2024 EnduroCross: Trystan Hart Wins Opener – Jonny Walker and Cooper Abbott complete podium
The Slavens Racing AMA EnduroCross Series presented by Progressive Insurance visited the Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs for round one of the 2024 series – FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Trystan Hart claimed the overall win ahead of Jonny Walker and Cooper Abbott for Sherco.
Trystan Hart set about defending his AMA EnduroCross title in the best possible way at round one in Colorado Springs. The technical track produced close racing for the season opener and it was Hart who mastered is best with a runaway victory in the first moto and followed that up with a pair of runner-up spots to claim the overall win.
Triumph Racing’s new recruit, Jonny Walker, the 2022 EnduroCross champion, hurt his overall results with a poor moto one but recovered for second ahead of FactoryONE Sherco’s Cooper Abbott third overall.
Hot Lap Qualifying fastest time for Rieju’s Dominik Olszowy
To kick off the evening, Dominic Olszowy of Poland, posted the fastest time during the Hot Lap qualifying on his factory Rieju with a time of 32.782 seconds to set the starting order for the first of three motos.
Five-time EnduroCross Champion, Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Colton Haaker landed P2 in qualifying with a 32.783, followed by Hart third-fastest on 32.863, Abbott fourth on 34.017 seconds, with Walker fifth 34.187.
Moto 1
Hart capitalized on a great start in the opening moto of the night, squeezing by Olszowy in the first turn to take a lead he would never relinquish in race one. Super-fast lap times ensure the KTM rider lapped his way up past fifth place by the finish.
To his credit Olszowy kept Hart honest by sticking to the KTM rider’s rear wheel until the halfway mark of the race, eventually finishing second, with Haaker rounding out the top three. Abbott was fourth with Factory Beta rider Max Gerston in fifth.
Moto 2
The second moto inverts the 16 riders’ finish positions from race one to establish gate picks, meaning the top eight riders from race one start on the second row.
Starting from the back, Abbott was the first of the top riders to make a move into fourth soon after the start. He was soon followed by Walker, who took the lead from Abbott a lap later, wanting to make amends for his seventh-place finish in the first race. Haaker went down on lap two, dropping out of the top five, while Hart struggled at mid-pack trying to get around slower riders.
By lap four, Hart had moved his way up into third and set his sights first on Olszowy and then on Abbott. On the final lap, Hart made an inside move on Abbott to secure the runner-up slot, with Walker taking his first moto win of the season followed by Hart, Abbott, Riordan and Gerston.
Moto 3 showdown
Walker wasted no time taking the lead in the third and final race, grabbing a clean holeshot and leading the pack into the opening lap, followed by Rockstar Husqvarna Factory’s Ryder LeBlond and Hart.
Halfway into the race, LeBlond put a pass on Walker when the Triumph rider spun on a rock, with Hart also making his way past the triumph rider.
LeBlond rode a smooth and steady race for the final laps to make it three different winners on the night, ahead of Hart and Walker, Riordan fourth and Gerston in fifth.
2024 EnduroCross round 1 Pro class overall results:
1. Trystan Hart (KTM) 1-2-2
2. Jonny Walker (Tri) 7-1-3
3. Cooper Abbott (Shr) 4-3-6
4. Will Riordan (GG) 6-4-4
5. Max Gerston (Bet) 5-5-5
6. Colton Haaker (Hsq) 3-6-8
7. Dominik Olszowy (Rie) 2-10-7
8. Ryder LeBlond (Hsq) 8-13-1
9. Tim Apolle (Bet) 12-8-9
10. Anthony Johnson (KTM) 14-7-10
After one round, Hart leads the series standings with 30 points, followed by Walker with 25 and Abbott with 21.
The Slavens Racing AMA EnduroCross Series presented by Progressive Insurance resumes on October 19th at Findlay Toyota Center in Prescott Valley, Arizona.
More information and full results: www.endurocross.com
Words Credit: Shan Moore
Photo Credit: Jack Jaxon
