Maxxis EnduroCross Gets Underway
Kit Palmer | November 27, 2004
The starting gate for the inaugural Maxxis EnduroCross, the first of its kind in the United States, has officially dropped, so to speak, with the conclusion of timed qualifying for tonight’s program at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. Approximately 30 riders took to the extremely technical and challenging track, which features a grueling up/down boulder section, a series of giant log sections, and a deep, water-crossing section. When all was said and done, the quickest rider to complete a lap was motocrosser and part-time off-road racer Ryan Hughes on the ECC Honda CR250. He nailed all the tough sections and posted a 50.28-second lap time.
Second quickest was KTM rider Brian Garrahan with a 53.89, followed by Kawasaki Team Green’s David Pearson. Right behind Pearson was Great Britain’s David Knight.
Many other riders looked good on the track, including England’s Paul Edmondson, Finland’s Mika Ahola, WORCS Champion Nathan Woods and his teammates Ty Davis and Russell Pearson. Kawasaki’s Lance Smail, Steve Hatch, Bobby Bonds (pictured, bottom), and Poland’s Bartosz Oblucki looked impressive, as well.
Today’s times determined gate pick for tonight’s heat races. There will be three heat races, three semis and a Last Chance qualifier. The main event will be narrowed down to 10 riders, the winner taking home $10,000. Second place will receive $4500 and third $2500.
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.
