IN
THE
WIND
P32
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
DARIN
CHAPMAN
HEPLER WINS PENNSYLVANIA
FULL GAS SPRINT ENDURO
F
ormer factory motocross
racer and multi-time AMA pro
MX and SX race winner Broc
Hepler found his way back to the
top step of the podium after win-
ning the Kenda Full Gas Sprint
Enduro, present by PRI Power-
sports Insurance, in Fairmount
City, Pennsylvania, August 5-6.
It was his first victory of any
kind since his days as a factory
motocross racer for both Suzuki
and Yamaha. Hepler retired from
motocross racing in 2009 due to
repeated concussions.
In his home state of Pennsyl-
vania, Hepler dominated the first
day of competition (Saturday),
winning four of the six tests, then
finished second to Steward Bay-
lor on Sunday, but the Lunova
Racing-backed Hepler (Husqvar-
na) took the combined overall vic-
tory. He had 12 seconds to spare
over SRT KTM's Baylor, who
was second overall, followed by
Beta's Jordan Ashburn.
"I came in here hoping for a
top-three, but after a couple of
tests I realized I was winning,"
said Hepler. "I was relaxed and
had a good time on Saturday and
I think it showed in my riding.
However, the realization that I
could actually win this thing set
in on Sunday and I started to get
arm-pump and the usual stress
that comes with competition,
which is something I don't miss
about racing at all. In the end,
though, this was a fun event and
I really like the format, which is
similar to ISDE. I really enjoyed
myself, for sure.
"I came into Sunday's event
with a 12-second lead, but in this
type of racing, one slip-up or
tipover can cost you a lot of time,
so I knew my lead wasn't safe,"
added Hepler. "I did managed to
stay off the ground until the very
last corner in the last test of the
day on Sunday; I fell over and my
leg was trapped under my bike.
Luckily, my bike kept running and
I was able to finish without losing
too much time to Baylor."
Baylor was satisfied with
second.
"Obviously, I wanted to be
Broc Hepler returned
to his winning ways,
topping the Kenda Full
Gas Sprint Enduro in
Pennsylvania.
