WWW.TRSMOTOSUSA.COM
ON THE PEGS // PAGE 2
USA DEALERS Dirt Riders West
Mike Carlton
Lewisport USA
Adrian & Mandy Lewis (209) 785-6878
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AZ, Phoenix CA, Copperopolis
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VOL. 9 ISSUE 2 - FEBRUARY 2024 // PAGE 3
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ON THE COVER -
FMF/KTM’s Johnny Girroir picked up where he left off last year with a dominating win at round one of the 2024 US Sprint Enduro Series at Mac Daddy Raceway in Hephzibah, Georgia. photo by Shan Moore
DEPARTMENTS Local News 10 Dakar in the Dust 20 Seat Time 32 On the Horizon 40 Costa Rica Unlimited 44 NEOTT Goes to France 46 SuperEnduro Hungary 84
Observing the Trials and Enduro community with a single-track mind.
PUBLISHER/EDITOR Steph Vetterly
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LOCAL NEWS
RIEJU USA ANNOUNCES NEPG TEAM courtesy of RIEJU USA
Rieju USA has secured their National Enduro Team for the 2024 season. Filling the roster this year are riders; Logan Kittock, Landon Beatty, and Trent Whisenant. Alongside each other they are prepared to give all they got in the upcoming season! Mark Berg, Rieju USA Team Owner: "We are excited to have Logan back with us for the 2nd year in a row showing the national enduro fans out there what Rieju is all about! Last years 9th overall in AA class and another overall Border Battles championship is a testament to his hard work and dedication to the ON THE PEGS // PAGE 10
sport while showing the reliability and performance of the Rieju MR models. Trent looks like he is ready to prove himself in the Pro 2 class this year, reaching to grab a championship. Landon was new to the A class last year but catapulted himself to a champion in quick time. This should be a great season to be a part of, for all Rieju enthusiasts." Trent Whisenant leads the effort in the Pro 2 class. A long time ISDE competitor and regional champion with multiple wins, Trent looks to better his efforts this year in Pro 2 aboard his Rieju MR300 Racing.
After finishing his rookie season on with Rieju clenching the Border Battle XC Overall championship and many top podium finishes in NEPG AA class, Logan is pushing to
LOGAN KITTOCK
Landon's season last year finished with a championship in 200 A class. He is pushing to make a statement this year showing he is the one to beat in Open A. He will be competing in the National Enduro Premier Series, hoping to continue grabbing podium finishes on his MR PRO 300.
continue where he left off. Logan will be aiming to grab a AMA National Enduro Championship in the AA class, while also defending his title for the 4th time in the Border Battle Series. LOGAN KITTOCK: "I am really excited to continue my partnership with RIEJU into 2024. The guys are fantastic and hardworking. We have done a lot to this bike and I’m proud and confident to be riding it for the 2024 season."
LANDON BEATTY
LANDON BEATTY: "I couldn't be more proud and excited for the opportunity to represent Rieju for the 2024 season. It has been a life long goal to have this kind of support after a 2023 championship on a Rieju. I am confident in the bike and my ability to do great things!" VOL. 9 ISSUE 2 - FEBRUARY 2024 // PAGE 11
LOCAL NEWS
RIEJU USA ANNOUNCES HARD ENDURO TEAM courtesy of RIEJU USA
Rieju USA has secured their US Hard Enduro team for the 2024 season. Re-signing a factory deal is pro rider Quinn Wenztel, with up and coming Hayden Mosa signing a support deal. Alongside each other they are prepared to race through the victories, challenges, battles, and championships to come in the AMA Hard Enduro Series. Mark Berg, Rieju USA Team Owner: "We are excited to have Quinn back with us for the 4th year in a row showing the hard enduro fans out there what Rieju is all about! Last years top 10 results in ON THE PEGS // PAGE 12
the AMA Hard Enduro along with his Overall championship in the fall series is a testament to his hard work and dedication to the sport while showing the reliability and performance of the Rieju MR models. Hayden Mosa was just a rookie last year in the Hard Enduro series but has catapulted himself to a real top 10 contender and we are pleased to have him competing along side Quinn for the entire season. Should be a great season to be a part of, for all Rieju enthusiasts."
After finishing his 3rd year on with Rieju clenching the fall Overall championship and many top podium finishes, Quinn is pushing to continue where he left off. Quinn will
QUINN WENTZEL
Hayden's rookie year was one for the books. He is pushing to make a statement this year showing he is the one to beat. He will be competing in the US Hard Enduro Premier Series, hoping to continue grabbing podium finishes on his MR PRO 300.
be aiming to grab another US Hard Enduro Championship in the premier class, while also competing in one off races.
QUINN WENZTEL: "I'm happy to be on board with Rieju for a 4th year. I'm very comfortable on the new bike and I'm looking forward to our best year yet!"
HAYDEN MOSA
HAYDEN MOSA: "I am very excited to be riding for Rieju USA this year. Thanks to all the wonderful people in my life who have helped me get here so quick. Time to see what this machine and I can do this year!" VOL. 9 ISSUE 2 - FEBRUARY 2024 // PAGE 13
LOCAL NEWS
CANCER SURVIVOR JERRY WHITE TAKES DELIVERY OF COOPER ABBOTT'S RACE BIKE courtesy of SHERCO USA A heartfelt collaboration unfolded as Cooper Abbott, in partnership with The Fox Auto Team, Sherco USA, and the Steve and Nancy Fox Cancer Center, joined forces to present a touching gift. Cooper generously donated his 2023 Sherco SEF 300 EnduroCross race bike to an individual or family whose passion for riding had been put on hold due to a cancer diagnosis. After meticulously reviewing numerous submissions, one narrative stood out among the rest — Jerry White's story resonated deeply with everyone involved. In a touching moment, Cooper Abbott personally delivered the news to Jerry, informing him that his story had been chosen for this meaningful gift. “I saw an Arizona number pop up on my phone and wondered who this could be,” commented Jerry White. “To my surprise, it was Cooper Abbott himself telling me I had been selected to get his EnduroCross race bike. I was utterly in shock when I heard that news and I got a bit emotional. I have been through so much as it relates ON THE PEGS // PAGE 14
to cancer with my mom and myself personally. It really threw a curveball in my life. I want to thank Mr. and Mrs. Fox, Sherco USA and Cooper and his family who know exactly what I had to endure for this moment. I am looking forward to racing some cross country with my son in the next few weeks. This Sherco is simply amazing,” concluded Mr. White.
