E3 Spark Plugs News

With the 2010 GEICO AMA EnduroCross presented by E3 Spark Plugs finals still a week away, 21-year-old Colton Haaker (Lucas Oil/Kawasaki) has clinched his second consecutive win for the E3 Spark Plugs EnduroCross Pro Junior Championship title. It’s a sweet victory after a tough season. Haaker racked up 65 points thus far in the series and currently holds 8th place in the overall pro class standings. That’s well shy of where he’d like to be, but given his young age and substantially less seat time than veteran competitors in the EnduroCross field, it ain’t bad.

Colton Haaker is the 2010 E3 Spark Plugs EnduroCross Pro Junior Champion.

“Hey, it’s cool to still be young and doing as well as I’ve been doing in EnduroCross,” Haaker said. “This year has for sure been harder and things haven’t gone as well as they have in the past.”

Haaker left the nest just over a year ago, leaving his family home for his own Murietta, CA digs, and feels that much of his trouble this year (He finished 4th in the standings last year) can be attributed to the transition. Indeed, it’s an exciting but tough time for any young man. But despite the challenges, Haaker’s passion, persistence and pure talent took him to the top spot as the GEICO EnduroCross circuit’s best young rider this year.

“I learned a lot more about the sport this year and really want to do well in Vegas to close out the season,” he says.

Rounding out the E3 Spark Plugs EnduroCross Pro Junior Championship (open to pro class riders ages 16 to 21) this year are 19-year-old Jacob Argubright from Northridge, CA in 2nd place and 18-year-old Keith Sweeten of Oregon City, OR in 3rd place. E3 Spark Plugs, maker of the patented DiamondFire engineered performance spark plugs, congratulates each of these young racers on a job well done and a promising future on the tracks.

Got your tickets yet? The GEICO AMA EnduroCross finals are set for November 20 at Las Vegas’ Orleans Arena. Doors open at 6 p.m. and racing begins at 7:30.

Ready to get pumped up? If you’re planning to attend the championship rounds of the GEICO AMA EnduroCross Presented by E3 Spark Plugs, you’re in luck. It was just announced that longtime AMA MX Nationals announcer and ThorMX’s Thor TV host Rocket Rob Buydos has joined EnduroCross’ announcing team for the finals event November 20 at the Las Vegas Orleans Arena.

Longtime AMA MX Nationals announcer and Thor TV host "Rocket" Rob Buydos will announce the final rounds of the 2010 GEICO AMA EnduroCross Presented by E3 Spark Plugs. Image courtesy of EnduroCross.

A solid rider in his own right, Buydos is known for his high-energy announcing that gets fans in a frenzy and for his rapport with the racers on the tracks.

“I mean come on – Vegas is fantastic alone,” said Buydos in his typical fired-up persona. “Add to that sick talent, world class obstacles, true drama and the certain carnage THAT IS EnduroCross – and I love it!”

There’s no doubting Buydos’ passion for racing. Joining GEICO EnduroCross track announcer Laurette Nicoll, Buydos brings an exhaustive knowledge of motorcycle racing and an unsurpassed penchant for live event announcing.

“Buydos puts the Vegas GEICO EnduroCross finals over the edge,” says Mike Karsting VP of Events for Source Interlink Media. “We’re pumped to have him on board and look forward to what he brings to the table for our fans attending the live event at the Orleans on Nov. 20th.”

Hit up EnduroCross.com for your tickets to GEICO AMA EnduroCross presented by E3 Spark Plugs finals. If you can’t make it to the tracks, catch event on Versus TV December 19 at 6pm Eastern and again December 23 at 5pm Eastern. And check the E3 Spark Plugs blog for a results wrap-up. Meanwhile, if you want to get your ride race-ready, pick up a set of E3 motorcycle spark plugs with E3′s patented DiamondFire technology for a stronger, cleaner ride.

Defending EnduroCross champion Taddy Blazusiak of Poland raced to a hard-fought win, opening the E3 Spark Plugs-sponsored 2010 GEICO EnduroCross Series at Las Vegas’ Orleans Arena July 17. Touted the sport’s “premier showman,” Blazusiak rode his Red Bull KTM to victory over Geoff Aaron and Cory Graffunder.

Poland's Taddy Blazusiak, winner of the 2010 GEICO EnduroCross Series' Las Vegas opener.

Ten time National Trials champ Aaron kick-started race day by setting the fastest time in the Pioneer Hot Lap, which determined the gate picks for the evening heat races. When the dust settled, Blazusiak, Graffunder and Mike Brown were awarded the best gate picks for the main event. Blazusiak wond the $750 Girardi Wealth Management holeshot award, but it proved a short-term victory when Aaron quickly passed him by. The two riders ran neck-and-neck during the first half of the race, until a mishap sent Aaron tumbling into the GEICO rock garden. That gave Blazusiak a small lead that he managed to hold for the rest of the race.

The competition for third place proved to be a nail biter. Graffunder, Brown, Justin Soule, Gary Sutherlin, Cody Webb and Kyle Redmund. Each had a shot at the podium at various times during the race, but all bets were on Webb until he crashed into the Monster water hole. Brown and Soule followed closely for fourth and fifth place, respectively.

Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ricky Dietrich provided the biggest shock of the day when he crashed during the Last Chance Qualifier, knocking him from the main event. Lucas Oil rider Colton Haaker, last year’s E3 Spark Plugs Junior champion also sat out the main event on the bench.

Next up for the GEICO EnduroCross Series presented by E3 Spark Plugs, maker of the top-rated E3 motorcycle spark plugs: Round Two at Guthrie, Oklahoma’s Lazy E Arena August 14.
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