KTM's Taddy Blazusiak is the "Last Man Standing" in 2007

He's 24 years-old, from Krakow, Poland and he's shaking up some major competitions on two wheels in his first year as a KTM factory rider.

Taddy Blazusiak went out this weekend in Bulcher, Texas and became Red Bull's Last Man Standing in what is one of the most gruelling races on the calendar.
 
Making his debut in the race, Blazusiak claimed the victory and American Geoff Aaron was the only other finisher. Both riders were onboard KTM machines. Blazusiak caught the attention of KTM during the legendary Erzberg Rodeo on Austria's notorious Iron Mountain in the summer of 2007 and he was signed to compete as a factory rider.
 
But what was a halcyon day - and night - in this unique event for the young Polish professional, it was also a bitter moment for KTM hero David Knight. The reigning US GNCC champion saw his hopes of claiming a third Red Bull Last Man Standing title disappear when he had to withdraw an hour and 13 minutes into the night lap and trailing Blazusiak by five minutes. Knight said he was "gutted" that he was unable to finish because of asthma like symptoms, but he was generous in his praise for the Polish and the American riders. He also said he thought it was the toughest LMS event in which he had competed.
 
Blazusiak captured both the daytime lap and the night time laps - each of 40 miles (64.37 kilometres), while 10-times national trials champion Geoff Aaron, from Colorado, was the only other rider to finish both laps at the Red River Motorcycle Trails course on the Texas/Oklahoma border.
 
"This was a very tough race and my bike worked perfectly," said Blazusiak, who completed the night lap in 3:37:54." He compared the Last Man Standing with the Erzberg competition and said there was no time to relax. "David and I were riding against each other in the first lap, and again in the second lap, we were really pushing each other, trading the lead several times. When I heard he pulled out, I was able to relax a little, but racing against him kept me focused," the Polish rider said. Aaron persevered after David Knight was forced to withdraw and crossed the line 31 minutes behind Blazusiak.
 
Of the 100 riders who started in the day race, 97 failed to finish within one hour of Blazusiak's blistering time, leaving only him, Knight and Aaron to contest the night time lap. More than 2500 spectators were undeterred by the cold and overcast weather and came out to lend their support to the riders and to set an attendance record for the event.



David Knight Report
Illness forces Knighter out of ’07 Last Man Standing

Reigning US GNCC champion David Knight saw his hopes of claiming a third Red Bull Last Man Standing title fail to materialise this weekend when the factory KTM rider was forced to withdraw from this year’s LMS event with respiratory difficulties. Heading to the States feeling less than 100 per cent after topping the opening round of the Indoor Enduro World Cup, Knighter felt short of breath during the event’s morning race but still placed second – a result he was happy with knowing that it was the all important night race that would ultimately decide the event’s results.
Thinking he was probably just going down with Flu David took to the start of the night race ready for the many challenges that lay ahead but soon found himself struggling to breath properly. Battling with eventual winner Taddy Blazusiak Knight found himself unable to continue and will now undergo tests in order to determine the nature of his breathing difficulties ahead of the second round of the Indoor Enduro World Cup, held in Munich this coming weekend.

David Knight: “I’m gutted that I wasn’t able to finish the race but it’s great that Taddy and Geoff finished. I was having a good battle with Taddy shortly before I had to stop. I would lead for a while, then he’d lead, then me again… it was great. I felt short of breath and then when the track started to get more technical I started coughing and just couldn’t stop. I’m not the type of rider that likes to pull out of events but there was no way I could continue. It was like I suddenly developed asthma, I was really scared because I couldn’t breath. It was like someone had punched me in the stomach.

“The thing I’m most disappointed about is the fact that I was enjoying the event so much. It was tough but it was great. I’d say it was the hardest LMS event I’ve ridden, but also the best. I only have a few days before the next indoor world cup race so I hope to get things sorted as soon as I can.”