Here is Jerry's submission letter : “Hello, My name is Jerry White. I’m a father of 3. My son and I both race xc. My plan was to have my son start racing earlier then 2023 but life throws us curve balls sometimes. Back in 2011 I got a phone call on April 1st just as I was walking into work and it was my younger brother. He was down and out and later that evening I get a text from him and so I called my mother to have her check on him. It was 2 late. He had committed suicide already with my mom and stepdad with all 3 of my children upstairs. Fast forward a few years to feb 2014 and my mother calls me and tells me she is sick. She went in for her first chemo treatment that week and passed away the following week. Fast forward to June of 2014 and I get a call saying to go straight to the doctor. They ran a bunch of tests and kept me overnight. Everything kept coming up negative. So they pulled bone marrow the following day. A couple weeks later they told me had CML leukemia. The first medication was rough and I had missed close to 6 months of work. I had to sell our bikes and my son was only 5 and didn’t quite understand why I had to sell his new bike that he didn’t even get to ride yet. It’s been a roller coaster with insurance but I finally started doing better and was back on my feet in 2020 so we got some pit bikes and started easing back into it. This year was my sons first full year of racing xc on a supermini and he ended up 4th in class at the end of the season. All I know is you just gotta keep moving no matter what because tomorrow is promised to you and when your down you got nowhere to go but up. So I just try to stay positive and keep pushing forward. Jerry” VOL. 9 ISSUE 2 - FEBRUARY 2024 // PAGE 15
LOCAL NEWS
STRANG CHOOSES SHERCO courtesy of SHERCO USA
GNCC rider Josh Strang announced today that he will be riding Sherco. The former champion has started his own program and made the following announcement on his social channels. “I’m proud to announce that I will be running my own program with full support from Sherco USA for the 2024 season. This deal has been a long time in the making but it’s very exciting seeing everything come together like we have all been working for. I ON THE PEGS // PAGE 16
wanted to find support and sponsors that actually wanted to be involved. These are the companies that have stepped up and the companies that when I approached them with an idea, there was no hesitation in wanting to help. This is going to be fun! The Sherco SEF 450 is a bike that people should not sleep on… it already has proven results in American East Coast racing. I have put in a lot of time and feel very comfortable on it so I’m excited to get racing.”
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VOL. 9 ISSUE 2 - FEBRUARY 2024 // PAGE 17
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EPISODE 3
KEVIN BENAVIDES ON THE PEGS // PAGE 20
TOBY PRICE
V
V
Could you race the Dakar with your brother?
LUCIANO BENAVIDES VOL. 9 ISSUE 2 - FEBRUARY 2024 // PAGE 21
words RED BULL photos RED BULL CONTENT POOL, MARCIN KIN, RALLY ZONE For its third episode, ‘In The Dust’ explores the distinctive dynamics of familial bonds amidst the unforgiving desert terrain with Argentine brothers and riders on rival teams, Kevin and Luciano Benavides. They discuss whether team orders supersede family ties, and offer insights on going for glory against a brother at the world's most challenging rally. Luciano reveals they are “super competitive” in everything they do – from training at the gym together to professionally riding at the Dakar. The siblings have nurtured the same interests since childhood and have been competing against each other all their lives. Kevin, the elder brother with a sixyear age gap, chuckles as he says: “Every day a new competition.” He then adds: “It’s so nice to have my brother with me. This is our passion, and I can share all of this with him. I’m the big brother, but Luciano is no junior. He’s doing an amazing job, and it’s a pleasure to race together on such a high level.” ON THE PEGS // PAGE 22
VOL. 9 ISSUE 2 - FEBRUARY 2024 // PAGE 23
However, Kevin explains that with the fun comes the brotherly protectiveness and other challenges stemming from racing together: “We are so competitive. But during the race, in the rally, I always look at him, if he's okay, if he’s doing alright. You know, our sport is quite risky.” The conversation takes a poignant turn as the brothers recall the painful memory of Luciano's crash during his first Dakar Rally in 2018. Kevin vividly remembers the moment he learned about his brother's accident, stressing the emotional toll it took during a critical stage where he was also contending for the overall title.
ON THE PEGS // PAGE 24
“It was stage 10, Dakar ’18. There was a big drama during that stage because many riders got lost, and I too lost 15 minutes that day,” remarks Kevin. “When I arrived at the bivouac, I was so angry about that. And when I went back to my motorhome, I saw Luciano’s helmet there and I said, ‘Oh.’ Later they told me Luciano had crashed and was in hospital. It was a really tough day,” he concludes. Luciano speaks of the ongoing concern for each other's safety during races, acknowledging the heightened risks in the bike category. When spotting a crashed bike in the distance, he always wonders whether the injured rider is his brother.
He says: “Today [during Stage 2], I started behind him, and the first 50 kilometres were all dunes. When I was going through the dunes, I heard the beep coming from the [bike’s] alarm system - when you hear that, it’s because someone crashed on the other side of the dunes. I thought, ‘I hope it's not Kevin.’” He then reflects: “For us, this is quite hard because we know the dangers and we know the risk we’re taking.”
Kevin picks up the conversation and tries to brighten the atmosphere with a comment about the tight bond the Benavides brothers share. He highlights the positivity of training together and understanding each other’s spirit and race preparation regimen. “In the end, I believe in him. He believes in me. So that balances things out,” he states. The episode then displays childhood pictures where a five-year-old Luciano is portrayed posing on
VOL. 9 ISSUE 2 - FEBRUARY 2024 // PAGE 25
his sister’s motorbike, as well as playing and even sleeping with miniature motorbike toy models. The photographs showcase the Benavides family's deep-rooted connection to motorbikes and the origins of the brothers’ common passion. Luciano points out that his desire to join the Dakar Rally was inspired by Kevin's earlier participation. But the timing wasn’t ideal, describing his racing approach as “all in, full gas” due to his Enduro background. Luciano admits: “I was 20, 21 years old, and I believe that to ride in the Dakar, you need some time and a lot of experience. And he [Kevin] told me, ‘No, you need to wait. You need more years to learn and to gain more experience.’” Luciano then recognises that waiting a little longer was a good decision and that he learned much from his brother. Kevin jokingly remarks: "That’s the first time he says this." The Benavides brothers, who share a camper during the Dakar, discuss the impossibility of keeping secrets from each other. Their close physical resemblance, similar bike settings, and synchronised training routines contribute to a mutual pursuit of excellence. Kevin highlights the fortune of having a training partner striving for continual improvement: “We are lucky that we work in the same team.” ON THE PEGS // PAGE 26
VOL. 9 ISSUE 2 - FEBRUARY 2024 // PAGE 27
ON THE PEGS // PAGE 28
As the conversation turns to sharing race-related information, the brothers reveal their openness, with Kevin insisting on telling his brother everything. A playful exchange ensues, hinting at the camaraderie and friendly competition that define their relationship. Luciano adds a touch of humour, saying: "Yeah, if he is losing, then it’s a different story. But if he’s winning, it’s all good." Kevin and Luciano are in the unique position of being family members in direct competition – they can't complete the Dakar and return home both as winners. But there’s a compromise, with the younger sibling expressing the dream of a historic 1-2 podium finish: “Of course, I want to be one, him two,” he clarifies, laughing. Kevin points his finger to himself and says, ‘One’, and the finger to Luciano, ‘Two.’ The brothers finally agree that, regardless of the outcome, it will be a massive win for the Benavides family. The third episode of ‘In The Dust’ wraps up with hopes of "big celebrations and big parties," and underscores that through Kevin and Luciano Benavides, the Dakar Rally can indeed be a family affair.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE SHOW
VOL. 9 ISSUE 2 - FEBRUARY 2024 // PAGE 29
KISKA.COM Photo: F. Montero
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ON THE PEGS // PAGE 30
VOL. 9 ISSUE 2 - FEBRUARY 2024 // PAGE 31
Dirt Bike Enduro Nutrition Cheat Sheet words BRIAN PIERCE // SEAT TIME Let’s set some guidelines. We’re talking about racing dirt bike enduros, which these days are anywhere from 4-6 hours long. If the one you’re racing is longer, take what’s written below and extend the per hour recommendations as needed. Another note is all of these numbers and recommendations
ON THE PEGS // PAGE 32
are guidelines. When it comes to hydration and nutrition, feel special, because we’re all snowflakes. So many factors come into play for the amount of nutrition and hydration your body needs, and your body is unlike any other. So take these numbers, get started, and adjust up or down as you get bloated (too much) or bonk (too little).
