Dirt bike riders compete in extreme challenge

Shock absorbers should file a lawsuit.

Or bring charges of assault and battery.

Or, given the brutal pounding they'll take on the well-named EnduroCross track, at least be compensated for the cost of chiropractic visits.

B-u-u-u-u-mping over boulders, b-o-o-o-uncing over logs, sp-u-u-u-ttering through mud and enduring the obstacle course from hell, dirt bike riders (and their reluctant shock absorbers) in the EnduroCross, an indoor motocross variation of off-road racing its fans have christened "the toughest racing on two wheels," will cr-a-a-a-sh into the Orleans Arena on Saturday.

The aforementioned boulders, logs and mud, plus sand, a water hole, massive tires and whatever else could make a rider regret getting out of bed in the morning will loom in their paths in the championship finals of this hybrid racing sport, returning to where its season began back in July.

Conceived only four years ago, EnduroCross is an endurance test where few riders make it through its hard-core obstacles cleanly, having to right themselves and regain traction on their bikes before plowing on to the next challenge.

Intense, exhausting and very nearly insane, EnduroCross is extreme, even for extremists.

By the way, we've reconsidered and decided not to limit potential litigation. Riders' banged-up backsides certainly could join dirt bikes' shredded shock absorbers in filing that lawsuit.

Contact reporter Steve Bornfeld at sbornfeld@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0256.