Irvine, Calif.  – Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Justin Soule started the season with a hard fought fifth place finish during Round 1 of the AMA EnduroCross series at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. His previous stints with the series never saw him qualify for the main event, but Soule showed determination as he transferred through the LCQ and finished with a solid top five. Teammate Destry Abbott qualified through the semi-final race, finishing ninth in his first race back from injury. Ricky Dietrich did not qualify for the main event.

With 2010 being Soule’s first year of competing full-time in the EnduroCross series, he wasn’t sure how he would stack up against the competition. After hours of testing, Soule came out and showed he is up for any challenge thrown his way, finishing in the top five.

“As a natural competitor, I had high expectations for myself, but was also realistic,” said Soule. “I made some mistakes and saw I could have probably done better, which is a great boost going into the next round. All in all, it was a good night.”

Abbott had been sidelined since April with injury and used the EnduroCross season opener to help get back in race shape. His competitive spirit helped transfer him into the main event as he held off teammate Dietrich in the semi-final qualifier.

“I was really happy to make the main, but it was a tough night because I am not at 100 percent,” said Abbott. “Making the main is so difficult because there are so many great riders. This was definitely good to see where I was physically, since I have only spent about a week on the bike since my surgeries. My goal is to keep getting stronger for the next WORCS race in Washington.”

Dietrich’s ride at the season opener didn’t turn out how he had hoped, but his positive attitude kept his spirits high after he was unable to make the main event in Las Vegas.

“This is obviously not how I wanted to start my season,” said Dietrich. “My goal is to win every event, but I can’t do that if I’m not in the main. This situation has definitely lit a fire and I think the motivation will only make me come out in Oklahoma with even more determination than I came with to Vegas.”

The Monster Energy Kawasaki off-road team was the first team to race on the all-new KX250F, including electronic fuel injection and a totally redesigned suspension system.

“I was really impressed with the new bike right out of the box,” said Soule. “We got to ride it bone stock before making some changes for EnduroCross and I was immediately amazed at the responsiveness of the fuel injection. It’s just a great bike and I’m so happy I get to ride it for EnduroCross.”

The boys get about a month break before the next EnduroCross in Oklahoma on August 14. Although they have a month before Round 2, the team will be heading up to Washington for the seventh and eighth rounds of the WORCS series. Last year Abbott scored a podium finish at the WORCS race in Washington and is looking to capture another spot on top.

“I love going to Washington,” said Abbott. “It is probably my favorite WORCS round. The terrain is always so much fun and I usually do well in the tight tree and wooded courses.”

AMA EnduroCross Series
Orleans Arena – Las Vegas, Nev.
July 17, 2010

Pro Results
1. Taddy Blazusiak KTM
2. Geoff Aaron Christini KTM
3. Cory Graffunder Husqvarna
4. Mike Brown KTM
5. JUSTIN SOULE, MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI
6. GARY SUTHERLIN, KAWASAKI
7. KYLE REDMOND, KAWASAKI
8. JAMIE LANZA, KAWASAKI
9. DESTRY ABBOTT, MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI
10. Cody Webb, Gas Gas