NICK BURSON TAKES THE WIN AND THE POINTS LEAD

ROUND 3 - US DESERT RACING SERIES - 04/18/10

BY EREK KUDLA - PHOTOS BY AMERICANMETRICS.COM

After a dissapointing finish in round 1 and a second place to 16 year old Colton Sanders in round 2 Nick Burson is back on top and at full steam with a commanding win and the points lead at round 3 of the US Desert Racing series.

Heading back to Stephens Mine Rd. staging area with an 17.3 mile course filled with rocks, washes and a long 100mph road, round 3 had something to offer for everyone.  First, however, the kids were set to do battle the saturday before the event and it was full of upsets and new winners.

In Kids 1 it was young Cody Kurtz taking his first ever USDR win aboard his Oneal MX back 65 putting him in a solid 2nd place in points behind the consistant Brandon Valdez who took his 2nd runner up finish on the season. In Kids 2 it would be another amazing holeshot by Ryan Lazar but a cracked radiator during the "big race" practice lap would force him to limp it in for a 7th place finish handing the win and the points lead over to Sam Bagget on his trusty YZ 80. Dylan Adams, who had won the first two rounds of the season, suffered from a big crash finishing 18th overall but kept him 2nd in points. Lazar was able to keep himself in the championship hunt and 3rd in points.

In Race one on saturday it was Steve Williams out front in normal fasion taking a commanding lead and the Senior 2 win with John Sides finishing 2nd overall and both riders tieing for the points lead. Finishing 3rd overall was quad racer Jeremy Grey followed by Mini Expert Westlee Tom and Senior 2 expert Earl Mullis rounding out the top 5.

The main event of the weekend would have some of the best racing with T.O. Powersports, Maxima, Fasst Co. backed Colton Sanders taking the early lead with Zip-ty Husky's Nick Burson hot on his tail. The T.O. Powersports, Amsoil, Dirt Digits backed Ryan Kudla would fall into 3rd place but a fried cluth would force him to pull off after 2 laps still counting as a finish but well outside the top 20. "This has been a really tough year..." said Kudla "I really need to get back on my game and get a good finish in before the summer break"

Back in the pack it was Open Champion Travis Livingston and Erek Kudla back at it again. They were neck and neck off the start but Livingston was able to get the edge around the mountain while Erek was forced to follow in the dust. "I just stayed right out side his dust and rode hard, I knew I could get him on the road and that was my plan. Get close enough to him and make the pass" Following close behind was the KSV Kawasaki 250 of Kyle Bristol who has gotten faster and faster as the year has progressed.

Sanders seemed to have everything under control until the 2nd lap when Burson made his move and was able to put a comfortable gap on Colton. "It was good to finally get into clean air and put some time on him. Its great to get a win and the points lead. This is going to be a great season!" Burson exclaimed. Not far behind Burson and Sanders Livingston and Kudla were having a battle of their own. "Kudla was coming and I knew it so I was pushing pretty hard but then I slammed into a rock and broke a few of my toes and I was done. I just limped it into the finish to get some points but thats not the best way to have it end up." said Livingston.

After Livingston was out the T.O. Powersports, Amsoil, Dirt Digits Back Erek Kudla just put his head down and pushed to the finish. "I was beat. I kept looking back and there was no one there so I just kept pushing." Said Kudla as he came in for the 3rd Overall finish and the Open Expert win extending his points lead. Coming in a solid 4th Overall only 30 seconds back was Open Expert Anthony Vasquez with his best ever USDR finish holding on to 2nd in the points followed by Lites Expert Cameron Lewis rounding out the top 5.