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Taddy Blasuziak |
 Impressive start to ’08 IEWC for Blazusiak
Barcelona Indoor Enduro, Rnd 1 FIM Indoor Enduro World Cup, Barcelona, Spain Enduro Factory Team racer Taddy Blazusiak got his Indoor Enduro World Cup campaign off to a solid start ending the opening round of the series, the Barcelona Indoor Enduro, as runner-up to Spaniard Ivan Cervantes. Performing consistently throughout the opening round of the IEWC series, Taddy set the third fastest lap time during the event’s qualifying session before comfortably moving through his heat races and into the finals. With the clear goal of winning the championship Blazusiak rode hard and fast, but importantly with improved control and consistency. Faced with a fast but technical track Taddy made a great start to his title hopes by finishing a close second to Ivan Cervantes in the first of three finals. Leading for much of the race, Taddy made his only mistake of the night when his front wheel washed out from under him in one of the slowest corners on the track. Dropping from first to third, Taddy quickly moved back into the runner-up spot and crossed the finish line less than two seconds behind Cervantes. The second final saw Taddy claim the exact same result as he had in the first race. Italian Thomas Oldrati made a quick break away from the rest of the field early on the opening lap, which meant that no rider was able to catch him. Importantly for Blazusiak only a handful of seconds separated the two riders at the finish as Taddy had closed down Oldrati’s advantage at the front of the race. In the third final Taddy got caught up in the first corner, which saw him end the first lap near the rear of the field. Steadily working his way forward he moved up to fourth at the finish, which gave him a second place result for the night 2008 FIM Indoor Enduro World Cup, Series Standings after Rnd 1 1. Ivan Cervantes (KTM) 40 points; 2. Taddy Blazusiak (KTM Enduro Factory Team) 32; 3. Mika Ahola (Honda) 25; 4. Xavi Galindo (KTM) 22; 5. Thomas Oldrati (KTM) 19; 6. Alessandro Botturi (Honda) 15; 7. Graham Jarvis (Sherco) 12; 8. Bartosz Oblucki (Husqvarna) 9; 9. Fabio Mossini (Honda) 9; 10. Greg Evans (KTM) 7; 11. Andreas Lettenbichler (BMW) 3; 12. Antoine Meo (Husqvarna) 2; 13. Marc Sola (Yamaha) 2; 14. Lorenzo Santolino (KTM) 1 Taddy Blazusiak: “I’m really happy with the way I performed. Last year I was really fast but I was also riding way over my head and making a lot of mistakes. This year I was pushing hard again but I knew where my limit was, and I was making sure that I didn’t make too many mistakes. I wanted to start the championship with a top three result and I finished second overall, which puts me in the perfect place to attack at the next round. Anything can happen with this type of racing, you can get stuck with other riders like I did in the last race, but I really am happy with the way I performed. I just made one mistake during the three finals. It was a silly fall in the first final, which cost me the win, but that was my only mistake. The thing I’m happiest about is the improvement in my riding from last year. Since the crash I had earlier this year in the US I’ve been working hard to be fit and ready for this race, but also a better racer. I think I showed that, and I’m really happy with the way things went.”
KTM Enduro Factory Team rider Taddy Blazusiak has claimed a third place result at round four of the US Endurocross series - the event that marked his return to competition after undergoing facial surgery following a practice crash in early August. Although far from being fully fit due to his enforced lay-off, Taddy recorded the fastest lap time during the event’s ‘hot lap’ session before going on to win his heat race with relative ease. Knowing that he would find the main event tough due to having not raced in over two months, Blazusiak overcame a mediocre start to round the first turn close behind race leader Damon Huffman. Quickly up to third Taddy was battling with Ricky Dietrich before the Kawasaki rider fell, which allowed Blazusiak to inherit the runner-up position. With the Denver track not overly technical it didn’t allow Taddy many opportunities to put his trials riding skills to use. Nevertheless Taddy held second until two laps from the end of the race when he made a mistake and crashed over the bars. Although quickly to his feet and on his way Taddy dropped to third behind Geoff Aaron. Opting not to try and re-pass the Christini KTM rider Taddy settled for third – a result that considering all that he’s been through in recent weeks he was pleased with. Round 5 of the AMA Endurocross series takes place on October 4, in Columbus, Ohio. Results – AMA Endurocross Rnd 4, Denver, OH 1. Damon Huffman (Kawasaki) 2. Geoff Aaron (Christini/KTM) 3. Taddy Blazusiak (KTM Enduro Factory Team) Taddy Blazusiak: “After everything that I’ve been through since my accident I’m pleased with my result. It’s just great to be able to put my injury behind me, I can now focus on improving my fitness and improving my results. Everything went well for me in Denver, but I suffered with my lack of fitness, which I was expecting. I got the fastest lap during the hot lap session, I was more than one second ahead of Damon Huffman and Ricky Dietrich. “I knew from the moment I won my heat race that I was going to find the final tough. In the main event I made an ok start, I was mid-pack going into the first turn, but I managed to work my way to third in the first few corners. I was having a good battle with Ricky Dietrich until he made a mistake and I moved into second. I didn’t try to catch Huffman who was leading because I knew if I pushed too hard I would suffer in the last laps. “With two laps to go I crashed and went over the bars. I was up quickly but I dropped to third behind Geoff Aaron. I was really tired by that point so I didn’t try and pass him. I’m just pleased to be back on the podium.” www.taddy.pl
