25th Maxxis Pont de Vaux 12 Hour ATV Endurance Race Report ::CONTINUED::

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Luck (as well as fast, consistent riding and excellent prep work) was with the team, and Couprie took his second consecutive win at PDV—by just one lap over second place.

Interview with Joel Hetrick & Travis Moore:

US motocross Pro-class rookies for 2011, Joel Hetrick and Travis Moore were also rookies at PDV for 2011. Travis finished top five at one pro MX event in 2011, and Joel, only 18, smoked the final round at Loretta’s with two moto wins. We talked with Travis and Joel after qualifying at PDV, and then after two of the three race sessions.

ATVRiders.com: The record, near-100 degree heat this weekend is killing the European guys, who aren't used to it. Probably business as usual for you guys?
Travis: I'm not even breaking a sweat. This heat will be to our advantage. I'm from Tennessee and Joel's from Pennsylvania, so we're used to it.
Joel: The more heat the better; just gotta drink water and stay hydrated.

ATVRiders.com: Both you guys normally race Hondas in the States. How does it feel to be racing a Can-Am for the first time?
Travis: I'm excited. It feels really comfortable. As much or more so than the Honda. Also very light and with a low center of gravity.

ATVRiders.com: Does PDV surprise you?
Travis: It's faster than what I imagined; the track looks like a drag strip and walking it gave me goose bumps. I'm not used to braking from wide open into a hairpin. But for reliability we're running a near-stock motor here and we'll need to push it in the corners and over jumps.
Joel: I've raced endurance in the US like the 12 Hours America and also TT, but they're nothing like this. No woods or tight sections at all. This will be cool.

ATVRiders.com: : Typically, PDV gets really rough and you weight only 150 pounds, Joel. Will muscling the quad around for 12 hours be an issue?
Joel: No, I've got some muscle behind me. Millville is one of the roughest tracks in the States and I got third there. I don't mind the rough tracks; I feel very confident about all this. (after session 2)

ATVRiders.com: How's it going out there now?
Travis: We're struggling on the straights, but hoping to out-ride them in the corners.

ATVRiders.com: Sounds like you got some serious exercise in the night session, Travis.
Travis: We broke a fuel line way in the back portion of the course. Our pits had no idea what had happened, so I pushed the quad—at a run—for ten minutes back to the pits. I wasn't sure if regulations would allow me to take off the helmet, so I left that on and got even more overheated and more exhausted. About 100-feet from our pits I guess I fainted 'cause I woke up face down in the dirt. We lost about 15 minutes and went from 5th to 58th.

ATVRiders.com: Could you guys be on a Can-Am for the next season in the US?
Travis: Could be!