Cody Webb fired back with the win Koa Mauna Hard Enduro win on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaiian, round two of the AMA West Hard Enduro Series hosted by the Hawaiian Motorsports Association and the final event of the week-long IRC Endurofest-Hawaii, Presented by Pasha.

After a 4th place finish the weekend prior at the Ultimate Hawaiian Hard Enduro in Kauai, Cody Webb was clearly motivated to not leave Hawaii without a win. The KRD Team, who swept the podium last weekend having exploited their local knowledge of the Hawaiian ice-like mud, were met with a different Cody this week, one armed with better bike set-up.

Webb wasn’t alone as his FactoryOne Sherco teammate, Cooper Abbott, flew over to compete for his first time in Hawaii for the event which formed the second round of the AMA West Hard Enduro Series, Presented by Klim.

200 racers lined-up across the 12 USHE classes racing a three-lap hare n hound-style race with each lap progressively harder on the course, above the world-famous Banzai Pipeline, consisting of steep hills, endless roots, slick creek beds, with no shortage of that infamous “Hawaiian Ice” which caught Webb out so spectacularly last weekend.

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Cooper Abbott grabbed the holeshot at the Kahuku Motocross Track and battles began in the tight trails which followed. The lead pack stayed relatively close until Webb started to pull away in the first loop. He came into the gas check after one hour and 20 minutes, around five minutes ahead of KRD’s Kamakana Waiwaiole-Kahalepuna and Ryder Guest.

The tougher second loop saw Webb extend his lead ahead of the KRD riders, who came into the gas check within 90 seconds of each other 14 minutes behind Webb.

On the third loop, the sections were the most technical of the whole race with Webb later saying he thought the course was ending only to find it would take another turn and go right back into a gnarly canyon. The trails were relentless, and the humidity inside the canopy didn’t make it any easier.

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Webb finished in first place in 4 hours and 20 minutes, exhausted and glad to see the chequered flag as the first of just three official finishers completing the checks.

Bike problems for Kamakana allowed last week’s winner Kawelo Huddy to pull into the third-place spot, battling Ryder Guest to the very end. Guest and Huddy finished 12 seconds apart, 53 minutes behind Webb. Kamakana and Abbott did not make it to the finish line, but finished 4th and 5th, respectively.

Post race interviews:

 

Results:

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The HMA trail crew put together a challenging course where Amateurs and Pros were all challenged and got to ride some fresh cut trails that haven’t ever been ridden at this popular riding park in Oahu.

The next USHE round is the Grinding Stone Hard Enduro in Page, Arizona on March 23-24.

Full results: http://www.moto-tally.com/USHE/Results.aspx   

more information: www.ushardenduro.com

 

Photo Credit: Jenny Keller Photography