E3 Spark Plugs News

It’s a question that, much like a spark plug fires up an engine, sparks a sometimes heated debate: Who’s better at off-road motorcycle racing – the GNCC and OMA series guys from the East Coast, or the West Coast WORCS and AMA Hare & Hound guys? This Friday night, top GNCC racer Chris Bach will fuel the already fiery debate when he boots up for his EX debut. The Indiana native currently ranked fifth in the GNCC’s premier XC1 class will race the GEICO AMA EnduroCross presented by E3 Spark Plugs on his home turf at the Indiana State Fairgrounds’ Pepsi Coliseum.

Top-ranked GNCC racer Chris Bach makes his EX debut at Round 3 of the GEICO AMA EnduroCross presented by E3 Spark Plugs August 27. Photo courtesy of www.ChrisBachOnline.com.

Bach hit the off-road racing scene hard and fast in 2009, landing the GNCC’s XC1 series “Amateur Rider of the Year.” Thus far this year, he has claimed three GNCC XC1 class podium finishes and another three top-five finishes in nine races this season. He’s fully aware that Indy’s EnduroCross course is a tough one – no matter which coast a rider calls home. And he’s ready to bring his A-game this weekend.

” EnduroCross is totally unique,” Bach says. “I don’t think you can say an East Coast guy will be good, or a West Coast guy will be good, or a trials guy will be good. It has evolved into its own sport and style of racing, so much so that I think within the next few years someone is going to be an EnduroCross specialist. That’s it. All they do is EX.”

Watch for Bach riding a GNCC-tuned KTM bike this Friday night (Aug. 27) at Round 3 of the GEICO AMA EX series. Starting time is 7:30 p.m. And if you want to boost your own A-game, pick up a set of E3 motorcycle spark plugs, E3 car spark plugs or E3 truck spark plugs. All feature our patented DiamondFire technology that promises a stronger, cleaner burn for superior performance. See you at the races!

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.
(more…)