1-2 DAYS BEFORE RACE DAY
LMNT works for me; use what works for you
“Carbo-loading” isn’t reserved only for the night before the race. You can add 100-200 calories of food, 20-40 grams of carbs, each day leading up to the event. The concept here is to top off your glycogen stores in your muscles and your liver for use on race day. A cup of rice, a cup of potatoes, a cup of pasta, or two slices of bread are all examples of complex carbs that you can add to your diet, per day, leading up to a race.
don’t store water, so we need to continuously replenish as we go throughout the day.
This is also a great time to start eating more fruit and drinking more water. Fruit has a lot of electrolytes, making it the perfect ramp up snack during the days before a race weekend. You’ll also want to make sure you’re hydrating. Our bodies
If fruit isn’t your thing, you should do the hard thing and get over it. If you’re stubborn and choose to “not like fruit”, adding an electrolytes supplement like LMNT to 32oz of water to sip on throughout each day will work.
VOL. 9 ISSUE 2 - FEBRUARY 2024 // PAGE 33
1-2 DAYS BEFORE RACE DAY We want carbohydrates the day of the race, but we want to start staying away from foods with high fiber, fat, & protein. Bagels are a good race day breakfast food. You can add some honey, bananas, or other bits for flavoring. Stay away from too much nut butter due to the fat content. Oatmeal is another option, but it starts to get high in macronutrients that can keep the body from focusing on energy production.
it makes you pee, so don’t drink too much of it. Try not to pee completely clear.
I personally like to eat two cups of rice with a small amount of butter and himalayan sea salt. I eat this while drinking my coffee and slowly sipping on 32oz of water mixed with an LMNT packet. Coffee is a diuretic,
Whatever you choose to eat for breakfast, you want to be done eating it within 60-90 minutes before your start time. The more complex the food, the longer it will take to digest so your body can utilize the nutrients.
I’m a believer in a small amount of protein on long enduro days due to how much we’re breaking down our muscles. If you’re going to have whey protein (10~ grams) in the morning, finish it two hours before go time. It also can help those with stomach issues due to too much carbohydrate consumption.
30 MINS BEFORE START TIME I can start to feel hungry as my nerves run their course before the start of an enduro. I like to have a supplement drink ready to sip on during these times to start the process of liquid carbs. 30-45 minutes before the start of your race is the time to begin your liquid carbohydrate intake.
ON THE PEGS // PAGE 34
You should already be consuming electrolytes. If you use a supplement that has both (Tailwind Nutrition), great! If not, make sure you’re drinking electrolytes or taking an electrolyte tablet.
VOL. 9 ISSUE 2 - FEBRUARY 2024 // PAGE 35
EVERY HOUR If you’re drinking from your hydration pack during a test section, we need to get you away from this. We need to focus on attacking the trail, not hydrating. If you feel the need to drink during a test section, you need to focus on hydrating more before the race weekend and race day. Transfer sections, and awaiting the start of the next test section, are the places to rehydrate and eat. Since every enduro is different, you’ll have to do the math for your speed and time on course. Per hour of racing, we’re looking to consume 500 – 750 milliliters (16 – 24 oz) of water and 100 calories of food, which should get you around 20 – 40g carbs. Electrolytes are extremely important to continue to take in as well. These sexy little minerals are electrically
charged, they help muscles contract and balance fluids inside and out of our cells. That’s why we’re seeing more balanced forms of electrolytes (sodium, potassium, magnesium, chloride and calcium) in electrolyte supplements instead of just salt. Sodium is most important, start with 200-500mg per hour, 40-100 mg of potassium and 12 – 30 mg of magnesium as some rough numbers to play with. If you can’t handle drinking all of this mixed up in your hydration bladder, make sure you carry some gels or supplements with you. I like the Ucan Edge Gels because it’s a great addition to the Ucan energy powder and LMNT I have mixed in my 3L USWE bladder. Most gels average 100 calories, and 20-30 grams of carbs, per packet. Keep it simple, one gel an hour.
GAS STOP OR HALF-WAY POINT If you’re already hungry or thirsty, you’re trying to play catch up. Trying to catch up on your hydration and nutrition is a slippery slope toward low energy, cramping, or bonking. The good news about enduros though is typically a gas stop gives you a few extra minutes to gas up the bike and gather yourself. Plan to use this time wisely so you can continue to fuel the body for the trail ahead. If you haven’t had any whole foods since the race started, this is a good time to leverage fruit (I like oranges) and/or a more complex carbohydrate (I like a ½ cup of rice).
5 – 10 grams of whey protein mixed into a drink will also serve your muscles well for what’s to come. A pain reliever (ibuprofen or tylenol) and caffeine gum are also great additions to store in your Utility Can Caddy to consume during the gas stop. Racing all day is a lot of wear and tear on the body, and a well planned pain reliever can help stave off the compounding effect of muscle fatigue and tree bashing. Caffeine gum is a simple way to get a nice mental pick me up without all the extra chemicals included in most energy drinks.
VOL. 9 ISSUE 2 - FEBRUARY 2024 // PAGE 37
POST RACE Though we’ve been consuming water and calories throughout the day, we’re still undernourished for the amount of activity performed. A recovery shake (carbs, protein, electrolytes) ready to go for when you ride up to the motovan is perfect to quickly get sustenance into the body. All our numbers from before still ring true here, though adding more carbs and protein is totally fine.
Yes, there are carbs in beer, but there is also alcohol. Just know that the body will begin processing the alcohol first. If you want to feel back to normal quicker, drink a N/A beer, HopWtr, or HopLark after the race. Save the Busch Heavy’s for the next evening.
PUT IT INTO PRACTICE This cheat sheet is to help you have a place to start. You can’t do it all in one weekend, and you shouldn’t try. You’ll be overwhelmed and probably ineffective. Start small; What’s the easiest thing to add into the mix that you can try out the next time you go riding.
An important note is that you shouldn’t try new processes, foods, or supplements on a race weekend. If you’re going to fail, or poop yourself due to using a new supplement, you want that to happen when trail riding.
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ON THE PEGS // PAGE 38
VOL. 9 ISSUE 2 - FEBRUARY 2024 // PAGE 39
ON THE HORIZON
2024 SHERCO TRIALS RANGE MAKING THE NEW AND IMPROVED EVEN BETTER In 2023, Sherco created a completely new motorcycle, with a new engine and new chassis, it was a whole new design. Now, in 2024, they've expanded on their new platform to improve it even further. NEW FEATURES FOR 2024 •
new air filter, support, and cage that provides better sealing
•
new stronger forged steel kickstart gear
•
new optimized electrical wiring system
•
new kickstart lever design for improved starting
•
new NEKEN handlebars for improved riding comfort
•
new reinforced clutch cover (250/300cc)
•
new fuel pump
•
new fuel injector
•
new aluminum fuel pump connector
•
improved mapping for a more progressive power delivery
•
new voltage regulator
•
•
new Domino "soft" throttle body for improved control and comfort
new dual-spark electronic configuration to optimize engine performance at low and medium speeds
•
enhanced racing design graphics
ON THE PEGS // PAGE 40
//
VOL. 9 ISSUE 2 - FEBRUARY 2024 // PAGE 41
ON THE HORIZON
2024 BETA EVO FACTORY EVOLUTION TRIALS The EVO Factory models represent the racing EVOlution of Beta's trial bikes and, as usual, are being launched on the market in February, just before the start of the racing season, ready to compete at the highest levels.
