News 15 Dec 2009

Oz Off-Road: International stars ready for Stadium Enduro X

World Enduro standout Bartosz Oblucki will race in Queensland this weekend.

World Enduro standout Bartosz Oblucki will race in Queensland this weekend.

Enduro World Championship star Bartosz Oblucki and Extreme Enduro hero Taddy Blazusiak will compete on Australian soil this weekend, the Polish riders riding at the Stadium Enduro X while on holiday in Australia.

Joining the internationals will be recently recruited Husqvarna Enduro World Championship rider Chris Hollis, the Australian set to make his debut in the 2010 world championship.

Oblucki, Blazusiak and Hollis will contest the Stadium Enduro X to be held in Queensland on Saturday night, marking Australia’s first ever extreme enduro event at the Caves Showgrounds, near Rockhampton.

Red Bull KTM’s Blazusiak is the current U.S Enduro Cross Champion, is leading the European Enduro Cross series and has finished on top of Austria’s gruelling Erzberg Rodeo the last three consecutive years.

“I’ve never been to Queensland before,” 26-year-old Blazusiak said. “Bartosz and I came here for a bit of a holiday and to practice because at home it’s too cold. The race this weekend will be good, racing is always the best practice. It will be good to have some fun and ride with no pressure for the first time this year.”

The 28-year-old Polish rider Oblucki finished sixth in this year’s E2 World Championship with two victories despite sitting out the final two rounds, while Hollis is the 2008 Australian Off-Road Champion.

The cash prize pool for the Queensland Stadium Enduro X is the greatest ever offered by an Australian enduro event, with $2000 for the Pro Open winner and $1500 to the Pro Lites winner, while the second and third placed riders in each of these classes will get $1000 and $500 respectively.

The top Clubman finishers will also take home a nice cheque, with the winners of Clubman Lites and Open getting $1000. Second and third in each will get $750 and $500 respectively.

Trophies will be awarded to the top three placings in each of the Junior classes.

The event boasts six classes, including Pro/Expert/Intermediate Lites, Pro/Expert/Intermediate Open, Clubman Lites, Clubman Open, Junior Lites (13-15 years) and Mini Lites (12-15 years).

Gates at the Caves Showgrounds (on Rossmoya Road) will open at 8am, this Saturday (December 19th). Qualifying will start at about 1pm, with main heats to run from approximately 6.30pm.

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