Colton Haaker – here flanked by runner-up Cory Graffunder (left) and third-place finisher Max Gerston (right) – collected the win and $5000 for winning the 2015 King of the Motos.
Rockstar Lucas Oil Husqvarna racer Colton Haaker topped the King of the Motos yesterday at the fifth running of the extreme off-road event, besting SRT/KTM’s Cory Graffunder and factory Beta rider Max Gerston, who filled out the podium. Haaker piloted his TE 300 two-stroke to the overall win in the three-hour race that saw top riders completing three laps on a daunting 12-mile course laid out in “The Hammers” area of Johnson Valley, California.
The win was a first for Haaker, who also called it his first “finish” of an extreme enduro. (He raced King of the Motos last year and crossed the finish line third, but was disqualified for missing a check.)
It was also a first podium finish for Graffunder, who has attempted the race every year since it’s inception. Graffunder was finally able to complete the event without any mechanical issues, despite it being the longest and toughest King of the Motos to date – a point the racers unanimously agreed on.
Haaker and Graffunder kept it a tight battle throughout the race, particularly on the first lap. With no course markings, the race format requires riders to navigate their way through, which made the opening lap particularly challenging.
Haaker negotiates a boulder-strewn canyon near the end of his second lap. Photography by Jean Turner
“In the beginning it was more of a cat and mouse between Graffunder and I, and Gerston was in there and a few other guys,” Haaker said. “We were all trying to figure out which way to go because it was all unmarked. Every time I got in the lead I got lost.”
Graffunder proved to have the advantage when it came to finding the way, and the SRT-backed rider completed the first lap in the lead with Haaker in tow and Gerston not far off. The second lap, according to the top riders, was when the racing really began.
“At that point we knew where we were going,” Graffunder said. “Then it was race time. That’s when all the racing happened, for me, was lap two and three.”
Despite his best efforts to keep Haaker in check, Graffunder (pictured) had to settle for second place. Photography by Jean Turner.
Haaker checked out and stretched his lead over the next two hours and never looked back. Despite his best efforts to close the gap, Graffunder couldn’t keep him closer than about 30 seconds throughout the course. Gerston followed another minute or two behind, and the three held their positions to the finish, gapping the rest of the field.
Fourth-place finisher Mitch Carvolth took the checkers over one hour behind Gerston, followed by Kale Elworthy, who rounded out the top-five. Only five racers completed three laps, and only another seven went two laps. The rest of the finishers only endured one lap of the treacherous course, and 36 of the 80 racers who started the race did not reach the finish.
Women’s class competitors and companions Morgan Tanke and Rachel Gutish helped each other through the course, and crossed the finish line together, making history as the first women to record finishes in the King of the Motos.
King of the Motos Pro Results:
1. Colton Haaker (3 laps/3:21:07)
2. Cory Graffunder (3 laps/3:26:43)
3. Max Gerston (3 laps/3:28:35)
4. Mitch Carvolth (3 laps/4:32:27)
5. Kale Elworthy (3 laps/4:48:22)
6. Wally Palmer (2 laps/3:24:29)
7. Noah Kepple (2 laps/3:25:24)
8. Jordan Brandt (2 laps/3:30:24)
9. Eric Rhoten (2 laps/4:00:29)
10. Don Boespflug (2 laps/4:09:49)
Amateur Results:
1. Kevin Murphy (2 laps/4:35:35)
2. Chris Lencioni (1 lap/2:25:36)
3. Jordan Rock (1 lap/2:55:28)
Women:
1. Rachel Gutish (1 lap/5:25:47)
2. Morgan Tanke (1 lap/5:25:48)
