Rock hills, giant tree stumps, and a variety of obstacles smashed into an indoor facility for gladiators to go to war.
One of the most exhilarating sports returns to the Grand Canyon State. Combining the extremes of outdoor elements within an indoor arena, EnduroCross has evolved into one of the most intense forms of motorcycle racing in the world with America holding one of the most competitive fields every year.
EnduroCross drops the gate at the Findlay Toyota Center for the fourth time since its inaugural visit in 2018 at the former home of the Northern Arizona Suns. Primary manufacturers such as KTM, Husqvarna, Beta, Sherco and GasGas have committed to having their top riders compete. Five-time champion Taddy Blazusiak, EnduroCross and SuperEnduro Champion Colton Haaker, and Arizona enduro star, Max Gerston are all part of the action on Saturday night.
Gerston is a cowboy-hat-wearing, Scottsdale native with EnduroCross national championships at the amateur and junior levels who has solidified his role as a staple of the series. Cooper Abbott is a 24-year-old rising star and son of off-road star, Destry Abbott. The young hotshot from Peoria was added to Sherco’s factory team to race alongside three-time EnduroCross champion, Cody Webb.
Take a glance at the sights & sounds of @EnduroXSeries when they visited @FindlayCenter in 2019 where riders must impose their will on the wild and dangerous course layout en route to the checkered flag. They’re back this Saturday night to kick off the second half of their season pic.twitter.com/q5JfRDJOtX
Defending EnduroCross champion, Colton Haaker, has claimed victory in the past two races at Prescott Valley but sits sixth in the current standings halfway through the season. Trystan Hart enters the halfway point of the season tied for the points lead with Polish enduro superstar, Taddy Blazusiak. Abbott sits fifth in the standings with Gerston in 11th.
With the stars out to shine, the series also want the local racing community to join in as well. The series includes support classes for Expert, Intermediate, Novice, Veteran, Junior and Pro Women groups.
With only three events remaining in the championship series. getting ahead of the pack early by winning at Prescott Valley could give dividends in claiming the shortened championship. The pro series will run a three-moto format, meaning the series’ best will duke it out three different times accumulating points in front of the cheering fans.
The series will close out 2022 in Boise, ID on Nov. 5 and Reno, NV on Nov. 19.
Gates open for the fans at 6:00 pm with a pit party and autograph session. Main events drop the gate starting at 7:00 pm.
Arizona native, Devon Henry, joined the Sports360AZ crew in 2018 after graduating from Arizona State's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism & Mass Communication. Devon has avidly partaken in coverage of the Arizona high school sports scene since 2013 and has covered NASCAR and INDYCAR at Phoenix Raceway since 2017. Devon is also a play-by-play announcer, calling over a dozen different sports and hundreds of events.
