VOL. 56 ISSUE 14 APRIL 9, 2019 P25
Webb was to win.
Webb did, in fact, go on to
win the third and final race and
looked to have the championship
in his grasp, because Haaker,
who was struggling in the race,
was running in fifth place on the
last lap. But not for long.
In the last turn, Haaker's team-
mate Alfredo Gomez, who was
running third, slowed down to
let Haaker pass and pinched off
another rider in the process. This
allowed Haaker to advance from
fifth to third in the final corner and
sew up the championship. Gomez
was disqualified for his actions,
but Haaker still took the title.
Adding to the drama, Haaker
crashed while taking the check-
ered flag landing in a heap off
the side of the track. Haaker had
edged out Webb by four points
for the 2019 championship.
"In the last race I gave my all,
and I had some help from my
teammate, too," said Haaker. "I
started to fall apart a bit with arm
pump, but I knew I had to win that
second race, or at least finish
ahead of Cody. I got a bit too
comfortable and made too many
mistakes, but I'm here now as the
Champion, and it feels good."
"I didn't feel that I had the title
until the last lap," said Webb.
"Then I started to celebrate it, I
thought I had won. But I suddenly
saw Alfredo Gomez, and I real-
ized what had happened. Colton
and I always seem to end up
having wild battles until the end of
the season and this year has been
another good fight."
Third in the championship
ended up going to Blazusiak. "I'm
not the champion, but I'm still smil-
ing," Blazusiak said. "This season
has been a weird one, probably
the strangest I've experienced in
my life. I'm going to be back next
year, but I really feel like I have
another title in me. I wouldn't stay
that I'll hope for less bad luck next
year, but some more good luck
would be nice!"
Spaniard Pol Tarres (Husqvarna)
finished out the championship in
fourth and Gomez fifth.
William Hoare won the Junior
Championship and Thomas Scharl
won the European Cup. CN
OVERALL
1. Cody Webb (KTM)
2. Colton Haaker (Hus)
3. Taddy Blazusiak (KTM)
4. Pol Tarres (Hus)
5. Kevin Gallas (Hus)
Cody Webb
wasn't pleased
with how the
night ended.
