VOL. 52 ISSUE 30 JULY 28, 2015 P33
EVEL KNIEVEL DAYS HOSTS
INNAUGURAL "EVEL KROSS ENDURO"
F
ans and thrill seekers once
again gathered in Butte,
Montana to celebrate the
memory of the original dare
devil—Evel Knievel—at the an-
nual non-profit "Evel Knievel
Days" event. The extreme sports
festival in Knievel's hometown
includes music, stunts, exhibi-
tions and most recently, rac-
ing events. The 2015 edition
marked the first ever "Evel Kross
Enduro"—an Endurocross-style
event coordinated in large part
by 10-time National Trials Cham-
pion Geoff Aaron.
"It was kind of a last-minute
deal," Aaron said. As a regular
at the Evel Knievel Days, Aaron
has performed his trials demo
at past events, but this year
suggested the idea of a race.
Promoters quickly embraced
the idea, and Aaron got to work
building the course. The tradi-
tional-style EnduroCross course
included the usual suspects—log
crossings, tractor tires and river
rocks—but also included an
"Evel-style" obstacle where the
riders jumped over cars.
"I told them if they could
generate the money [for the
purse] that I could get some
good guys to come race," Aaron
continued. "They came up with
a $10,000 purse, so we got
guys like Colton Haaker, Kyle
Redmond, Cory Graffunder and
Nick Thompson to come up and
race."
The main event saw a stacked
12-rider gate that included Aar-
on. Unfortunately he and Haaker
tangled in the first corner, which
set them both back in the field.
Out front it was Redmond and
Thompson battling for the lead.
In the end, Thompson bested
the tight track and wet condi-
tions the best, and took home
the lion's share of the prize mon-
ey. Redmond collected second
while Graffunder joined him on
the podium in third. Haaker and
Aaron rounded out the top-five.
Jean Turner
mum to pull enough of a gap
to negate the fact they needed
to have one more pitstop than
F.C.C. to make it to the finish.
Smith eventually crossed the
line 77 seconds clear of F.C.C,
with Kagayama a lap behind
in third. WEC regulars Suzuki
Endurance Racing Team (SERT)
was fourth, two laps off the win,
with early race leaders Yoshimu-
ra Suzuki in fifth.
"We stood in front of all the
Yamaha staff and Mr. Kimura
and everyone who works inside
the factory," said Bradley Smith,
"and promised them a first
place. It's very special, the 60th
anniversary for Yamaha. I'm glad
that we were able to show the
true potential of this bike and
give them the victory after 19
years that they very well de-
serve." CN
(Left to Right) Bradley
Smith, Katsuyuki
Nakasuga and Espargaro
celebrate victory.
