INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 26) -- The GEICO Honda Endurocross team placed three riders into the 11-man main event of Friday night's GEICO Endurocross Series race at the Pepsi Coliseum on the Indianapolis State Fairgrounds, but it was Matt Crouch who starred for the team, and he wasn't even a part of the main event.
Crouch won the Open Amateur class earlier in the evening to highlight the team's effort in Circle City. The tall Texan competed in both the pro and amateur categories, and ended up earning money in each class.
"Winning the Open Amateur class is just as hard as winning in Expert Pro, trust me," Crouch said. "These are the best Endurocross riders in the world and a lot of the guys I was racing in Open Amateur were right there beside me in Expert Pro as well, so the level of competition isn't any different. I'm very proud of this win.
"Naturally, I wanted to be in the Main but I came up just short. I ran a lot of laps around this track today and it's a very tough layout. I'm tired, but pretty happy."
Aside from his victory in Open Amateur, Crouch earned a check with a third-place result in the "Dash for Cash" and another one for reaching the Last Chance Qualifier.
Team leader Geoff Aaron started his day with an easy heat race win that automatically advanced him to the Main. But as effortless as his riding looked early on, the tide turned just a few seconds into the main event.
"There was just no room at the start," Aaron lamented. "I tried to push through but it was just mayhem around the first few turns. I kind of settled into fifth or sixth there for about half a lap and then I made a move on Cody (Webb) and for some reason he just came to a dead stop going into an obstacle and I ran right into him. I kind of twisted down to the ground and by the time I got up I was pretty far back.
"Indy kicked my butt again. I don't know what it is about this place but I always struggle here. I feel like I rode well after my spill but I was out of contention by then."
Despite not riding for the last two weeks as he continues to recover from a hard spill in Seattle, Kyle Redmond reached the Main by winning the semifinal race ahead of replacement rider Rory Mead, who was on team owner J.T. Bennett's GEICO Honda. Unfortunately, Redmond finished last in the main event.
"At least I reached the Main," Redmond said. "I'm still really sore and I didn't like getting in there and banging with everyone tonight. You have to be physical to pass people and I couldn't get through that."
Mead, who w as initially brought on board to fill-in for Jimmy Jarrett in GNCC competition, was the third GEICO Honda pro to make the main event. Mead protected Aaron and Redmond in the heat races, then provided interference again for Redmond in the semis. Mead earned his position in the money race by winning the LCQ. In the Main, the gassed New Zealander finished ninth.
"I won't have any trouble sleeping tonight," Mead said. "I did ride in one of these races a few years back but I forgot how brutal it is out there. I just wanted to have some fun and I did what I could for the boys. I was happy to help."
Ryan Rodgers came up short in his bid to make the Main but earned $500 as the last man out.
The next GEICO Endurocross Series event takes place Sept 17 at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, Calif.
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