Piplic Wins Ultimate UTV Challenge
9/24/2012Overcoming a broken rear axle, an obstacle-filled endurocross section and a sandy, rock-strewn off-road course, Ryan Piplic won the Fall Fuel Fest Ultimate UTV Challenge. The race was held September 22 in St. George, Utah.
Living up to its name, the course featured endurocross obstacles including huge concrete and plastic culverts, big tires, large logs, cars, a log pyramid and water crossings. The off-road segment of the course was every bit as daunting, with high-speed sections, sand washes, sand whoops and beach ball-sized rocks, according to Piplic. The Maxxis-sponsored rider began the race on a high note, grabbing the holeshot in his Polaris RZR 900 XP. He then managed to gap the field and maintain an impressive lead throughout the race. Even though his rear axle broke near the half-mile-long straightaway on the last lap, he held on to finish and win by a margin of more than two minutes, with a $10,000 prize as reward.
“I had made it this far, and I wasn't going to quit now,” said Piplic of the moment when the crucial part snapped. “I needed more momentum than any other lap because I only had my front wheels pulling me through everything. Halfway through, I started hearing a loud clunk from my front end. Thinking that another axle was going out, I just stayed with it and the next thing I knew, I was out, and a few more turns and I was $10,000 dollars richer!”
Maxxis congratulates Ryan Piplic on this outstanding victory.
