Nothing tests brakes quite like EnduroCross. With tight, technical sections and a wild mixture of man-made obstacles and hair-raising terrain, competitors must employ all of the skill, technique and technology available to them. That’s where we come in. Galfer brake pads, brake rotors and our stainless steel braided brake lines are just what the doctor ordered, and provide the finesse, control and sheer stopping power required by this demanding discipline of racing.
So we were pretty excited to hear that one of our sponsored racers, Cooper Abbott, turned in his best performance of the year in the season finale. Right around the corner from us, in Reno, NV, Abbott locked in the overall 3rd place podium spot with a 5-5-2 on the night. Teammate Cody Webb would finish a spot behind in 4th place after going 8-2-3. Here’s the full write up from the Sherco team.
It was thrills and spills at the closing round of EnduroCross in the “biggest little city in the world.” Cody Webb had an outside chance at the championship with four riders stacked atop the standings, but it wasn’t meant to be. Cooper Abbott saved his best performance for last going 5-5-2 for p3 on the night. Cody Webb would finish a spot behind him in p4 with scores of 8-2-3.
Cooper Abbott in the “Terrible Tubes” (Photo: Jack Jaxson)
The Reno-Sparks Event Center track was another large course layout like the week prior but he technical difficulty was certainly upped for this finale. From “Terrible Tubes” which lived up to its name, to the “enchanted forest” which had massive tree trunks on a steep embankment that were set barely a bar length apart. The track had a bit of everything from the traditional matrix to an Arenacross-style final stretch with a multi-double jump rhythm section leading into the finish line table-top jump.
The night would get started with the FactoryONE Sherco duo finishing their hot laps with Webb p3 and Abbott p7. Both were on the front row for moto one. As the gate dropped on moto one, a gaggle of riders piled into matrix bar to bar. Abbott and Webb would both have decent starts with Abbott p5 and Webb right behind in p6. Abbott would make a pass on Max Gerston early in the lap hitting the timing stripe in
p4. Luck wasn’t on the side of Webb however as he rubbed tires with Gerston trying to make a pass over an elevated log causing him to go down awkwardly. By the time he was able to regain himself, he would be dead last across the finish line on lap one. Abbott would battle with Ryder LeBlond for the remainder of the moto and would finish p5. Webb would gain eight places finishing p8 for the moto, but likely ending his shot at a fourth championship.
Cody Webb Bunny Hoping a Log on his Hot Lap (Photo: Jack Jaxson)
The reverse grid start of moto two was chaotic from the start. James Flynn would go down in the right hand corner going into the matrix. This would block championship contended Jonny Walker as well as Ryder LeBlond. The remaining pack of riders were led by Spencer Wilton as they entered the “Terrible Tubes.” Wilton would get stuck. Championship contender Trystan Hart would go down next to him. This would cause a bottleneck of 14 riders. Only Gus Riordan and Danny Lewis were able to escape unscathed. As the riders were able to untangle themselves, it was Riordan and Lewis followed by Wilton, Tim Apolle, Dominik Olszowy, Josh Roper, Cody Webb and Trystan Hart.
Hart would bobble just after the tubes which allowed a few riders past including Cooper Abbott. By the time everyone was able to get their wits about them, Riordan and Lewis would amass a straightaway lead on those behind them. Webb would make passes on those closest to him crossing timing in fourth on lap one. Cooper Abbott would be p8 on lap one. Halfway through lap two, Webb would make his way into the lead. Behind him, he had a hard-charging Colton Haaker who won moto one and was setting himself up for a possible championship as well. Abbott would drop a few places during that lap but would put his head down and regain them soon after. By lap four, he would be in p4 battling with Trystan Hart.
Abbott in “Chopped Wood” (Photo: Jack Jaxson)
On the final lap of the moto, Haaker would make a pass for the lead on Webb in the matrix, but Webb would fight right back. Webb was attempting a pass of his own in the tubes but a lapped rider would force Haaker to move left directly into the line of Webb causing him to stuff his front tire almost causing him to go down. Just behind them, Abbott would make a small mistake in the tubes which allowed Hart to get by as well. At the end of the chaos, it was Webb p2 and Abbott p5. Both had 10 points going into the final moto.
The FactoryONE teammates were both in a position to grab the final podium spot on the night. On the final gate drop, Cooper Abbott would be third through the matrix behind Hart and Walker. Webb was wheel to wheel with LeBlond in p5 as they all entered the infamous tubes. The tubes were Walker’s undoing as he went down causing another pileup of riders behind him. Hart and Abbott would get through clean. Webb was able to find a line to the inside allowing him through in third.
The leading trio now had some space between them and the rest of the pack as they came across the finish line jump. While the two FactoryONE teammates were battling for the last podium spot, they both knew that if they went too hard, it could end both of their chances for a podium. Abbott saved his best performance for the very last moto of the season. He was riding smooth and fast keeping Webb at bay as well as pressuring the leader Hart into a mistake in the tubes on lap three. Webb was now right on the rear tire of Hart. The two would bang bars a few times on that lap. Their battling would allow Colton Haaker to catch the pair.
Webb on the Quad Tire Stack (Photo: Jack Jaxson)
Haaker would get by Webb on the next lap knowing he had to win to have a chance at the championship. Jonny Walker and Ryder LeBlond had now joined the fight as well. The leaders were approaching lapped traffic but they were able to get through cleanly. A small mistake from Abbott in the “Quad Stack” of tires on the penultimate lap would allow Hart through. Webb would pass Haaker to regain third on the same tire stack. The top five riders were neck and neck coming into the white flag lap. The final lap had fans on the edge of their seats. Haaker knew had to make the pass on Webb and Abbott and he took his shot in the tubes. He would end up getting hung up keeping the running order the same up front, but Walker would make a pass helping his own chances for a championship. Webb had one last chance to pass his teammate on the tire stack. They were wheel to wheel but Abbott was able to stay in front finishing p2 for the moto. Webb was right behind p3. Haaker and Walker would both go down exiting the stack which gave the championship to moto winner Hart.
“I saved the best for last,” said Cooper Abbott. “I felt so strong on my Sherco 300 two-stroke. I was able to ride very consistently having eliminated the small mistakes which can prove so costly in EnduroCross. We were all pushing so hard in that last moto. So much was on the line. For me personally it would have been my first moto win of the season but als, I was battling my own teammate for the final podium position. All in all, I learned a lot this season and I am thankful to finish strong. I am already looking forward to next season,” concluded Abbott.
Galfer-sponsored rider Cooper Abbott on the podium (right) (Photo: Jack Jaxson)
“That was a crazy night,” said Cody Webb. “I didn’t help myself going down so early in moto one for both the championship as well as the for the night but I put in my best effort to contend. I am stoked for Cooper getting his first podium. He was riding really well. It stinks having to battle your teammate for a podium spot, but that is racing. I had such a blast on the 300 two stroke. I felt so comfortable all season long. Hats off to the entire Sherco USA crew for having us so dialed for each round,” concluded Webb.