16.05.2021
Round 3 - AMA West Extreme Championship - May 16, 2021
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – Teammates Trystan Hart and Taylor Robert delivered a double podium finish for the FMF KTM Factory Racing Team at Sunday’s Last Dog Standing, which served as Round 3 of the 2021 AMA West Extreme Championship at Glen Helen Raceway. With 3-2 moto scores, Hart came away with second overall, while Robert rounded out the podium in third with 2-4 scores.
With a two-day format, riders took to the course on Saturday for qualifying, which determined the start order for LDS Moto 1 on Sunday morning. Following some issues encountered by leader Cody Webb during the hot lap, it was Hart who inherited pole position aboard his KTM 300 XC-W TPI. In LDS Moto 1, he got off to a great start mixing it up with the front-runners early on. He put himself into third early in the one-lap race and he maintained a solid pace to secure a podium finish in the first bout.
In LDS Moto 2, Hart found himself buried off the start but he immediately put on a charge to make his way into second early on. With a substantial deficit to the race leader, Hart did his best to close the gap on Webb out front but he wasn’t able to reel him in before the checkers flew. Finishing seven minutes back in second, Hart claimed the runner-up finish and second overall with 3-2 moto scores on the day.
Trystan Hart: “I made a major mistake in the final race and I was back in sixth on the start and that pretty much cost me a chance at the win today. I’ll learn from my mistakes and do better next time.”
Robert, the fourth-place qualifier, powered his KTM 300 XC-W TPI to the front in LDS Moto 1 and he swiftly made his way through the early chaos to position himself into second. He maintained a good pace behind the leader for the remainder of the race, finishing 39 seconds back in second.
In Moto 2, Robert put himself into a great position off the start and he battled for the lead early on. While running second, Robert had trouble making his way up the waterfall section and after a couple of attempts he was finally successful but he had his work cut out to catch the leader out front. He continued to charge but he had already lost substantial time and energy in the fight, ultimately finishing fourth in the moto. With combined 2-4 moto scores, Robert was able to secure the third-place overall podium position.
Taylor Robert: “All-in-all, it was a cool race but it was pretty tough. There were a couple man-made obstacles that made for a crazy race and we got a little bit of rain today which made it harder in some sections and better in others. Cody [Webb] and I had a good battle going in the second race and then we got into this crazy waterfall section and I ended up having to try it a couple times and lost some time. Then I was just trying to recover and got to the tire mount and gassed myself out again but I ended up third overall so I’m happy with that.”
Next Race: Round 3 EEC – May 30 – Madd Moose Hard Enduro in Marquette, Michigan
Overall Pro Results
1. Cody Webb, Sherco, 1-1
2. Trystan Hart, KTM, 3-2
3. Taylor Robert, KTM, 2-4
OTHER KTM
6. Will Riordan, KTM, 6-5
9. Branden Petrie, KTM, 11-8
10. Cooper Abbott, KTM, 7-13