JCR Honda's Quinn Cody Dominates Round 2 of the FASST CO Checkpoint Enduro Championship

Prospectors MC's 56th Annual Gold Rush Enduro

Spangler Hills SVRA - Red Mountain, Ca 03/20/11

www.ridechec.com - Photos By Martin Iwanowicz - Bringintoexistance.com

With only a stock odometer/clock off a 1985 XL 350 and a rollchart JCR Honda's Quinn Cody has proven once again that he is capable of anything. He is now able to add an Overall Victory at a truely "oldschool" Enduro running in true "oldschool" time-keeping fashion to steller finishes at Baja, Dakar, Erzberg and Vegas to Reno.

The Prospectors MC's 56th Annual Gold Rush Enduro is one of the longest running Enduro's in the US and this year they kept their reputation up. 95 Miles of epic terrain at an even 24 mph the entire way had riders on their toes and just behind the clock all day long. On the first loop it was 60+ Expert Dick Cressy taking the overall win dropping only 3 minutes and change, a full 2 minutes ahead of 60+ Experts Ty Holmes and Art More.

At the end of the 1st loop all the A riders had only been scored early so it was still anyones game. All eyes were on T.O. Powersports/FASST CO backed Ryan Kudla who took the last win, the 3 Bros KTM of ISDE Medalist Nick Hamill, the FASST CO/Kenda Backed KTM of ISDE Medalist Chilly White, Vet Pro MXer Ryan Dudek, the MidCities Honda of past Enduro Champion Nick Blais and of course "The Crusher" - Quinn Cody - who is known for his speed in the rocks and his out right endurance when it comes to technical riding.

ZIP-TY HUSKY'S NICK BURSON STARTS THE YEAR OFF WITH A WIN

Round 1 of the 2011 US Desert Racing Championship - Spangler Hills SVRA

Photos By - Mike Nespor

After finishing 3rd the day prior at the Laughlin Hare Scramble with team mate David Kamo, Zip-Ty Husky's Nick Burson made the long trek back home to defend his USDR Title for the 3rd year in a row. On hand would be long time nemesis Ryan Kudla, one of the only riders to have successfully given Burson a run for his money in every championship chase, and 17 year old Colton Sanders who was fresh off the injured list.

In Race 1 defending S1 champion John Sides would have his hands full with AS Racing Team mate Greg Johnston all day long followed by some the of quickest "up and coming" 50+ racers. At the drop of the flag it would seem that Sides would be able to walk away from the field as he had the year before gaining 10 seconds on the next racer over the first hill. On the second lap though it was evident that he wouldn't have it so easly when he made it down the technical section and looked over his should Johnston was just cresting the summit. The two would stay glued together for the entire hour and a half event.

Another group of riders that would never lose eachother were Mini Novices Ryan Lazar, Conner Hisgen and Sam Bangert. From start to finish these riders would be no more then a few bike lengths apart, trading positions almost every lap. Hisgen would get out to the lead on the first lap but by the second lap both Bangert and Lazar would get by. It was now on Bangert's shoulders to lead the pack around the course and keep the pace up while the others tracked off his every move.

Jacob Argubright Takes the Overall while Ryan Kudla Takes the Enduro Win

02/27/11 - Checkers MC 61st Annual Check Chase Hare and Hound

Lucerne Valley OHVA - Johnson Valley

The world renowned Checkers Motorcycle Club was host to the first of two Enduro points paying Desert races and the action continued as Round 1 winner Brad Pace and 2010 Champion Ryan Kudla were at it again. The course consisted of twists and turns, boulders and water falls stretched over 80 "Checker Miles" with a light sprinkling of snow from the night before just melting off as the sun came over the horizon.

As the flag dropped it looked as though Kudla was going to get his Thousand Oaks Powersports / Amsoil / Enduro Engineering KX 450f to the Bomb first, collecting the posted $100 reward but at the last minute Dirt Digits Team mate Bret Saunders shot past him for the big money aboard his FMF / Moose backed KX 450f. Desert racing Ace Jacob Argubright seemed to be S.O.L. as a not so great line choice would leave him in about 6th but about 1 mile across the valley his luck would change as he would have a clear shot for the main trail just before the course started to get tight. Argubright would put his KSV / Fast Way KX450f in the lead and stretch it out to almost 25 seconds by check one.

While Argubright would take over up front there would be a battle for second with Saunders, Senior Heavy Weight Robert Longnecker, Kudla, Pace and Travis Livingston all vying for position up the first hill. Both Kudla and Pace were able to squeeze by Longnecker and Saunders out of the 1st check and commence their battle for the entire remainder of the race.

EREK KUDLA - RACE REPORT

Photo by Mark Kariya

We arrived in the Desert around 3pm Saturday afternoon after doing last minute prepping at home and got a great spot on the pit thanks to Mitch Bangert who saved us one right in the middle. I went and signed up, set out some S&S Mags and headed to the Bomb run. It was the same one they used in 09... Heading north across the valley, pinned, for atleast 4 miles. I found my line that I used last year towards the right, got 3 good runs in and called it good. Talked to Ivan Ramirez at the end of the bomb and Morgan Crawford and I told him a few of the rules and then headed back to camp.

Got some posters signed (would have had ours but they didn't make it in time), had a great dinner, watched a good movie, and hit the hay. Got some good sleep and was up at 6am to start getting ready for the race. Headed to the bomb at 7:30, got a few runs in and just stayed there to save my spot. The line got packed up really quick and I was glad I was where I was. I had Kendall Norman and Trevor Watson sandwiched to my left and Destry, Kamo, Burson, and the rest of the Pro's sandwiched to my left. Sam Bangert was right next to Kendall on his first national start and was stoked.

The memorial banner went up then the regular banner then silence. Banner down and I got a great start. Kendall jumped right in front after looking over his should and I just tucked in and stayed as close as I could. Got to the end of the bomb around 15-20th but everyone was everywhere so there was no way to tell. Just put my head down and rode my own race as this was my first real desert race after breaking my collar bone. The bike ran great and I just kept plunking along. All the riders that should have been ahead got by me and i started battling with Krause, Steve Roberts and Kevin Dejongh. Stayed sandwiched inbetween them the entire loop into the 1st pit. Took a while in the pits because I had new goggles and had to tighen the strap and was out just behind Kevin.