KTM Enduro Factory Team rider Taddy Blazusiak has claimed a fifth consecutive Erzberg Rodeo victory, making him the most successful competitor in the history of the event. The toughest running of the race to date, the battle to beat the ‘Iron Giant’ saw Taddy take the lead off the start before briefly dropping to second behind Britain’s Jonny Walker. Soon back out front, as the lead riders headed towards the start of the hardest sections of the race Taddy began to edge ahead. From the start of the XVII running of the Erzberg Rodeo the weather played its part in ensuring nothing was easy as rain made all sections of the track extremely slippery.
Top Three: Taddy, Dougie Lampkin and Jonny Walker
With a two to three minute lead as he entered the notorious and feared Carl’s Diner sections of the race Taddy struggled to maintain his pace, making several small but costly mistakes. Nearing the end of the section a bad choice of line saw Taddy briefly stuck as Graham Jarvis moved into the lead. But soon after Taddy found he was the first rider to pass through the next route check-point. Although passing the remaining check points and arriving at the finish behind Jarvis, Taddy was the first rider to reach the finish having past through all 20 route check points. In doing so he was credited with winning the race, claiming an amazing fifth consecutive win.
Taddy now turns his attentions to the start of the ’11 US Endurocross championship.
Conquering the Iron Giant for the Fifth Time
Taddy: ‘It’s been a tough race but to get a fifth win is just amazing. From the start I felt good, but the weather was horrible. I took an early lead before getting past on one of the first climbs, but once we got to the first tough sections in the forest I got back into the lead and pushed hard to open up a gap at the front. I didn’t have any problems on any of the next hard sections and had about a two or three minute lead as I got to the toughest rock section known as Carl’s Diner. I was the first guy through it and just couldn’t get good lines. I lead through the first section but then stalled my bike and lost some time. Then Graham found a really good line by keeping high on the rocks and past me because I was stuck at the bottom in the big rocks. My line was terrible and he got past me. I knew then that it was going to be tough to get back in front of him but I pushed hard to the next check-point. I could see that there were no tyre tracks at that next check-point, and then got the news that he’d missed it. It was really hard getting to that check-point but after I got there I just wanted to finish the race with no mistakes, which I pretty much did. Everyone that’s trying to win this race knows that you have to be fast through the tough sections but that you also have to go to all the check points. Graham was riding really well but getting to that check-point took a lot out of me. It’s amazing having five wins here, I have to say such a big thanks to everyone who helped me as well as to all my sponsors. Now I’ll be spending my time getting ready for Endurocross in the States which starts with the first race at X Games.’
Andrew Reeves
Irish Interest: After qualifying 78th out of the 1800 entrants Andrew Reeves would start on the second row of the grid as he attempted to conquer the Iron Giant for the fourth year running. Unfortunately after reaching the 9th checkpoint “Arch of Pain” and the end now insight his KTM burst a water pump gasket and cried enough. Needless to say Reevesy was gutted.
Hilton Hinck reached Checkpoint 8 “Wasserhaus” for a sterling effort.
Chad Hamilton made it to Checkpoint 4 “Badewanne”
Stewart Dicker made the cut for the main but didn’t start
Results – Erzberg Rodeo 2011 1. Taddy Blazusiak (POL/KTM) 2. Dougie Lampkin (GBR/Gas Gas) 3. Jonny Walker (GBR/KTM) 4. Ben Hemingway (GBR/KTM) 5. Xavi Galindo (ESP/Husaberg) 6. Dan Hemingway (GBR/KTM) 7. Taichi Tanaka (JPN/KTM) 8. Cyril Despres (AND/KTM) 9. Piero Sembenini (ITA/Gas Gas) 10. Chris Birch (NZL/KTM)