KTM Enduro Factory Team rider and ’08 Erzberg Rodeo winner Taddy Blazusiak is recovering well after undergoing a four-hour operation at the Harborview Medical Centre in Seattle, WA during which time numerous metal plates were attached to both of his cheek bones and left eye socket. Hitting his face on the handlebars of his bike when he crashed on a double jump while practicing for the WORCS X event – a race he was competing in as preparation ahead of the second round of the Endurocross series in Oklahoma City, OK, Taddy was initially taken to a local hospital for evaluation before being taken to the Harborview Medical Centre in Seattle, WA. Diagnosed as having numerous broken bones in his face but no problems with either his vision or with concussion Taddy underwent a four-hour operation during which metal plates were attached to his left eye socket and both of his cheekbones. “What happened to Taddy sounds very nasty, but we’re hoping that it’s not that bad,” commented Taddy’s brother Wojtek on Tuesday morning, August 12. “Obviously communicating with Taddy is difficult at the moment but he is able to whisper and use his hands, and he has told the doctors that he’s not in too much pain. Taddy broke his nose, both cheek bones and fractured his left eye socket when his face hit his handlebars. The good news is that his vision is fine, he has no concussion and the rest of his body is ok. When he crashed he cut his left eyebrow so the surgeon went in through that cut to fix his eye socket rather than making any new cuts. Taddy also cut his tongue, but that’s fine now he has a few stitches. The plates for his cheekbones went in through his mouth so there wont be any obvious scars. We’re expecting Taddy to stay in hospital for 24 to 48 hours after the operation and then he will probably remain in the States for a week while the swelling goes down. Taddy wants to get back on a bike as soon as he can, but the doctors have told him that it wouldn’t be a good idea to race next week. Taddy’s in pretty good spirits and we’re hoping that he will be back racing as soon as the swelling in his face has settled down.” www.taddy.pl AMA Endurocross Rnd 1, Las Vegas, Nevada, 5.7.2008 Blazusiak wins ’08 Endurocross opener in Las Vegas KTM Enduro Factory Team rider Taddy Blazusiak got his participation in the ’08 AMA Endurocross series off to a winning start by claiming victory at the opening round of the six-event championship held in Las Vegas, Nevada. Starting as the rider most expected to win aboard his 200cc factory KTM, Blazusiak had to endure one of the toughest nights of racing he’s ever experienced. Needing to compete in a heat race, a semi and then the LCQ before moving into the final, Taddy clocked up more laps around the technical Las Vegas course than any other. Thankfully, Blazusiak earned himself the winning result he hoped he’d secure, but certainly didn’t make things easy for himself inside the Orleans Arena. Confident that he would quickly move into the final having set the fastest lap time during timed practice, Taddy’s troubles started during the closing stages of practice where he suffered a blown rear shock. Then in his heat race the two-time Erzberg Rodeo winner suffered with yet more suspension troubles, which resulted in a very heavy, and painful, landing over the log jump. Finishing third Taddy was forced to compete in one of the semi races. Forced to switch to a replacement set of suspension Taddy’s troubles continued as he was hit from behind early in his semi race and sent crashing to the arena floor. Working his way back up towards the front of the race as he went to move into the lead he tangled with the race leader, which resulted in Taddy being stranded with another rider’s handlebars stuck in his rear wheel. With just one-and-a-half laps remaining Taddy had no time to move himself into a qualifying position and was forced to compete in the LCQ race. Knowing that a winning result and only a winning result would do Taddy, despite being in considerable discomfort following his heat race, managed to do enough to finish first and secure himself a place in the final. Forced to start on the extreme outside, fatigued, and struggling to compete at his best due to using a spare set of suspension Taddy opted to ‘let the rest go’ as the gate dropped for the final. Cutting back to the inside of turn one the Pole soon found himself in third and my mid-race had moved into the runner-up position. Battling with Geoff Aaron Taddy managed to move into the lead and despite getting stuck in the rocks during the closing stages of the race he