(TR3 125), alongside the excellent results of Matteo Grattarola (TRIALGP) and Andrea Sofia Rabino (GP WOMEN), as well as the respective victories in national championships earned while riding an EVO Factory motorcycle.
The excellence in performance and Rideability of the EVO Factory model is evident by the results of those who compete on it. George Hemingway’s World Championship
For the 2024 models, some updates have been made to refine the motorcycle while maintaining its racing pedigree.
NOTABLE CHANGES BETWEEN FACTORY & STANDARD 2-STROKE ENGINE - Between the magnesium crankcase and the titanium exhaust, the Factoy bikes are up to 4.25 pounds lighter. In addition, the Factory's higherperformance engine, coupled with the reduced crankcase weight, titanium header, and reduced alternating mass, the bike is more manageable while having improved performance and rideability. frame and suspension - Factory bikes come equipped with gold forks, a result of a titanium nitride treatment, which allows for smoother sliding of the fork. The ON THE PEGS // PAGE 42
Factory triple clamps feature foreaft adjustable handlebar brackets, allowing greater customization to find the perfect position. The Factory models are also equipped for the first time with the new Beta electronic key, which replaces the traditional "kill-switch." The key operates in the same way as the traditional switch, cutting power to the bike when the magnetic laynard is removed, but works as an anti-theft device thanks to coding that links the key to the bike's ignition.
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VOL. 9 ISSUE 2 - FEBRUARY 2024 // PAGE 43
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NEOTT Goes to
France
words and photos courtesy MIKE CRAMSEY In September 2023, Ron Lee and Mike Cramsey, the self-appointed international ambassadors for NEOTT (Northeastern Oklahoma Trials Team), traveled to France to watch up close and in-person the world's best trials riders compete in the final rounds of the FIM TrialGP series and the Trial des Nations on back-to-back weekends. September is perfect timing since the vacation season is over, so the travel rates and crowds are down, and the
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weather conditions are still good. We thoroughly enjoyed our time on this two-week road-trip spent predominantly in small communities in the Southern Alps. As a special bonus and thanks to Ron's industry connections, we were also able to tour both the EM (Electric Motion) and Sherco factories. A super BIG shout-out to the 1996 World Champion Marc Colomer and Jean Pena at EM,
MIKE CRAMSEY (L), RON LEE (R)
and Valerio Pastorino and Thomas Teissier at Sherco for taking the time to show us around. The experience provided valuable insights and proved intriguing, offering a glimpse behind the scenes into the processes involved in delivering world-class products to the marketplace. In short, if you've ever considered embarking on a similar trip to Europe, we'd say, "Just start packing and make it happen—you won't be sorry." While there are numerous sites on the internet to read about the events, check scores, and watch highlight videos, there is no substitute for being there in person and immersing yourself in the entire experience. What follows is a travelogue of the stories we can share with the public for your general entertainment and for our long-term memory storage. To the casual reader, some of these details may seem tedious, but in many ways, this report is to serve us in 15, 20, 25+ years in the future, as neither of us really wants the memories of this trip of a lifetime to fade.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE VOL. 9 ISSUE 2 - FEBRUARY 2024 // PAGE 47
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BRILLIANT BOU SHINES IN SHEFFIELD
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JAIME BUSTO - GASGAS
words and photos DL12 INDOOR TRIAL AND ML EVENTS LTD Toni Bou – Repsol Honda reclaimed his crown as King of Sheffield with a Trial masterclass at Saturday night’s DL12 Indoor Trial V2.0 in front of a capacity crowd inside the city’s Utilita Arena. The thirty-seven-year-old Spaniard dominated the heat and then hammered home his advantage in the final with a polished performance that had the fans on their feet and left his rivals outclassed. Nowhere was his superiority better illustrated than in the third section of the final, a long line of imposing metal Red Bull cages where a huge triangular step had stopped all other attempts. Twice Bou launched up it, failed to make it over the top and coolly skipped backwards onto the arena floor before his third fullblooded effort saw him sail over the top to record a sensational clean that was greeted with a deafening roar from the crowd. After suffering just his second defeat at the iconic venue last season when a foot injury forced him out of the final, his victory on a total of seven gave him a ten-mark winning margin over reigning champion Adam Raga – Sherco who was making his World debut for his new team.
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“It feels super-good to win here again because last season I made a big mistake and got injured,” said the thirty-four-time FIM Trial World Champion after recording his fourteenth victory in the Steel City. “Sheffield is always very special – I won for the first time here in 2006 and the crowd is always super-loud. It is amazing to be here.” The action got under way over a comprehensively revised and reworked course to last year’s inaugural event with a series of races across the mammoth Michelin tyres. Raga kicked off his defence by defeating FIM Trial2 World Champion Billy Green – Scorpa, Gabriel Marcelli – Repsol Honda narrowly beat seventeen-year-old local hero Harry Hemingway – Beta, Bou drew first blood against his compatriot Jaime Busto – GASGAS and British contender Toby Martyn – Honda cruised home ahead of stand-in rider Miquel Gelabert – Vertigo. The six sections were tough and technical and Billy Green – who was making his Sheffield debut – showed early promise in the S3/Tru7Group wood stacks and the giant Hope cranks and hubs before a string of maximums put him out of contention. Hemingway also suffered, as did Gelabert who was a late replacement for Matteo Grattarola – Beta. ON THE PEGS // PAGE 52
GABRIEL MARCELLI - REPSOL HONDA
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Martyn escaped with a single mark on the Red Bull cages before recording a confident clean on the Rock Oil rocks, but maximums on the massive Inch Perfect pipes and over the four huge geometric metal blocks of Honda Hill that took riders from the arena floor to the concourse level put him on a total of seventeen. With Raga scoring thirteen and Marcelli and Busto both dropping six marks, Bou then stepped up with a sensational clean lap with defeat at the hands of Busto in the night’s second race down and up the six barrels set into Honda Hill costing him his sole mark in the heat. With the scores reset to zero the all-Spanish Final was fought out between Bou, Busto, Marcelli and Raga with Raga losing out to Marcelli and Bou blitzing Busto in the races over the Michelin tyres. With the sections ridden in reverse Raga and Bou claimed an early advantage with cleans in the opener as Marcelli and Busto both failed to make it up the opening wood stack step that was almost two metres high. Bou and Busto produced the sole clean rides in section two, but the one-minute time limit was tight and only Bou made it through unpenalized on time before he moved into a comfortable lead with his incredible form across the Red Bull cages. Marcelli then defeated Raga in the barrel race on Honda Hill while Busto – following a restart – pulled a point back on Bou, but the writing was on the wall. With three sections remaining Bou led on two, eight clear of Raga and eleven ahead of Busto and Marcelli. Bou and Busto then went clean on the Rock Oil rocks where Raga added two ON THE PEGS // PAGE 54
ADAM RAGA - SHERCO
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to his score and Marcelli recorded a maximum and when all four failed to negotiate the slick pipes of section five Bou’s victory was assured. All four cleaned Honda Hill at their final attempt which left Raga one mark clear of Busto and Marcelli fourth, a further five off the podium. "I'm really very satisfied with tonight's result," said Raga. "It's a fantastic start! I rode well and the fans were very happy! We had some really difficult steps and sections, so finishing second on my first outing with the Sherco is an excellent start. The bike worked very well, and it has a lot of power and showed that it has tremendous potential here on the large difficult steps of Sheffield. I'm really very happy and it bodes well for the upcoming events! ” “I’m really, really pleased,” said event co-promoter Dougie Lampkin. “Obviously, you never know just how it’s going to play out. The pipes turned out a bit harder than I thought tonight, but I’m very happy. The level of the topthree was just unbelievable, and Toni was amazing from the first moment – he laid down a marker and that was it, he was gone.”
