Prescott, AZ – Round four of the AMA EnduroCross season once again provided the packed house with intense action and a dramatic conclusion. The FactoryONE roster of Cody Webb, Cooper Abbott, and Louise Forsley continued their consistent riding. Cody Webb and Louise Forsley would both walk away with P2 honors while Cooper Abbott finished P5 overall.
Cody Webb P2
Photo courtesy of Diahann Tanke
The night would start with the Hot Lap qualification on what was dubbed a very unique course. Gate pick was crucial for this round as riders were faced with a short start straight directly into a difficult flat right-hand 180-degree turn. (The rider’s rear brake pedal is on the right-hand side, making it difficult to stop and put your foot down for balance.) Cooper Abbott and Cody Webb would end up with the third and fourth picks respectively with times of 38.711 and 39.201
As the gate dropped for moto number one, it was Jonny Walker first to the hole-shot line with Abbott on his rear wheel and Webb in fifth. Walker would extend his lead over the opening few laps but it wouldn’t last long as a hard-charging Abbott would close the gap on lap three. Abbott was able to make the pass for the lead shortly after. Just behind the leading duo, Cody Webb and Colton Haaker were in a podium position battle equally. The pair were clicking off consistent laps and together they closed the distance to Walker and Abbott. Cooper Abbott would have a small bobble on the backside of the track which would allow Walker back into the lead momentarily. Abbott stuck the nose of his Sherco 300 four-stroke inside of Walker as they entered the rock garden about a half lap later. The pair made contact and thus, Abbott expected an equal greeting in the next corner so he went high but it wasn’t Walker who returned the pleasantries. Colton Haaker ran into Abbott’s right side which bent his rear brake pedal making it very difficult for him over the remainder of the moto. With the contact, Abbott was pushed once again into Jonny Walker leaving the pair open. This allowed not only Haaker to pass, but also sent Webb and Trystan Hart by. The moto would finish Haaker, Webb, Hart, Walker, and then Abbott for the top five spots.
Cooper Abbott with the Lead in Moto One
Photo courtesy of Diahann Tanke
The inverted gate for moto two would have Abbott and Webb stuck in the back left corner of row two which was not ideal. As the riders entered turn one, the pair would get pushed out forcing them to have to contend from the back. Matters got worse from there as a rider pileup before the matrix pushed them even further back. The pair would make their way through the majority of the field but they would have to settle for fifth for Abbott and sixth for Webb at the checkered flag as the front runners stayed clear. Webb was now sitting on eight total points and Abbott with ten total going into the final moto. A podium position for either seemed a bit out of reach at the conclusion of the moto.
Cody Webb During Moto Two
Photo courtesy of Diahann Tanke
The final moto of the night was not for the faint of heart. As the pilots shot out of the gate and jockeyed for position coming into the first turn, a massive pileup would collect the majority of the riders. Somehow, the pair of FactoryONE Sherco riders would sneak around outside just behind Trystan Hart. Those that were in the driver’s seat for the final podium positions, would find themselves working from the back trying to gain valuable positions. Webb and Abbott would ride smart for the moto as the pair of teammates knew that one mistake between them could have disastrous effects. Meanwhile, Haaker and Walker were making their way forward into the positions they needed to get on the podium with eventual moto winner Hart. This was not good news for Webb and Abbott who had a glimmer of hope of making the final podium after the first turn melee. Luck was on the side of Webb however as Haaker came together with Ty Cullins on the tire stack jump, sending him over the bars just yards for the finish line jump. By the time he was able to get remounted, four riders were able to sneak past. This pushed Webb up to a final podium placement of p2. Unfortunately for Abbott, he needed a little more help as he finished just one point back of the final podium position.
Webb and Abbott stayed Nose to Tail all of Moto Three
Photo courtesy of Diahann Tanke
“Wow, I wasn’t expecting that,” said a jubilated Cody Webb. “I am really happy to be back on the podium with another p2. That makes three in a row. I know I have the pace and the ability to ride consistent laps which seems to be the key to winning this year. That final moto was intense. I had my teammate Cooper Abbott on my rear wheel the entire time. I am thankful he is my teammate or I could have imagined that being a slightly different race. I am looking forward to Boise as I want to be one step higher on that podium,” concluded Webb.
“Moto one was going so well until it wasn’t,” said Cooper Abbott. “I had a great start and I was able to race hard for the entire moto. Unfortunately, my rear brake pedal got destroyed after some riders had made contact with me. It made it hard to finish but I still managed to hold on to fifth for the moto. Moto two didn’t go as well as Cody and I got stuck in turn one with a group of riders, and then again just before the matrix. I was able to put my head down and once again finish fifth. In the last moto I got another good jump and was upfront. While I was behind Cody, I didn’t want to risk making an aggressive pass which could have sent us both down. We both rode very clean to finish the moto on the podium. If only things had gone a little different in moto one, I could have had my first podium of the year,” concluded Abbott.
Louise Forsley in Action in the EX Pro Women’s Race
Photo courtesy of Diahann Tanke
Louise Forsley entered the night with just a single marker down in the championship from Shelby Turner. Forsley was battling illness during the week which made things even more difficult with limited recovery and ride time, but she decided to gut it out as every point is critical over the final rounds of the series. She showed why she is in the points hunt by riding very consistently and avoiding mistakes although she did have one on the opening lap which put her back in fourth place early. She would make her way up to p2 where she would ultimately finish the moto. Seventeen-year-old, Inside Enduro Sherco’s Hallie Marks, just missed her first podium of the year as Rachel Gutish passed her on the last lap.
EX Pro Women Podium
Photo courtesy of Diahann Tanke
“Unfortunately I have been under the weather this week,” said Louise Forsley. “I knew I had to race because I am right there in the championship mix. Every point is crucial at this stage with now only two rounds remaining. I had a mistake early but I was able to overcome it and ride a comfortable race,” concluded Forsley.
Results Link
About FactoryONE Sherco: FactoryONE Sherco is a multi-time United States AMA championship observed trials team and multi-discipline Championship enduro team led by some of the top riders in the business. The Enduro team is led By Cody Webb who is a multi-time champion that competes in Extreme Off-Road, EnduroCross and FIM SuperEnduro. He is also the 2010 AMA Mototrials Champion. The Trials team is led by 13x AMA Champion Pat Smage (Smah-gee) on the men’s side; and 6x AMA Champion Louise Forsley (fours-lee) on the Women’s side. The trials team consists of four professional riders and two development riders.