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Blazusiak Claims Sixth Straight SuperEnduro Title

KTM Taddy Blazusiak has secured a sixth consecutive FIM SuperEnduro World Championship title following an exciting night's racing at the series final in France.

Rewriting the history books once more, Taddy made it a night to remember as he recorded a sixth straight indoor world title having dominated the 2015 series.

Entering the championship final with a healthy 42 point lead. Blazusiak knew exactly what he needed to do to get the job done. On a course that was tight, technical and largely unforgiving, Taddy delivered a smooth and calculated ride to wrap up the title with one race to go.

Knowing solid starts would be hugely important in making life easier for himself, Blazusiak grabbed the holeshot in race one. Coming under attack from both Cody Webb and Jonny Walker, Taddy avoided the temptation to fight for victory and instead settled for a comfortable third place.

Needing just three more points to secure the championship, Blazusiak was all but assured the world crown entering race two. Cautiously working his way towards the front of the field, he carved his way up to second place to cross the finish line as the 2015 FIM SuperEnduro World Champion.

With the championship once more his, a solid ride in race three ended with a third place result. Third overall on the night ensured the Polish rider�fs 100 per cent podium record in the 2015 series remained intact.

Taddy Blazusiak: �"I feel like I'm on top world right now. What can I say . it�fs an awesome feeling to be the world champion for the sixth year in a row. Coming into this race I knew I was in the perfect position to wrap up the title. I had a healthy points lead but I still felt some pressure to get it done. Tonight was all about making sure I won the championship. Crossing the finish line as world champion for the sixth time in a row is amazing. Overall it�fs been a fantastic season . winning the world championship, four GP wins and finishing every event on the podium is perfect. I can�ft thank KTM, the team and everyone involved enough for the effort they put in."

Results 1. Jonny Walker (KTM) 59pts; 2. Cody Webb (KTM) 55; 3. Taddy Blazusiak (KTM) 48; 4. Alfredo Gomez (Husqvarna) 39; 5. Paul Bolton (KTM) 30 

Championship Standings 1. Taddy Blazusiak (KTM) 320pts; 2. Cody Webb (KTM) 282; 3. Jonny Walker (KTM) 277; 4. David Knight (KTM) 231; 5. Alfredo Gomez (Husqvarna) 212

SuperEnduro World Championship 2015, Round 6 preview

Hunting Down The 2015 SuperEnduro World Championship Title

As the 2015 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship draws to a close this weekend in Cahors, France KTM’s Taddy Blazusiak is perfectly poised to secure yet another indoor title. Holding a healthy 42-point lead, Blazusiak is hot favourite to secure a record-breaking sixth consecutive FIM crown. Feeling relaxed and ready, Taddy gives his thoughts ahead of yet another hugely important weekend…

It’s potentially a championship-winning weekend for you. Are you feeling any nerves ahead of the final round?
TADDY: “It’s normal to have nerves. I think you’ve got to be sort of nervous before a weekend like this otherwise you lose focus. But I feel like I’ve a good handle on the championship now. I’m focused on riding my bike and basically doing my job. If I do that right then the title will hopefully come to me.”

Have you got any specific plan of attack for the races?
TADDY: “A healthy points lead coming into this race has taken the pressure off a little. I don’t have to put everything on the line. If I finish inside the top five in each race then I can be the champion, but it will also happen if I win SuperPole and then win the first race. The latter would be the ideal situation for me, but I’m not going to get stressed about it. As long as I end the night as world champion I’ll be happy!”

Overall how would you sum up your SuperEnduro series to date?
TADDY: “I can’t really fault it. I’ve won four out of five rounds and was on the podium in the other one. To do that in a championship as unpredictable and crazy as SuperEnduro is great – I’m more than happy with how it’s all gone.”

Was there a specific moment when you felt like you were going to be the rider to beat in this championship?
TADDY: “I think round one in Poland was a huge moment for me. I’d just lost the AMA EnduroCross championship and I arrived to Poland feeling like I needed to prove myself again. The pressure was definitely on there. I couldn’t afford to lose. In the first race I crashed off the start but charged back from last to win. Then winning the other two races to claim the overall definitely put me back in the game. Mentally I was a different person leaving that stadium.”

Although not part of the SuperEnduro series, you raced and won the Enduro Indoor De Barcelona last weekend. That’s an important race for you, right?
TADDY: “I love racing in Barcelona – it’s become like my home race as I live not too far away. Grabbing the overall win in the dying moments of the night was awesome but just having some extra race time was important.”

This isn’t just a championship-winning weekend for you but potentially a record-smashing sixth world title. What does that mean to you?
TADDY: “It’s cool, really cool, but I’m not massively bothered by records. I just want to win races. I feel like it’s that drive to win that’s helped me achieve so much in this sport. Each and every championship I’ve won is special to me. I’ve pretty much ticked everything off the list that I wanted to win. Now it’s that competitive spirit to win races that keeps me going. There’s no better feeling than crossing the finish line first…”

Moving On To A New Challenge

The AMA EnduroCross Championship gets underway in Daytona this Friday and for the first time in seven years Taddy Blazusiak won’t be on the start line. 

As a five-time champion and the most successful rider the series has ever known, Blazusiak has made the tough decision to finally step away from it all.

After such a long time chasing the championship trail in the US, the KTM rider will change things up for 2015 and beyond. Ahead of this season’s EnduroCross opener in Daytona, Taddy explains why he’s missing out on Endurocross and what lies ahead for him…

“EnduroCross have given me so much – it’s made me who I am – so stepping away was a very hard thing to do. But I’ve achieved way more racing that series than I ever thought possible. I never imagined I would win one title let alone five in a row. Honestly, I wouldn’t change anything about it.

“On one hand I’m kind of sad that I’m not going to be on the start line this Friday but on the other hand I’m also relieved. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve loved every minute but it’s been hard work too.

“I’ve been pretty much jet lagged for the last seven years racing that series. Dealing with the nine-hour time difference from my home in Spain and taking in over a dozen trans Atlantic flights each year has been exhausting. Mixing it up with SuperEnduro has kept me racing solidly – without any real breaks – for a very, very long time.

“Missing out on racing the AMA EnduroCross Championship is giving me the opportunity to do more things. Stuff I’ve had to put on hold. I’m getting back into extreme enduro – Erzberg is top of that list – and I’m also going to give some Enduro World Championship races a go too.

“I’ve wanted to return to Erzberg for the last three years but my schedule hasn’t allowed that to happen. I race to win and in the past I just haven’t been in a position that would allow me to be ready to fight for victory at Erzberg. That race is very special to me – it’s where my racing career began – so I’ve got to return in the right way.

“Since I’ve stepped away from extreme enduro the sport has really exploded in a big way. There are so many cool races I want to try. I also want to do a couple more EWC events. I enjoyed my one-off ride in Italy last year and I think I surprised myself by just how competitive I could be. I really feel that with some more specialised training I can surprise a few people.

“But right now it’s about wrapping up the SuperEnduro series. It’s been a great season with some close battles and winning four overalls in a row was awesome. I think I’m 42 points in front heading into the final round in France so if I can win my sixth straight title there I’ll be more than happy. After that I’m going to take a little break and then plan my next mission. I’m looking forward to what lies ahead this year.

“I wish everyone involved in the US EnduroCross series all the very best. I’ll miss the racing, the fans, the battles on the tracks and just being a part of a great series. It’s so hard to say who will win this year. Obviously Cody Webb starts as favourite – he’s the defending champion and he’s coming off the back of a solid SuperEnduro series. He’s ready to go. But there are so many other guys too. It’s anybody’s title to win. I’m looking forward to watching what happens…”