EVENT RESULTS 1. Toni Bou (HON) - 7 2. Adam Raga (SHR) - 17 3. Jaime Busto (GG) - 18 4. Gabriel Marcelli (HON) - 23 ON THE PEGS // PAGE 56
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VOL. 9 2 2024 PAGE117 59 VOL. 8 ISSUE - APRIL 2023 7 ISSUE 10- 4 -FEBRUARY OCTOBER 2022////PAGE
BOU OPENS XTRIAL SEASON WITH A WIN
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JAIME BUSTO - GASGAS
words and photos X-TRIAL Toni Bou (Repsol Honda Trial Team) recorded his 80th X-Trial victory by taking first blood in the 2024 season at his home Round. Bou claimed maximum Championship points by topping every phase of the night’s competition and dominating in a challenging Grand Final ahead of Jaime Busto (GasGas) and Gabriel Marcelli (Repsol Honda Trial Team). The key to Bou’s success was an impressive series of rides mid-way through the Final, in which he posted just five marks in sections two, three and four, while his two rivals failed each and added fifteen marks to their scores. Busto put in a damage limitation exercise by taking second place thanks to a clean in Section One that also briefly gave him the lead. From two marks down, Gabriel Marcelli could only recover one in the sixth and last Section so had to content himself with third. But he had only just held on for a spot in the Final after dropping marks in Sections Two and Four of the second Round and was forced to complete Section Five in a startling 20-second effort to progress. Matteo Grattarola (Beta) only missed out on qualifying at the hands of Marcelli by a single mark after he posted the third-best score VOL. 9 ISSUE 2 - FEBRUARY 2024 // PAGE 63
in Round Two; he climbed from fifth - despite opening the sections at the start of the night - to fourth at the expense of Adam Raga. On his Sherco debut, the veteran 41-yearold made a costly error in Section One of Round Two that cost him a rostrum return. Toby Martyn (Montesa) saved his night with sixth place, despite having sat eighth and last following his first run with a failure in Section Five. A much-improved display in Round Two moved the Brit past Benoit Bincaz (Sherco) and Aniol Gelabert. Gelabert, in his first appearance under the roof of the Palau Sant Jordi, made a nervous start to his TRRS career and dropped into last place as the only rider to fail three Sections in Round Two. Toni Bou (1st): “I am really very satisfied with this victory because it is the best way to start my title defence and I did it by leading throughout. The Final was very difficult as you would expect from a historic event like Barcelona. I felt good right from the start of the night, and my only mistake was in the first Section of the Final. But from the second to the fourth Section I built a lead to confirm the win.” Jaime Busto (2nd) “Second place is my best result at X-Trial Barcelona and I rode with a lot of confidence so I am pleased. This second place shows how hard we are working and ON THE PEGS // PAGE 64
GABRIEL MARCELLI - REPSOL HONDA
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that we’re close to winning World Championship Rounds.”
(Sherco) and Italy’s Andrea Sofia Rabino (Beta).
Gabriel Marcelli (3rd): “I am pleased with third place which continues my podium run from last season. It was a shame not to be able to repeat my second place from last year here in Barcelona, but perhaps I let the pressure of chasing my first win get to me. This third place though is very important.”
The second X-Trial World Championship Round is X-Trial Chalon-Sur-Saône which takes place on 15th March.
Berta Abellán (Scorpa) won the fourth edition of the Barcelona Women’s Trophy ahead of threetimes winner Emma Bristow ON THE PEGS // PAGE 66
CLICK HERE TO VISIT WWW.X-TRIAL.COM
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cluj a successful premiere
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words SUPERENDURO photos FUTURE7MEDIA & @goodshoot1968 The Grand Prix of Romania made its debut this year on the MotoZ FIM SuperEnduro World Championship calendar. Under the direction of Paul GRECU and the MotoClub HAITA, the BT Arena transformed into a SuperEnduro track. The highly technical layout received a rather positive reception from the competitors, although some requested modifications to improve the flow and the safety during the races. The good and pleasant surprise was seeing the arena filled with fans who gave a warm ovation to all the riders from ON THE PEGS // PAGE 70
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the three present categories. The autograph session was also a great moment of interaction between the riders and fans. A success, the Grand Prix of Romania has truly earned its status as a World Championship stage. The announcement came a few days before the fourth round of the season. Will HOARE (GBR), the 2019 Junior World Champion, became an official Rieju rider for the rest of the 2024 season. The Briton becomes a factory rider for the first time in his career. Will visited Rieju in Spain a few days before the GP of Romania for a test run to familiarize himself with his new machine before taking ownership. To expedite the adaptation process, HOARE rode a 2-stroke MR 300, which closely resembles the sensation of the Beta he started the season with. The Englishman adapted well to his bike. Qualified fifth after the Akrapovic SuperPole, he struggled a bit during the GP despite a good first race finishing in fourth position. He was jostled a bit in the following two finals, finishing eighth twice. He ultimately ranks seventh, slipping one place in the overall standings. He is now fourth, just behind Manuel LETTENBICHLER by five points. After the GP, Will HOARE still had the formidable ON THE PEGS // PAGE 72
WILL HOARE (TOP), JONNY WALKER (BOTTOM)
task of bringing his Rieju back to England. A 26-hour drive was on the agenda for him and his team between Romania and Great Britain. The usual protagonists of the MotoZ FIM SuperEnduro World Championship delivered an incredible show during the fourth round of the season. Manuel LETTENBICHLER (GER-KTM) once again experienced an emotionally charged GP. The official KTM rider started the first two races, tasting the dust of the BT Arena. During both races, he had to embark on a wild comeback. He finished the first race in an impressive third position, challenging a struggling Billy BOLT with a knee injury. In the second final, Mani stopped in fifth place with a slightly more chaotic race. He finished third in the last race, which is also his final ranking in the GP of Romania. His second podium after the GP of Germany. He precedes Dominik OLSZOWY (POL-Rieju), who once again falls short of his goal for 2024. The Pole, however, remains consistently among the top five riders (5th in Romania). The 2022 Junior World Champion is confident of achieving his goals before the end of the season. Eddie KARLSSON (SWE-Husqvarna) is also one of the heroes of the evening, VOL. 9 ISSUE 2 - FEBRUARY 2024 // PAGE 73
winning the Akrapovic SuperPole and the Airoh Holeshot. The Swede finished fourth in Transylvania, his best result in SuperEnduro. Happy with this performance, he wants to continue this momentum in Budapest. Other riders stood out this evening. Mitch BRIGHTMORE (GBR-GASGAS) finishes sixth in the event, reflecting the potential once again displayed by the reigning Junior World Champion. The elder of the family had a good second race, crossing the finish line fourth after leading for many laps. The Briton can be satisfied with his first season among the elite. He is currently sixth in the ON THE PEGS // PAGE 74
overall standings, very close to the global top 5. The SuperEnduro Junior category is undoubtedly the most hotly contested this season. The top two have never been separated by more than 4 points since the second round of the championship. Suff SELLA (ISR-KTM) and Ashton BRIGHTMORE (GBR-GASGAS) have each won races. The Briton signs his second victory in Romania after his success in Riesa in early January. While they are the strongmen of the first half of the season, they must keep a watchful eye on their opponents. Hungarian Roland LISZKA (KTM), third overall,
will be at home for the next GP in Budapest. Milan SCHMUESER (GERSherco) may also have recovered from his forearm injury. It will also be necessary to keep an eye on Spaniard Marc FERNANDEZ SERRA (KTM), who stepped onto his first podium in Cluj (3rd in the GP). The final straight line is underway, and consistency, concentration, and bravery will be the necessary qualities these young riders must demonstrate if they want to seize the coveted first world crown they all eagerly desire.
