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OFF ROAD GEICO AMA ENDUROCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 5/OCTOBER 4, 2014 NATIONAL WESTERN COMPLEX/DENVER, COLORADO P88 But I just hope we make it to the end of the season in one piece! I think that's what we have to do and try to avoid mistakes be- cause I pretty much think the first guy to lose out on this is the guy who makes the biggest mistake." Throughout the past few sea- sons, Haaker has left no doubt that he has the speed to win. But he is also the first to admit that he's been plagued by too many mistakes—something he is intent on turning around this season. "I've been putting in a lot of work at home and it shows when it comes down to the race," Haak- er said. "I really had it tonight. I've had it multiple times this year but I've got ahead of myself and cost myself races. I'm done cost- ing myself races. I'm prepared to make everyone else ride just as well [as me]. I give away a lot. I think I've given away more than Taddy and Cody in the past so that's what I'm working on." True to his word, Haaker didn't give up so much as an inch in the remaining laps of the main event. Blazusiak kept him in sight, but couldn't get within striking dis- tance. Blazusiak was more con- cerned with a hard-charging Webb by the final laps of the race. Webb had closed the gap and was threatening to challenge Blazusiak for second as they ap- proached the white flag. "I made a mistake in the fire pit and that's where he got me," Blazusiak said. "I'm pretty sure we're riding the same second the whole time, so like I said, it's all about the mistakes. I made a mistake but I never let him pass me. I took a few risks just to keep him behind. But after two big mis- takes in a race like this, where we were going so fast, I'm happy with second." Webb stayed strong for a solid third, followed by Taylor Robert, who made a last-lap pass on Husqvarna's Mike Brown to take fourth place. Brown took fifth ahead of Beta's Max Gerston and KTM-backed Cory Graffunder, who finished sixth and seventh, respectively. CN 1. Colton Haaker (Hon) 2. Taddy Blazusiak (KTM) 3. Cody Webb (Bet) 4. Taylor Robert (KTM) 5. Mike Brown (Hus) 6. Max Gerston (Bet) 7. Cory Graffunder (KTM) 8. Nick Thompson (KTM) 9. Ty Tremaine (KTM) 10. Bobby Prochnau (KTM) 11. Wally Palmer (Chr) 12. Destry Abbott (Kaw) Briefly... Blazusiak had a pretty long com- mute, coming from his home in Eu- rope at each race. But for the three consecutive race weekends, Blazu- siak is going to be staying in South- ern California, which is a factor he expects will help him in Salt Lake and Everett. "I've said to my mechanic so many times that when we hit the track in the main event, I'm always, like, half asleep. The jet lag is not helping. I guess over the years I get used to it, but it's definitely going to be better without that. We're going to have some back-to-back rounds so I'm going to stick around [in the U.S.] longer." Max Gerston enjoyed one of his best rides of his career in the Pro final.