson, aboard a Husqvarna, rounded out the top five overall.

Kit Palmer | Off-Road Editor

Kit Palmer started his career at Cycle News in 1984 and he’s been testing dirt and streetbikes every since – plus covering any event that uses some form of a knobby tire. He’s also our resident motorcycle mileage man with a commute of 120 miles a day.