VOL. 55 ISSUE 33 AUGUST 21, 2018 P45
started the season last year with
a fiery performance, taking the
win at the opening round in Las
Vegas. Look for the 2016 cham-
pion to come out swinging again
in 2018.
"Last season was difficult for
me with the elbow injury, but that
was a situation that was just out
of my control," said Haaker. "I've
been training really hard and I
know what I'm capable of and
I'm looking forward to showing it
at the opening round."
Now in its 16th year, the AMA
EnduroCross Championship
is cultivating young talent, and
2018 is the season to keep an
eye on a number of key players
advancing through the ranks.
Team SRT Husqvarna rider
Trystan Hart had a breakthrough
year in 2017, finishing a remark-
able second in the champion-
ship, well exceeding his expec-
tations. The young Canadian
rider has yet to claim his career-
first main event win—a look back
at the last two seasons reveal
that Webb and Haaker are the
only two riders with main event
wins, but that could very well
change in 2018.
Ty Tremaine is another rider to
watch, not only for his podium
potential, but because he will be
breaking ground in the series
aboard an electric-powered
Alta RedShift motorcycle. As a
factory rider for the e-bike firm,
Tremaine will be the first pro-
class racer to compete aboard
an electric dirt bike.
More young riders coming
up through the ranks include
GasGas rider Noah Kepple,
Beta USA's Mason Ottersberg
and RPM/KTM rider Cooper Ab-
bott, son of one of EnduroCross'
favorite veterans Destry Abbott.
As for the championship itself,
some changes have been made.
The evening program is back to
a two-heat format with an LCQ,
then a head-to-head bracket
race showdown for the top eight
(top four from each heat). Extra
championship points are up for
grabs with a single point going
to the heat race winners and the
bracket race winner.
The "No Joke Lane" that was
introduced last year is back for
2018, but will now be incor-
porated into all the pro races,
meaning riders will have to face
the added "extreme" element in
the heats and LCQ as opposed
to only in the main event.
The series schedule and
ticket info can be found at www.
EnduroCross.com. CN
2018 ENDUROCROSS SCHEDULE
1. PRESCOTT VALLEY, AZ ...................... AUGUST 25
2. COSTA MESA, CA ................................ SEPTEMBER 15
3. RENO, NV ............................................. SEPTEMBER 22
4. DENVER, CO ........................................ OCTOBER 20
5. EVERETT, WA ...................................... OCTOBER 27
6. NAMPA, ID ........................................... NOVEMBER 3
How to Watch
Tune in to beIN Sports
to catch every round of
EnduroCross. Coverage
will air on the following
Thursdays nights at 9pm
EST. For more information
visit beINsports.com or
endurocross.com.
