Two-time and defending US endurocross champion Taddy Blazusiak starts his quest to claim a third consecutive title this Sunday when the KTM Enduro Factory Team rider lines up at the start of the opening round of the 2011 championship being held at the STAPLE Center in Los Angeles.
For the first time ever endurocross will be a part of X Games, making the opening round of the 2011 series the biggest indoor enduro event ever seen anywhere in the world. And one Taddy’s determined to win.
The rider to beat throughout the 2010 and 2009 series, Blazusiak switches from two-stroke to four-stroke machinery for this year’s endurocross championship in his quest to claim a hat-trick of titles. Winner of the 2011 Indoor Enduro World Championship as well as claiming an amazing fifth victory at the gruelling Erzberg Rodeo back in late June, Taddy has spent the past four weeks preparing himself for what he calls ‘the big one’ – the 2011 endurocross series.
This year’s endurocross championship features a punishing schedule with three events in the opening five weeks of the series. As always Blazusiak’s goal is to pick up as many wins as he can as he battles it out for what he hopes will be another endurocross #1 plate. Motivated, fit and healthy and with refreshed motivation thanks to switching to KTM’s awesome 350cc four-stroke, Taddy is most definately ready for the 2011 endurocross season.
Taddy: “It’s been a busy week so far getting ready for the endurocross opener but it’s been a great one. I’m going to be riding a 350cc four-stroke this year so we’ve been doing some final testing and my bike is awesome, I really am loving riding it. The first round of endurocross is always a big pressure race, the fact that the event is a part of X Games just makes everything bigger. It’s certainly going to be special and I’m just pleased to be a part of it. It’s a major boost for all enduro sport. The most important thing is that I feel ready.
“Things have been interesting this season. When the Indoor Enduro World Championship finished my focus was doing as well as I could in the Enduro World Championship. Day one in Spain went well with a fifth but dislocating my thumb on day two messed things up. I was down about it for a while but after taking some time off things started to come together again and winning Erzberg for a fifth time was amazing. Since then I’ve been training hard and I feel like I’m back on top of my game again.
“My goal is to enjoy myself and of course ride hard and try and win. I’ll take home the best result I can but there’s going to be six other rounds after the opener so although this is going to be a massive race that I’d love to win, it’s the championship that’s the most important thing. Trying to win a third consecutive endurocross championship is my ultimate goal.’