held on to claim a hard fought and deserved win to take an early lead in the ’08 AMA Endurocross championship. Round 2 of the AMA Endurocross series takes place on August 16, in Guthrie, Oklahoma. Taddy Blazusiak: “It’s great to have won, but man that was a tough night of racing. I can’t believe how many laps I had to ride – it feels like I didn’t stop riding all night. And I can’t remember the last time I had such an eventful race. “I got the result I wanted eventually but at one stage I honestly didn’t think I was even going to get into the main event, let alone win it. It started with some suspension problems in practice and my heat race. That, added to the fact that I smashed my balls so hard I couldn’t breath properly all night, meant that I ended up in one of the semis, which didn’t go well. I got hit by someone in one of the corners and was last, then had to overtake everyone, only to then get tangled up with the leader and have his bars get stuck in my rear wheel. “I was really starting to feel the pressure in the LCQ – I honestly thought that I might not make the final. My balls were hurting so much, I was tired, and I couldn’t ride properly. But I made it into the final, which was a huge relief. “With the final taking place just two minutes after the LCQ, and with the LCQ having taken place just a few minutes after my semi, I was finished. I was so tired and had the last pick of the start so I just decided to let the other riders go and see what happened. I somehow got into third quite quickly, then into second, and then I was really struggling for energy. I got into the lead but had to slow down. Then I got stuck in the rocks, which I couldn’t believe. I managed to get back into the lead and win the race quite comfortably but I don’t think I could have done one lap more. “I’m hoping I’ve had all my bad luck for the championship in one race. If the rest of the races are going to be a tough as this first event then it’s going to be one hell of a difficult championship.” Results – AMA Endurocross Rnd 1, Las Vegas 1. Taddy Blazusiak (KTM Enduro Factory Team) 2. Geoff Aaron (Christini KTM) 3. Ricky Dietrich (Kawasaki) Blazusiak finishes 15th at ’08 Trefle Lozerien Poland’s Taddy Blazusiak headed to France last weekend to compete in the Trefle Lozerien – France’s most prestigious ‘classic’ enduro. Only the second time in which the two-time Erzberg winner had ever taken to the start of a traditional enduro, Taddy placed a creditable 15th overall at the end of the three-day competition, just one place behind former World Enduro Championship winner and current Dakar star Stephane Peterhansel. Competing at the request of sponsor Red Bull Blazusiak had little time to fully prepare for the event due to heading to France almost directly from Austria where he claimed his second Erzberg Rodeo victory, but nevertheless enjoyed his time competing against the cream of France’s enduro riders. Disappointingly the weather in France wasn’t anything like as good as it was at Erzberg with each of the three days of the Trefle Lozerien event being wet. Knowing that he was competing ‘just for fun’ Taddy decided to take things steady on the opening two days but still put in some impressive special test times to claim 15th on day one and 13th on day two. On the final day of the event Taddy’s result took a slight turn for the worse as his decision not to take the advice of a spectator resulted in him getting stuck. Losing valuable seconds Taddy learned that sometimes it’s good to use the lines spectators recommend. Taddy will now continue his preparations for the opening round of the AMA Endurocross championship, which takes place in Las Vegas on July 5. Taddy Blazusiak: “Competing in the Trefle Lozerien was a really interesting experience for me. I was competing at the request of Red Bull, along with Cyril Despres, and despite the weather being extremely wet I really enjoyed myself. I’m certainly not looking to start racing in enduros regularly, but it’s been good to compare my speed against some of the world’s fastest enduro riders. “During the event I had some good test times, and got my ass kicked on some others. I managed to beat Ivan Cervantes on a couple of tests on the first two days, which I was really pleased with. I just can’t remember the last time I spent so many hours on a bike completely wet to the skin. “The French riders are so, so fast in the grass and mud. During the first two days I just took things steady – traditional enduro races aren’t my thing so I didn’t want to do anything stupid. I didn’t have any crashes on the first two days so I decided to push it a bit more on the last day, but I soon wished I hadn’t. “On one section of a special test a spectator was showing me a line through some mud, but I thought that I would try my own line. It didn’t work. I got completely stuck, and couldn’t stop laughing at myself. “Considering that it was my second true enduro I’m pretty pleased with 15th. I’m now going to spend the next weeks getting myself ready for the first round of the AMA Endurocross championship.” Results – Trefle Lozerien ’08 (overall)
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Blazusiak
third on US Endurocross return AMA
Endurocross Rnd 4, Denver,
Taddy
on the mend following four-hour operation