Colton Haaker dominated the action at the Sacramento EnduroCross. Photography by Drew Ruiz
Colton Haaker was the big winner at round three of the 2014 GEICO AMA EnduroCross Championship that took place inside the Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento, California, June 21. It was Haaker’s second career EnduroCross victory.
Haaker was in the zone in Sacramento. The Rockstar/Lucas Oil JCR Honda Team rider was at the top of his game all day, as he set the quickest time in the Hot Lap portion, won his heat race and pretty much dominated the 15-lap main event, but not until surviving a pretty good skirmish early in the feature race.
Haaker was one of a number of riders vying for the $500 Nexen Tire Holeshot Award, with series points leader Cody Webb, on the Beta, coming away with the early lead. Notables Mike Brown and Taddy Blazusiak emerged from the start in sixth and 11th, respectively.
Webb held the point for the first three laps when Haaker came calling.
Haaker made a clean block pass on Webb, who tried getting him back right away but instead went down, taking Taylor Robert with him. Webb managed to hold on to second with Robert still in third.
Haaker took full advantage of Webb’s mistake and maintained his lead for the remaining 11 laps, taking the checkered flag 8.9 seconds ahead of Webb.
Blazusiak, the defending champ, worked his way up through the pack to make a late-race pass on Robert to take third, nine seconds behind Webb.
Robert, on the FMF KTM, ended up fourth, five seconds behind fellow KTM rider Blazusiak.
KTM rider Cory Graffunder rounded out the top five, followed by Husqvarna’s Mike Brown, Beta’s Max Gerston and KTM riders Geoff Aaron, Gary Sutherlin and Ty Tremaine.
Only three points separate the top three as Webb holds a one-point lead over Haaker and a three-point gap on Blazusiak.
In the Women’s class 17-year-old Morgan Tanke claimed the win. Chantelle Bykerk, the defending Women’s Champion, claimed second overall after passing Rily Elinger on the last lap.
Elinger held on for third and her first podium.
Austin Schiermeister won the Amateur class over brothers Trystan and Wyatt Hart.
Jason Gitchel took the Vet-class win over Kane Silverberg and Kelly Gelhaus.
Joey Fiasconaro was the TrialsCross winner, with Nathan Brown taking second and Michael Salsman third.
Round 3
June 21, 2014
Sleep Train Arena
Sacramento, California
Main Event Results:
1. Colton Haaker Honda
2. Cody Webb Beta
3. Taddy Blazusiak KTM
4. Taylor Robert KTM
5. Cory Graffunder KTM
6. Mike Brown Husqvarna
7. Max Gerston Beta
8. Geoff Aaron KTM
9. Gary Sutherlin KTM
10. Ty Tremaine KTM
11. Kyle Redmond KTM
12. Bobby Prochnau KTM
13. Wally Palmer Christini
Women’s Main Event Results:
1. Morgan Tanke KTM
2. Chantelle Bykerk KTM
3. Rily Ellinger KTM
4. Rachel Gutish KTM
5. Tarah Geiger KTM
6. Lexi Pechout Sherco
7. Melissa Harten Gas Gas
8. Megan Griffiths KTM
9. Brianna Vinsonhaler KTM
10. Megan Blackburn Kawasaki
