Lucerne Valley, CA (5/24/2011) – The 51st Annual Cherry Creek National put on by the Sugarloafers Motorcycle Club took place in perfect conditions in Jericho, Utah. Rains prior to the event and mild temperatures and sun on race day provided racers with a nearly dust-free 65 mile loop of challenging terrain.

Points leader Andy Lagzdins took a commanding victory, finishing over five minutes ahead of the field and further extending his lead in the AMA Racing/Kenda National Hare & Hound Series. The radical elevation changes and multiple water crossings created issues for many riders, and Lagzdins was not excluded. “After the start we immediately began climbing into the mountains” stated Lagzdins after the race. “I was in second place and trying to make a move on the leader but my quad was running so badly on the top of the course that I had to concentrate on just keeping it running. At one point I stopped and pulled the outer element off of my air filter to lean it out a little.”

The Cherry Creek event was a striking contrast to the Round 6 National held only a few miles from the location, a race which was run in near-blizzard conditions. The first half of the Cherry Creek course meandered through the rocky and dense cedar forest trails with flowing mountain runoff streams often crossing the course. After the gas stop at the 30 mile mark, the course opened up into standard desert racing terrain for the final 35 mile run to the checkers.

This win marks Lagzdins’ fifth consecutive victory in the series, and with two rounds left in the series he only needs to finish the final rounds in California to secure his first National Hare and Hound Championship to add to his 2007 OMA Nationals and 2009 Score International Baja Overall ATV titles.