EVENT RESULTS 1. Billy Bolt (HUS) 2. Jonny Walker (BET) 3. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 4. Dominik Olszowy (RIE) 5. Eddie Karlsson (HSQ) 6. Mitchell Brightmore (GG) 7. Will Hoare (RIE) 8. Tim Apolle (BET) 9. Diogo Vieira (GG) 10. Alonso Trigo (SHR)
CLICK HERE TO VISIT WWW.SUPERENDURO.COM
VOL. 9 ISSUE 2 - FEBRUARY 2024 // PAGE 75
Please make no attempt to imitate the illustrated riding scenes, always wear protective clothing and observe the applicable provisions of the road traffic regulations! The illustrated vehicles may vary in selected details from the production models and some illustrations feature optional equipment available at additional cost.
Photos: R. Schedl
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2024 SCHEDULE March 1-3: Downhill Southeast Mountain Bike Race March 16-17: Trials Training Days June 22-23: NATC Mototrials National Rd 3 & 4 June 24-27: Family Camp June 28-30: AMA/NextGen Mototrials Youth & Women's Regional Championship August 2-25: TKO: 14th Annual Red Bull Kenda Tennessee Knock Out Extreme Enduro October 12-13: 32nd Annual 58K Fall Trial (STRA) December 7: Toy Trial * All dates are subject to change VOL. 9 ISSUE 2 - FEBRUARY 2024 // PAGE 77
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Webb wins
King of Motos
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words by SHERCO USA photos by JENNY KELLER It was all smiles in the FactoryONE Sherco paddock this weekend at the King of the Motos. Cody Webb swept the weekends proceedings in the premier class with teammate Cooper Abbott grabbing 5th. Louise Forsley would dominate the Pro Women and up and coming rider Riley Bender winning the A class. The 2024 edition of the King of the Hammers would have the riders compete in a single, but longer format Saturday qualifier followed by a three-lap Sunday main event. Friday rain would make for epic conditions rather than the usual high desert dust. Saturday’s qualifier would have the riders facing a massive rocky vertical ascent. Cody Webb would blast out to the hole shot followed by a host of other riders. A lead group of Webb, Trystan Hart, Ryder Leblond, Will Riorden, Colton Haaker and Cooper Abbott would set a very high pace from the green flag. As the riders crested the final hill on lap one, it was four riders with ON THE PEGS // PAGE 80
Webb, Hart, Leblond, and Riorden. As they entered the pit, the FactoryONE Sherco team sent Webb out without refueling. This would give him a gap that he would never relinquish. He would finish p1 followed by Hart and Leblond. Cooper Abbott finished p7 for the qualifier. Late afternoon rain on Saturday would mean the conditions would remain perfect for the Sunday finale. Riders would have their gate pick based on Saturday’s result thus giving Webb the prime pick. He chose wisely as he rocketed to a second holeshot as the riders climbed “Chocolate Thunder.” “Honestly I was a bit surprised,” said Webb. “I haven’t hole-shotted the weekend ever. I was pretty stoked on that,” continued the ecstatic Webb. “With a three-loop format, I felt like we all knew that we were going to ride together for the first lap or two and then feel it out from there. Yesterday we chose not to fuel because we saw that we were getting amazing fuel mileage thanks to the SmartCarb on my bike. With that, we thought we might be able to skip the last fuel stop which could play into our hands.” concluded Webb. Webb would lead the top riders into the fuel stop each time, but to the surprise of everyone, he would make a 180 turn and head back out on the course without stopping. The strategy would pay off giving VOL. 9 ISSUE 2 - FEBRUARY 2024 // PAGE 81
Webb an almost one-minute lead for the third and final loop. While a shorter last lap, it would be the most challenging for the riders. Cooper Abbott would come to the final fuel stop in p6, almost a minute and a half down to Colton Haaker. In a bold move, FactoryONE president Ron Sallman waived Abbott to keep going. This move also paid off as he was able to reel in Haaker shortly thereafter. Tensions were high in the Sherco pit as the chase helicopter made it known that the leader was approaching. A thunderous roar came over the crowd as Webb crested the final hill in p1 with only the media in tow. An elated Webb punched the air with his fist taking the win with the same one-minute gap over Trystan Hart and then
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Ryder Leblond. Cooper Abbott would finish p5 with just enough fuel to spare. “I had goosebumps the last little bit,” said Webb. “I was feeling so strong all weekend and our pit strategy paid off. The conditions were awesome and I feel like Justin did a great job with the race course this year. I am honestly just so stoked on this win. Trystan and Ryder were riding so great. We would yoyo back and forth but today was my day. I am so happy to be back on top,” concluded Webb. Louise Forsley made her return to racing. She put in a dominant performance sweeping the weekend as well. In the A class, it was supported rider Riley Bender taking the win.
