Blazusiak masters Hell's Gate

From KTM Racing

KTM extreme Enduro factory rider Taddy Blazusiak took his second consecutive victory in the notorious two-stage Hell's Gate competition in Tuscany, Italy on Saturday.

Blazusiak battled the course and the opposition on a day that was sunny but extremely cold and icy during what was nine tough hours of competition. He finished the race ahead of fellow KTM rider Alexander Botturi with Dougie Lampkin of Britain taking third. Only seven of the original 80 riders were at the chequered flag.

While the competition itself is hard enough, the frozen ground added another difficult dimension to the course comprising slow-speed, technical sections and higher speed tracks and trails. Riders tackled rock faces that defied gravity, achieved impressive balancing acts and closed the competition with the daredevil run up the dreaded Hell's Peak climb.

Blazusiak, who was the eventual winner by an eight-minute margin, did not escape unscathed. He crashed after hitting a patch of ice in the morning session but still secured two winning special test performances and one runner-up result to ensure he had the pole position for the main Hell's Gate in the afternoon.

After leading in the first lap he slipped back to second after running into difficulties in one of the riverbeds where he lost several minutes on Botturi while pushing his bike free, hampered by a painful wrist, a result of the morning crash. Once back on course he surged past Botturi and retook the lead.

Final Classification
1. Taddy Blazusiak, Poland, KTM E2
2. Alessandro Botturi, Italy, KTM E3
3. Dougie Lampkin, UK, Beta E2
4. Graham Jarvis, UK, Sherco E1
5. Tom Sagar, UK, Husaberg E2