coveted top starting spot among
the front-row eight. Moto one
unfolded as a statement from
Walker. He led Abbott and Hart
into the first turn and never
looked back, controlling the race
from flag to flag, despite the
inevitable mid-race chaos from
lappers. Abbott held Hart at bay
for the opening two laps before
the KTM rider finally forced his
way into second on lap three,
which most likely cost Hart a
chance to catch Walker. LeBlond
worked into third by lap four,
while Webb eventually slipped
past Abbott late to claim fourth.
The second moto scrambled
the order, with inverted starts for
the top eight from the first race.
Abbott rocketed from the back
row into the early lead, with Nick
Thompson (KTM) and LeBlond
trailing. Hart and Walker were
buried in eighth and 10th at one
point, facing an uphill climb on a
track that rewarded clean lines
over aggression.
LeBlond, however, seized the
moment, worked his way to the
front, and held on for the win
ahead of Abbott and a charging
Hart. Walker recovered for fourth.
Heading into the third and final
moto, the Olympic scoring sys-
tem (lowest total points wins)
set up a tight battle. LeBlond's
3-1 scorecard gave him four
points and a mathematical edge
over Walker and Hart, who had
five. The final moto boiled down
to a winner-take-all showdown.
Chaos struck immediately.
Hart and Abbott came together
down the front straight into turn
one, leaving Hart with a mangled
bike and in last place while Ab-
bott emerged with the lead. LeB-
lond slotted into second, followed
by Webb, Haaker, and Walker.
As the race settled in, Abbott
led early before LeBlond took
over at the midway point. Walker
methodically closed in, first
Ryder LeBlond won
one of the three
feature races and
finished 2nd overall.
WIND
IN THE
P40
