Husqvarna Rider Blazes Red Mountain Race

October 2, 2009 - Woodcliff Lake, NJ --
Continuing the blistering pace he set two seasons back, Nick Burson scorched his way to another overall win at Round #3 of the U.S. Desert Racing series. Despite the heat, some 100 riders showed up to do battle in the blazing sun in Red Mountain, California.

"The conditions at Red Mountain were the hottest of the year," said the somewhat fried Nick Burson after the race. "It was quite possibly THE hottest conditions I've ever raced under, but I hydrated all morning and tried to take it easy. I usually run my suspension set-up softer than most riders anyway, but also kept the bike in a higher gear for lower RPM whenever possible. That's how you survive in hot, technical conditions like this."
While Burson was a bit beat up, his Zip-Ty Racing Husqvarna TXC 510 never missed a beat in the punishing 105-degree heat. In fact, Nick's trusty Husky hasn't had so much of a hiccup through the first three rounds of the season. Nick got off to a good start and ran second for the first three laps of the 75 mile, five lap event. However he passed for the lead going into the fourth lap and cruised to the win.

"I babied the bike... and myself a little there," he admits. Of course Nick neglected to mention he was still sore from a collision suffered during the start of the AMA National Hare & Hound he raced a day earlier in Wendover, NV. "Just banged up a little bit, no big deal," says the desert hotshoe.

With just two rounds left in the 2009 season, the defending 2007 and 2008 USDR #1 plate holder only needs finish at round #4 to take the 2009 Pro title. "Now that is hot," jokes Burson.