Colton Haaker secures 2017 SuperEnduro title

Haaker defends the FIM SuperEnduro World Championship from Gomez and Walker

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Colton Haaker has successfully defended his FIM SuperEnduro World Championship title, winning the 2017 series with a third-place overall result at the fourth and final event held in Albi, France.

Colton Haaker - Image: Future7Media — Colton Haaker – Image: Future7Media

Entering the championship decider with an 11-point advantage over his closest challenger Alfredo Gomez, Haaker did exactly what he needed to do to secure his second SuperEnduro title in two years. Riding notably better than he did at round three in Spain two weeks earlier, Colton rounded out his night with 2/2/3/ results to join Gomez and Jonny Walker on the podium.

Red Bull KTM Enduro Factory Racing team mates Alfredo Gomez and Jonny Walker also brought their participation in the 2017 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship to a highly successful close by finishing first and second respectively at the final round of the series.

Alfredo Gomez - Image: Future7Media — Alfredo Gomez – Image: Future7Media

For Alfredo Gomez the event ended with the Spaniard claiming his second consecutive overall win, having also topped the podium for the first time at round three in Spain two weeks earlier.

Improving throughout the opening two rounds of the series, in France Gomez’ lightning fast starts on his KTM 300 EXC helped him to third in the opening final before claiming two wins to top the podium ahead of Jonny Walker and Colton Haaker.

Competing in his first ever SuperEnduro championship last year, Haaker won the title with a last-lap pass for the win in the final moto of the last race of the series. Coming into the 2017 series as defending champion and having recently also secured the AMA EnduroCross title, Haaker placed a strong second overall at round one in Poland before enjoying a perfect night at round two in Germany with three final wins. At round three in Spain he finished third overall before wrapping up the title with a close third place result in France.

Pascal Rauchenecker - Image: Future7Media — Pascal Rauchenecker – Image: Future7Media

Racing alongside Haaker, teammate Pascal Rauchenecker rounded out his rookie season of SuperEnduro competition in Albi, France in seventh overall. The third fastest rider on track during the one-lap SuperPole session, Pascal placed a strong fifth in the opening final. Going on to finish 11th in the reversed start order second final he ended his night seventh in the third and closing final for seventh overall and fifth in the series’ standings.

Colton Haaker

“It’s great to win the SuperEnduro title again. It’s been a very different championship to last year, as I felt like I started this series as favourite to win. I came out strong at the first two rounds, and managed to open up a little gap at the top of the points. I think Jonny and Alfredo worked really hard during the break after the first two rounds, but tonight I felt like things were pretty even between us all. Defending the SuperEnduro title was definitely something different, and quite possibly harder to do, but I’m just stoked to win the championship. I felt like I rode well tonight, but at the same time I knew the title was on the line. I’m stoked to have get two SuperEnduro titles in a row.”

2017 SuperEnduro Round 4 Podium - Image: Future7Media — 2017 SuperEnduro Round 4 Podium – Alfredo Gomez took the top podium spot for the round – Image: Future7Media

Alfredo Gomez

“Tonight I got some great starts, twice getting the holeshot, and I just wanted to end the series as well as I could. I’m really pleased for myself and the team. As I’ve said before, for a rider that wasn’t originally planning to be a part of this championship we have done a pretty amazing job. From the first laps of the first race in Poland I have been competitive and to now get my second overall SuperEnduro event win is incredible. Honestly, I’m a little surprised at just how competitive I’ve been in each heat of each race. Amazingly, I don’t think I crashed in any of the finals all season, it’s been an amazing championship.”

Jonny Walker

After getting the fastest time in the SuperPole and then winning the first final I really felt like I could get the overall win. The reverse start order second final was kind of my undoing – things just didn’t go as I hoped they would. I finished third, which wasn’t too bad, but I lost a few points that I needed at the end of the night. Track was good, nothing too technical but it made for close racing. I think the three of us – Colton, Alfredo and myself – all wanted to end the series with a strong result, so there was some great racing. Coming off my injury last year, I wasn’t quite on the pace I needed at the start of the series, but things have ended really well.”