VOL. 55 ISSUE 28 JULY 17, 2018 P35
started strong, winning the first two tests. Mean-
while, Strang finished strong winning two of the final
three tests and riding with a consistency that left the
Aussie off-road star finishing out Saturday's round
with a 12-second advantage over Hepler. Sipes, on
the other hand, was way back in fifth, 22-seconds
behind Strang.
On Sunday, Sipes kicked things off with a win
in the first Cross test, cutting five seconds out of
Strang's lead. Baylor won the next test, an Enduro
test, with Sipes in second and Strang down in sixth.
Hepler jammed his foot in the ground in test three,
twisting his knee when he washed out his front
wheel, prompting the Pennsylvania rider to call it a
day. Sipes won the test with Strang in second and
Baylor in third.
Sipes went on to win the final Cross test and finish
second in one of the remaining Enduro tests, leav-
ing him .4 of a second ahead of Strang going into
the final Enduro test. After two days of racing and 11
tests, the overall came down to the final test and the
rider with the fastest time in the final test would win
the event.
Sipes was first to ride the final test. He turned in
a strong ride and sat at the finish to wait on Strang.
Strang had a good test going but lost his front end in
a soft berm within sight of the fin-
ish, putting an end to the suspense
and assuring Sipes the overall win.
Baylor move into second during the
shuffle, leaving Strang in third for
the weekend.
"Saturday was good," said
Strang. "Since it was dusty, I knew
I needed to be fast from the start. I
rode out front all day, which meant
I didn't have to deal with the dust
and I was able to win the first day.
I was fourth in the first Enduro test
on Sunday, so I was riding with
Steward Baylor was second overall.
A crash in the final test of the weekend
cost Josh Strang a chance for the
overall win. He ended up third.
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
SHAN
MOORE
