VOL. 51 ISSUE 30 JULY 29, 2014 P69
and I'm going to continue to put
in the hard work. Luck usually
favors the prepared, so I'm just
being as ready as I can. It seems
like every year before I've gone
off on a slow start and finish re-
ally strong. I'm hoping the same
goes this year, especially with
the great start I've had. I didn't
know where I was going to be at
the beginning of the year and it
definitely started out strong and if
I can finish the way I have in the
last couple years, I'll be in a really
good position.
Are you already feeling the
pressure with the points lead
at this point? Do you feel like
the target is on you yet?
Yeah. I think the top three guys
this season definitely seem to be
Taddy [Blazusiak], Colton [Haaker]
and myself. We're the only three
winners so far this year. Colton's
blazing fast but he's always been
a little inconsistent, I've been a
strong, consistent rider every
race, and Taddy, he's just been
the man forever. He's always had
the target on his back and I feel
like I'm sneaking in here as an un-
derdog, just being smart about it.
But I feel like the target has been
transferred. I definitely noticed it
at the last round there. Taddy and
KTM are running the number one
plate on the bike instead of the 111.
I think they're trying to take that
hold back, I'm sure.
They're trying to take owner-
ship of the number one spot?
Yeah. I think they're jealous
that they don't have red plates on
their bike. I'd like to keep it that
way but it's not easy.
It's been a long journey to
get to this point in Enduro-
Cross, and especially coming
from the trials background,
you had a lot of ground to
make up in terms of race ex-
perience. What has been the
key there?
I think the biggest thing is just
upping my fitness and getting
my intensity up on a dirt bike.
Trials riders have always been
known as being cautious and
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
DREW
RUIZ
