KTM’s Blazusiak Wins 2012 AMA EnduroCross Championship
OutdoorHub 11.18.12
Red Bull KTM Factory rider Taddy Blazusiak of Poland was crowned the 2012 AMA EnduroCross Championship after sweeping both mains in the Las Vegas double-header finale held at the Orleans Arena on Saturday night.
Blazusiak turned the fastest lap in the afternoon hot laps to earn first gate pick in his heat. He was placed in the third heat where he took the holeshot and led every lap to easily transfer into the main event. His teammate, Factory FMF/KTM rider Mike Brown, finished 2nd in his heat to also earn a top gate pick in the first main event.
When the gate dropped for the first main event it was Blazusiak and Brown out front early. The KTM riders led the pack for the first two laps before Brown made a mistake and dropped to third. Then Blazusiak got stuck in the treacherous rocks section in the third lap letting Cody Webb rake the lead. The two riders swapped the lead for the next four laps but with two to go, Taddy pulled a small gap and took the win and having gone into the final competition needing only three more points to secure his 2012 AMA EnduroCross Championship, already had it in the bag. KTM teammate Mike Brown joined him on the podium with a third place finish.
Blazusiak shot off the start gate in the second main event to come around the first corner tied for the lead. He quickly moved his KTM out front and led the way around the first lap.
Out front, Blazusiak again had a bobble in the rocks that allowed Webb to close the gap. Webb did his best to challenge the champion but Taddy did not buckle and remained in the lead. The two riders proceeded to duke it out until the end, delivering a thrilling display of riding that had the crowd on the edge of their seats as the race came down to the final rock section. Blazusiak found a clear line and smoothly raced through the rocks to go on to win the second main event of the night. Brown was able to successfully climb from his poor start into the top five to finish fifth overall on the night and bumped him up into overall fourth in the championship.
“It was great to have Taddy return to defend his championship this year. We are happy he was able to clinch another championship. He and the team have worked very hard for this championship and it is a great ending to the year to take the number one plate again,” stated Team Manager Antti Kallonen.
Speaking of KTM’s Polish rider, EnduroCross promoter Eric Peronnard was quoted on the official EnduroCross website recently saying: “Taddy Blazusiak is without any question the best EnduroCross rider in the world.”
