Having finished fourth overall on Friday, Jonny Walker came into Saturday’s race looking for redemption and knowing this was scheduled to be his final outing at this year’s EnduroCross series before returning to Europe.
Hart carried a 15-point lead over Haaker after Friday night’s results, with Walker another 14 points back and still looking for his first overall win. Setting the fastest qualifying time in practice set the tone for the race for the British rider as they moved onto Hot Laps which would tell the tale of the tape.
Haaker it was who turned an impressive 00:30.450-second lap time to top Walker second at 00:31.957, with Abbott (00:32.006), Hart (00:32.085), and LeBlond (00:32.334) finishing third through fifth.
Moto one
Hart was first out of the first turn to start Moto One, with Haaker and Abbott in tow. The rock garden was the most technical part of the course again and that’s where most of the passing took place. It was, in fact, where Hart snuck around Haaker to take the lead on lap two, as Abbott followed suit, dropping Haaker to third.
Walker eventually passed Haaker for third, again in the rock section, and a short time later displaced Abbott for second. At the finish, the order was Hart, Walker Haaker, Abbott and Olszowy.
Moto two
Starting in reverse order for moto two, Haaker was the first of the top riders out of the first turn in fourth with Abbott seventh, Walker and Hart in eighth and ninth.
By lap four, the cream had risen to the top and Haaker, Walker, Hart and Abbott occupied the top four positions.
Walker pulled to within striking distance of Haaker on the final lap, but Haaker was able to hold on for the win, with Walker second, Hart third, Olszowy fourth and GasGas-mounted Braxton Hintze in fifth.
Crucial Moto 3
Haaker, Walker and Hart went into the final moto tied in points for the overall win, all three with four points, meaning moto three would be a “winner take all” affair.
Walker was quickest off the line, a rare fast start for the new Triumph Racing rider which would prove crucial. Haaker and Hart moved into second and third by the end of lap one, setting up the big showdown.
After a couple of nights of at times chaotic racing, Walker looked calm as he pulled away and rode a steady race to the flag, while Haaker and Hart battled over second. Haaker got jammed up between two logs midway into the race and dropped to sixth, moving Hart into second.
At the finish, Walker got his first moto win of the season, with Hart second and Abbott in third. For the overall, it was Walker with the victory, Hart second overall and Haaker third overall. Abbott and Olszowy in fourth and fifth overall.
After the two nights of racing, Hart extended his lead in the championship standings to 16 points ahead of Walker, 110 points to 94 points. Haaker sits in third with 91 points, with Abbott (75) and Olszowy (63) in fourth and fifth.
In the Expert Pro Women division, Shelby Turner dominated again, taking the early lead ahead of Marks and Harten in moto two. Gutish made a late run from last to end up second and some chaos in the rocks, leaving the order at the finish Turner, Gutish, Marks, Melissa Harten (KTM) and Bailey Lerwill (GG).
Idaho EX Pro Class Round 4 Top 10 Results:
1. Jonny Walker (Tri) 2-2-1
2. Trystan Hart (KTM) 1-3-2
3. Colton Haaker (Hsq) 3-1-4
4. Cooper Abbott (Shr) 4-7-3
5. Dominik Olszowy (Rei) 5-4-5
6. Ryder LeBlond (Hsq) 6-9-6
7. Braden Petrie (GG) 10-6-8
8. Braxton Hintze (GG) 11-5-9
9. Tim Apolle (Bet) 13-8-7
10. Max Gerston (Bet) 7-11-12
The Slavens Racing AMA EnduroCross Series presented by Progressive Insurance resumes on November 9th at First Interstate Bank Center in Redmond, Oregon.