Challenging Extreme XL Lagares for Taddy Blazusiak

Michelle Liew

May 10, 2021

Tough day for Taddy Blazusiak as the GASGAS Factory Racing Team rider had to withdraw from the second heat.

Taddy Blazusiak – GASGAS Factory Racing

GASGAS Factory Racing Team‘s Taddy Blazusiak showed great form at round one of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship at Extreme XL Lagares during the weekend. After a long rest to recuperate from his shoulder injury, the P0lish rider qualified third and took on the horrendous conditions faced by all riders after heavy rain fell overnight ahead of the race. Blazusiak showed a masterclass as he finished the first heat in second place. However, he had to withdraw from the second heat with a tweaked knee.

Originally scheduled to include an Endurocross, Prologue, and hard enduro Main Race, the 2021 edition of Extreme XL Lagares had to be cut down considerably at the 11th hour when a regional Covid hot spot forced Portugal’s General Health Directorate to restrict sporting events to run ‘behind closed doors’.

As such, organizers were forced to put on a heavily restricted race using only the Endurocross track. Although full championship points were initially going to be awarded, horrendous conditions resulted in a unanimous decision by the FIM and championship promotors to run the event without points.

Taddy will now head home to continue his training ahead of the next round of the 2021 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship.

Taddy Blazusiak (GASGAS Factory Racing)- As It Happened

“Overall, it’s been a strange weekend. With the cancellation of the main race, it was always going to be tough to run a full event. Qualifying yesterday went really well, I was feeling good and got third fastest, so I was pleased with that. This morning, just before the start of the first moto, the organizers told us there wouldn’t be any points on offer due to the conditions. We still lined up though, to try and do what we could.

The first race went really well for me – I got second and felt I was riding well. Just a couple of laps into the second race I tweaked my knee a little though. I carried on but was in some pain and so to avoid making it any worse I decided to pull in. With no points being awarded I didn’t want to risk an injury so I thought it would be best to call it a day. I feel for the organizers as they have worked hard to make the most of a tough situation. We’ll definitely be back next year to do what everyone wants to do – race the full schedule in front of the fans.”