Maxxis Endurocross
MAXXIS ENDUROCROSS
RACE WATCH
Racing in a fishbowl
OFF-ROAD RACING HAS NEVER BEEN A GREAT SPECTATOR SPORT, especially the way that most of America views entertainment. We want non-stop action along with all the comforts of home, a cold beer and a salted pretzel in-hand.
That pretty much describes supercross, which is one reason why that sport is so popular. But I’m here to tell you that endurocross is even better. Way better. Think of it as the HDTV of off-road racing. The venue is purposely small, so spectators get up close and personal with top riders as they negotiate a track jam-packed with extreme obstacles. You don’t just see the action, you feel it.
Promoters Tim Clark and Eric Peronnard imported the concept from Europe.
The inaugural U.S. event was held in Las Vegas at the Orleans Arena in November, 2004, but failed to bring in a big crowd. Those who did attend, however, got to see a show filled with heart-stopping excite ment, former Pro motocrosser Ryan Hughes taking a hard-fought win over world enduro champ David Knight.
[he `05 race was even better. Clark and Peronnard brought more action-packed thrills to the Orleans, this time in front of a sell-out crowd. It was my first crack at endurocross and my second opportunity within the span of a week to line up against Knight, who finished 40 minutes ahead of me the previous weekend at the brutal Red Bull Last Man Standing (see main story).
For the event, I scored a works Kawa saki KX250 (with unobtainable KX-SR graphics to prove it). "If James Stewart raced off-road, this would be his bike," ex plained my Kawasaki mechanic Spencer Bloomer. Knight and I were in the same heat race, but because each six-lap heat lasted only six minutes, I knew he wouldn't be able to annihilate me the way he did atLMS.
Just after the gate dropped, Knight slid out, ending up underneath me and caus ing a multi-rider pileup. My bike was still running, so I remounted and got back into the race, making my way up to second before crashing again. I managed to claw through to third at the checkers, but only the top two transferred to the main.
Knight was in my semi, too. Here, only first place would transfer. He grabbed the holeshot, and I tried to keep him in sight but lost hope when I tangled with trials star Geoff Aaron. I finished second-not good enough.
In the last-chance qualifier, two riders came together before the first turn, giving me the lead and what looked like an easy win. But the race was red-flagged. At the restart, I quickly made my way to the front but crashed while trying to navigate wet logs. Or was it the pickup-size boulders? Or the five-foot-tall tractor tires? I don’t remember. Anyway, knowing that only the winner would advance, I gave it everything, and three turns before the finish I passed GNCC regular Nathan Kanney for the win.
I made the 10-man main against 35 of the best off-road riders in the world. I also rode more laps than anyone else so, going into the final, I was dead-tired. When the gate dropped, I had close to zero energy, and it was all I could do just to stay on two wheels. A crash early on put me behind, so I didn’t get to battle up front as I would have liked. Nonetheless, I pulled off a sixth-place finish. Not too bad for a guy who rides a desk most of the week.
Knight took the win followed by retired MXer John Dowd. Hughes fell several times and finished a lap down in ninth. The spectators, meanwhile, walked out of the arena with big smiles on their faces and hoarse voices from all the screaming they’d done cheering on their favorite riders. I overheard several people say, “That was the best racing I’ve ever seen.” Me, too. Ryan Dudek