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HEROES OF SUPERENDURO SHINE IN BUDAPEST
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words by SUPERENDURO photos by FUTURE7MEDIA & @GOODSHOOT1968 Budapest hosted the fifth round of the 2024 MotoZ FIM SuperEnduro World Championship. Usually held in the Papp Laszlo Arena, this year the organizers decided to relocate the event to the brand new MVM Dome built outside Budapest. The place can accommodate over 17,000 spectators. 13,000 fans filled the stands of this hyper high-tech arena. Promoters, competitors, and teams were all pleasantly surprised by the capacity of this new stadium. The track was very wide and fast. It offered great opportunities for confrontation. The trajectories and lines for overtaking were numerous and varied. Fast and technical, that's how most riders described this new track with uphill stone crossings and dizzying descents through the matrix. Many fell into the difficulties of the course, whether in Prestige, Junior, or the European Cup. The races were all highly contested and spectacular, offering entertainment until the last minute. Budapest has
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firmly established its place on the world championship calendar and is likely to host its event again in 2025. The friendly Portuguese rider, Diogo VIEIRA, has just stepped onto his first global podium during the Budapest race. VIEIRA has been competing in SuperEnduro since the 2017 season and is one of the most experienced riders on the 2024 grading list. He is one of the few riders who has not missed a season since he arrived at the top of the discipline. When he arrived in Budapest last weekend, Diogo immediately felt a very good connection with the track and the environment of the fifth Grand Prix of the season. This wasn't immediately evident during free practice and timed sessions. But during the races, the Portuguese rider found the right momentum. In the first heat, he got off to an excellent start and positioned himself directly behind Billy BOLT (GBR-Husqvarna) and Manuel LETTENBICHLER (GER-KTM). He was overtaken by Jonny WALKER (GBR-Beta) who was delayed at the start of the race. Despite being distanced by the two Britons, he stayed in touch with the KTM factory rider. When the German made a mistake, VIEIRA seized third place in the first heat. He was able to maintain his physical strength and hold on. He thus resisted Dominik OLSZOWY (POL-Rieju), the 2021 ON THE PEGS // PAGE 88
JONNY WALKER (22)
Junior World Champion. The Portuguese rider stepped onto the provisional podium of the Budapest Grand Prix by finishing third in this first final. On the reversed grid for the second heat, VIEIRA took the lead. He led for almost three laps before Billy BOLT managed to dislodge him from the lead. Jonny WALKER was far beyond the top 5. By finishing second in the heat, Diogo VIEIRA threatened the British rider, who dropped to third place in the standings before the final heat. Perhaps a little tense due to the event and the possibility of stepping onto his first global podium, Diogo VIEIRA made a few mistakes during the final heat. He fell right at the start, got up, and passed a few opponents before tangling with Will HOARE (GBRRieju) in the matrix before the finish line. When he got up for the second time, he was once again last in the Grand Prix. VIEIRA remained focused and managed to finish in sixth place. This position allowed him to step onto his first global podium. The Portuguese rider was very emotional at the finish: "It's truly a dream come true. I've been racing in SuperEnduro for so long that I've been eagerly awaiting this result. Now that I've achieved it, I'm confident and I know I can repeat this kind of feat, I know what I have to do." Diogo VIEIRA will be able to test his new aura at the next Grand Prix, VOL. 9 ISSUE 2 - FEBRUARY 2024 // PAGE 89
which will be held on February 24th in a brand new destination for SuperEnduro: Bulgaria. The European Cup held its final round at the Budapest event. With 3 wins to his name and a 31-point lead overall, Xavi LEON SOLE (ESP-GASGAS) was the top favorite to succeed Dan PEACE (winner in 2023). The Spanish rider could afford to be among the top five in the first heat to clinch the crown in 2024. LEON SOLE responded perfectly by winning the first heat with over eight seconds ahead of Dustin MCCARTHY, the American on his Beta. Very comfortable on the spectacular Hungarian track, the future winner of the European Cup opened up a gap with his opponents. Only MCCARTHY managed to finish in the same lap as the winner of the first heat. Hubert ZBIKOWSKI (POL-KTM) and Damian BRONIEWSKI (POL-Husqvarna) both managed to get ahead of Alessandro AZZALINI, who struggled, finishing sixth. In the second heat with a reversed grid, MCCARTHY left no chance for his opponents as he headed towards a solid heat victory. The American wanted to win his first GP in his first season in the European Cup. Goal achieved here in Hungary! He finished ahead of LEON SOLE, who came second in the heat and ZBIKOWSKI who finished third in both the heat and the GP. LEON SOLE won the European Cup that was within his reach. To celebrate this successful season, the Spanish rider is expected to participate in the next MANUEL LETTENBICHLER (314)
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BILLY BOLT (57)
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round of the world championship in the Open category with the hope of qualifying for the Prestige. Milan Schmueser: the true start of the season! The young German rider returned to competition in the Junior category at his national Grand Prix in Riesa. With courage and determination, the Sherco rider managed to step onto the podium behind the inseparable Suff SELLA (ISR-KTM) and Mitch BRIGHTMORE (GBR-GASGAS). To understand SCHMUESER's difficulties, a major favorite rider in the Junior class, one must go back to the first heat in Liévin at the GP of France. The German rider injured his forearms. His preparation and training routine were severely interrupted. Since last November, Milan has not been able to get back on his training bike. He was able to ride for a few hours the week before Budapest. It's been over 2 months without training that have ruined the season for the young German. So his race in Budapest was very satisfying even though he only finished on the third step of the podium once again behind BRIGHTMORE and SELLA. But the German leaves positively and confidently from this fifth round of the season. He finally saw his potential in 2024. Despite some mistakes and falls, he can be satisfied and optimistic for the end of the season. The goal: to try by VOL. 9 ISSUE 2 - FEBRUARY 2024 // PAGE 93
all means to finish on the podium behind SELLA or BRIGHTMORE. He has Roland LISZKA (HUN-KTM) in his sights, who has experienced a slight drop in performance in recent GPs (2nd in Krakow). 28 points separate the two young riders, everything is still possible.
CLICK HERE TO VISIT WWW.SUPERENDURO.COM
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EVENT RESULTS 1. Billy Bolt (HUS) 2. Jonny Walker (BET) 3. Diogo Vieira (GG) 4. Mitchell Brightmore (GG) 5. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 6. Eddie Karlsson (HSQ) 7. Will Hoare (RIE) 8. Dominik Olszowy (RIE) 9. Tim Apolle (BET) 10. Alonso Trigo (SHR)
LOCAL NEWS
•
The T-18 Dragonfly is directdrive from the motor to the rear wheel
•
An easy-pull diaphragm clutch for maximum control and traction
•
New M4 39mm Aluminum AIR FORKS are the lightest on the market
•
Linkless Ohlins shock direct to the swing arm
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5 hour+ quick change and fast charge battery
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new 6.5-hour interchangeable battery also available
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Weight 132 pounds • Seat can be added for trail riding comfort
The second shipment of Mecatecno Dragonflies has recently arrived with two very helpful features added to the bike’s controller to assist in the performance of the rider: An “Anti-Roll back” feature, which prevents the back wheel from rolling backwards as soon as backward movement is detected by the controller
and an “Inertia” feature, which is similar to the flywheel action on a gas powered trials bike. These new features can also be downloaded by the factory to all previous customer’s bikes to bring them up to date with the present models. This is a tremendous advantage of this controller in that any new changes or upgrades can easily be done with a connection to the factory electronics team. Now your Dragonfly will always be as up to date with the newest revisions as you desire. There will be more exciting additions to come in the new year, such as an extended range battery with a 6.5 hour running time, interchangeable with the present 5 hour battery. Retail price $11,299.00, not including shipping cost to your destination.
