or the third consecutive year, the Maxxis Endurocross was probably the best spectator-friendly motorcycle race in the world. While it’s always fun to watch guys like James Stewart and Chad Reed on the Supercross track, or Ben Spies and Mat Mladin dragging a knee on the roadracing circuit, the Endurocross keeps the crowd on their feet cheering, beginning with the qualifiers and they never sit down until the lights go out in the stadium.
     Eric Peronnard and Tim Clark, the owners of Pro-Motion Motorsports, LLC, the promoting group for the Maxxis Endurocross, invited most of the world’s best off-road racers to compete in the Saturday Championship event and also held open qualifying on Friday, to all comers, for a chance to make to make it into the big show on Saturday. Fans that came early to Friday qualifying were not disappointed with the spectacle. Here are some of the highlights from both days:
     The track is nothing short of incredible–rock piles the size of small mountains, a water crossing made with a pool any Hollywood star would be proud to have in his back yard, logs, fallen trees, giant heavy equipment Maxxis tires and more. These huge obstacles make for lots of action and great racing. The real truth of the Endurocross experience is that the track itself is the biggest star in the arena. A Missouri mule or a Colorado mountain goat probably couldn’t walk around the Endurocross course without falling down, but the off-road racing stars tackle the track in less then 60 seconds per lap, if they don’t crash. Endurocross brings all the excitement of Supercross, Off-Road, Trials, Motocross, showmanship and more together in one spot inside the Orleans arena. It’s unique in the United States.
     There were 180 entries for Friday’s Qualifier event. Ten of these riders made it into Saturday night’s program with three of them making it all the way to the Maxxis Endurocross final ten: Eric Rhoten (who finished 4th overall), Matt Karlson (finished 3rd) and Nick Mantzoros (finished 9th).
     Rider Nick Mantzoros drove over 2,500 miles from Pennsylvania with his girlfriend in the front seat and his Sherco trials bike in the back of his trunk. Nick then went on to hammer out more than 40 laps on the grueling Maxxis Endurocross track to work his way through the Qualifier Rounds on Friday and into the Saturday night final. Nick was easy to spot, riding his Trials bike in the midst of a field of full-race motocross bikes. And since he was almost constantly on the track, repeatedly qualifying for the next round via a series of Last Chance races, Nick quickly became a crowd favorite.
     The event was completely sold out with nearly 7,000 fans packed into the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. Tim and Eric are considering adding more venues to this “one-off” race to form a series.
     Jason Weigandt, of GNCC fame, called the race action from above and never missed a beat. He knew every rider’s name, titles, and strengths and was as much a reason for the fans enthusiasm as the amazing action on the stadium floor.
     In the main event, 41-year-old motocross legend John Dowd was the overall winner, narrowly beating Team Green Kawasaki’s Nathan Woods. Woods repeatedly charged to the lead, only to be temporarily tripped up by one of the many obstacles. Dowd would then re-pass Woods and the process went back and forth for the entire main. Woods’ final spill came just before the checkered flag when he tried to jump an entire fallen tree/rock section for the win, but came up just a bit short, and tumbled to the ground to quickly remount and take second. Third place went to last year’s champion, David Knight. Dowd happily went home with both the AMA Number One Plate and a $10,000 check. Fourth place was Eric Rhoten followed by Matt Karlson, Homero Diaz, Geoff Aaron, Ryan Dudek, Nick Mantzoros and Nick Brozovich. Ryan Hughes, the 2004 Endurocross Champion, crashed in his qualifier and didn’t race the main.
     For 2007, the Maxxis Endurocross will take place inside the Orleans Arena on Saturday, November 17. Now is the time to buy your tickets and make hotel reservations. This race has quickly become a “classic” that every motorcycle fan of every stripe should see in person at least once in their life. Stories and photos just don’t do the experience justice. You have to be there!

Motocross legend John Dowd was the overall winner in the 2006 Endurocross main event.

Dowd battled for the win with Team Green Kawasaki’s Nathan Woods, ultimately edging out Woods to claim the checkered flag.

The 41-year-old Moose-sponsored Dowd expertly conquered the difficult and technical Endurocross course inside the Orleans Arena.

his year’s event also featured a new “lights out” race, adding to the difficulty of the already extremely challenging course.

Nathan Woods (#11) tackles one of the tricky rock sections on the demanding course.

The unique Endurocross course features plenty of challenging obstacles, like this water crossing.

2004 Endurocross Champion Ryan Hughes takes an up close look at one of the water obstacles. Unfortunately, Hughes crashed in his qualifier and didn’t make the main event.

Even Supercross legend Jeremy McGrath came out to watch the Endurocross action!