Colton Haaker scored an important win at the Denver EnduroCross. Photography by Drew Ruiz.
It was another Webb/Haaker showdown in the GEICO AMA EnduroCross Championship (round six) at Denver’s National Western Complex in Colorado, October 3. The two title contenders went at it again for the win, this time the spoils going to Colton Haaker. Last week in Sacramento, Cody Webb got the upper hand.
Unfortunately for Haaker, after all of his hard work, the Rockstar Husqvarna rider gained just one point on series leader Webb. Earlier in the program, Webb won both his heat race, giving him a championship point, and the evening Hot Lap, giving him another point, which kept the damage of losing to Haaker in the main event to a minimum. (The difference between first and second is three points.) Webb’s lead over Haaker in the championship dropped from seven to six points.
The main event was an exciting one, with Haaker grabbing the Nexen Tire Holeshot and Webb settling into second.
Webb eventually passed Haaker for the lead on lap three and it appeared it was going to be another win for Webb.
Haaker found himself in a battle for second place with FMF KTM’s Taylor Robert. The two traded positions several times before Haaker took control and started reeling Webb back in. Haaker eventually got alongside Webb when Webb momentarily slid out three laps from the end. This ended up giving Haaker the advantage he needed to take over the lead, which he held to the finish.
At that point, Webb chose not to go after Haaker. He instead spent the rest of the race concentrating on defending the second-place position from Robert, which he did successfully.
“That was a long 15 laps and I kind of pumped up,” Webb said. “It is hard to be up front for that long.”
“Cody has been so solid in the heats and hot laps, so I have been losing points,” Haaker said. “So I knew it was important to get the win in the main and gain a point for the night.”
For Robert, it was his third straight podium finish since returning to the series from injury.
Beta’s Kyle Redmond finished fourth, while Gas Gas rider Geoff Aaron rounded out the top five overall.
Sixth went to Max Gerston (Beta), followed by Mike Brown (Husqvarna), Nick Thompson (KTM), Eric Rhoten (Yamaha) and Destry Abbott (Kawasaki).
Rachel Gutish, on the FMF/RPM Maxxis KTM, won the Women’s main event over Melissa Harten and Sandra Gomez.
RESULTS
2015 GEICO EnduroCross Championship
Denver, Colorado
Results: October 3, 2015
1. Colton Haaker Husqvarna
2. Cody Webb KTM
3. Taylor Robert KTM
4. Kyle Redmond Beta
5. Geoff Aaron Gas Gas
6. Max Gerston Beta
7. Mike Brown Husqvarna
8. Nick Thompson KTM
9. Eric Rhoten Yamaha
10. Destry Abbott Kawasaki
11. Ty Tremaine KTM
12. Noah Kepple KTM
13. Mitch Carvolth KTM