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VOL. VOL.98ISSUE ISSUE210 - FEBRUARY - OCTOBER2024 2023////PAGE PAGE95 1
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GIRROIR
TAKES USSE
OPENER
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words by SHAN MOORE photos by SHAN MOORE & ART PEPIN ROUND 1 HEPHZIBAH, GA Defending series champ FMF/KTM’s Johnny Girroir picked up where he left off last year with a dominating win at round one of the 2024 US Sprint Enduro Series at Mac Daddy Raceway in Hephzibah, Georgia. Girroir set the stage by winning the opening test of the day on Saturday ahead of FMF/KTM teammate and Pro 2 rider Angus Riordan before finishing out the weekend with nine wins of the 12 tests over the twoday event. In the end, Girroir took the overall, two-day win by just under a minute ahead of Riordan, with AmPro Yamaha’s Liam Draper, in his first race on a 450, in third overall and second Pro 1 rider. ON THE PEGS // PAGE 98
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“It a good way to start off the year,” said Girroir. “I had a couple of mistakes yesterday, but today I came out swinging with a good way to start off the season. I had a couple of mistakes yesterday and a bad couple of misfortunes, but today, I stayed smooth and kept smooth and in control. I stalled it a couple of times on Saturday but today I was smooth all day.” Riordan came on strong at the end of last year and carried that momentum into the 2024 season, winning a Cross test on Sunday. On Saturday, Riordan lost out to Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Craig DeLong for the runner-up slot for the day by just .004 seconds. “It was a good weekend,” said Riordan. “I started kind of slow both days, but I got it going towards the end of the day. I had a good battle with Craig DeLong on Saturday; it came down to nothing in the end. And then today, I just had a small crash in that last test, but other than that, I had a good weekend.” Draper posted a 4-3 overall finish for the weekend but his times were good enough for third overall. “I was a little nervous coming into the race because it was ON THE PEGS // PAGE 100
CODY BARNES
my first race on a 450,” said Draper. “I’ve only had two weeks on the big bike so I wasn’t sure where I was going to line up with these guys. I rode solid and just had one crash all weekend, so I’m stoked with how I finished.” DeLong wound up with second on Saturday and fourth overall for the weekend. “Saturday was good; the track was smooth and anybody can go fast when it’s smooth, I just have to figure out these second days and kind of keep the same speed,” said DeLong. “It’s just something I’m going to have to do. Usually, at a GNCC, the track is rough and you just attack it and ride it differently. I just need to figure these out.” Fifth overall and second in the Pro 2 class went to Husqvarna rider Jason Tino in his first-ever ride in the Pro 2 division. “The weekend went really good,” said Tino. “I got off to a little bit of a slow start on Saturday, but I started to find my flow by the end of the day. On Sunday, we brought the intensity and just kept it rolling throughout the day.” In his first race in the Pro 1 division, Phoenix Honda Racing’s Cody Barnes took a VOL. 9 ISSUE 2 - FEBRUARY 2024 // PAGE 101
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BRANDY RICHARDS
sixth overall and fourth in the Pro 1 class. “Things were decent, I learned a lot with the bike with the suspension and stuff,” said Barnes. “I just struggled with that and then got better as the weekend progressed.” Enduro Engineering rider Josh Toth struggled to come to terms with the new Honda he was riding after spending all of last year on a GasGas and finished up the weekend in seventh overall. Former series champ Layne Michael (GG), was not pleased with his eighth overall finish. “I just struggled with setup all weekend,” said Michael. “No excuses, but it was rough. I was getting beat by kids I didn’t even know. Rough weekend for me, and I’ve got two weeks to get it turned around.” Husqvarna riders Toby Cleveland and Dominick Morse rounded out the top 10, with Morse finishing fifth overall on Saturday and 10th on Sunday, while Cleveland went 8-8 for the weekend. Babbitts Off-road Kawasaki’s JoJo Cunningham went 11-11 for 11th overall and first in the Pro-Am class. VOL. 9 ISSUE 2 - FEBRUARY 2024 // PAGE 103
FMF/KTM Factory Racing’s Brandi Richards dominated the Pro Women’s division, sweeping all 12 tests to take first ahead of Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Korie Steede, who came on strong on day two to claim second overall. Third went to Over and Out Moto’s Rachel Gutish. “I’ve been on the east coast for about two weeks now, down at Kailub Russell’s, riding in the sand,” said Richards. “So that part I was
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ready for, it’s just the trees and the woods I needed to adjust to and by the end of the weekend I was getting the hang of it.” Colton Shields (Hsq) took the win in the Overall A division, while Brayden Baisley won the Overall B class.
EVENT RESULTS (PRO) 1. Johnny Girroir (KTM) 2. Angus Riordan (KTM) 3. Liam Draper (YAM) 4. Craig DeLong (HSQ) 5. Jason Tino (HSQ) 6. Cody Barnes (HON) 7. Josh Toth (HON) 8. Layne Michael (KTM) 9. Toby Cleveland (HSQ) 10. Dominik Morse (HSQ)
EVENT RESULTS (WOMEN'S PRO)
1. Brandi Richards (KTM) 2. Korie Steede (HSQ) 3. Rachel Gutish (SHR) 4. Prestin Raines (SHR) 5. Kayla O'Neill (YAM) 6. Addison Elliot (KTM)
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LAFFERTY WINS NATIONAL ENDURO OPENER
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words by LOGAN DENSMORE photos by MACK FAINT ROUND 1 SUMTER NATIONAL WEDGEFIELD, SC The opening round of the 2024 Red Line Oil AMA National Enduro Series presented by Beta Motorcycles and MSR was the FMF Sumter National Enduro. The event is held near the air force base in Sumter, SC. Sandy soil and epic conditions met the riders as they began the series. Ryder Lafferty came into the season ready to make a statement. He did just that winning 5 out of the 6 test sections onward to a 43 second victory. Ryder says “I got 2nd place here the last 2 years. I wanted to make sure I came in and took a win away from the Baylors.” Ryder is VOL. 9 ISSUE 2 - FEBRUARY 2024 // PAGE 109
continuing on the Coastal GasGas Factory Racing team and now holds the points lead after the first round. Second overall was Steward Baylor Jr onboard his new ride with the newly formed Red Bear Rocky Mountain Kawasaki team. Steward said “I really made sure that we got our team with the right equipment and get the bike dialed in so we can come out swinging in the first round.” Steward was the only rider that was able to take a test win away from Lafferty in test 5. A new face to the National Enduro scene of Johnny Girroir takes the final spot on the NE Pro1 podium in 3rd overall on his Factory KTM. Johnny had a get off in the first test of the day to put him in a hole early. Johnny said “I hit something in a fast straight that sent me flying through the air. After that I put my head down and put in a charge to make up some time the rest of the day. I am happy to finish on the podium.” Johnny was able to take the second fastest time in 3 of the tests later in the day. Fourth overall on the day was AM-Pro Yamaha rider Ricky Russell. Fifth overall was Enduro Engineering GasGas rider Josh Toth. Sixth overall was Red Bear Rocky Mountain Kawasaki rider Thad Duvall. Evan Smith was able to take seventh overall on his Max Motorsports Husqvarna. Defending National Enduro Champion Grant ON THE PEGS // PAGE 110
STEWARD BAYLOR JR
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RACHAEL ARCHER
Baylor suffered a mechanical problem in Test 5 knocking him out of contention after running within the podium. First place in the NE Pro2 Class and eighth overall was Landers KTM rider Grant Davis. Grant won the first two tests of the day before giving some time back in the middle portion of the day. The sixth and final test Grant put in the fastest Pro2 time to take the win by 21 seconds. Nathaniel ‘Bubz’ Tasha was ninth overall and second in NE Pro2 aboard his AM-Pro Yamaha. Bubz said “I am really happy with my bike. I feel like I can go fast because I am comfortable on it.” Bubz was able to win the third test on the day. Another new face on the Pro podium was tenth overall and third in NE Pro2. That rider was Babbitt Kawasaki rider Nicholas Defeo. Defeo rode 1 other National Enduro in 2021 in the B class. Sumter was his first NE Pro2 race and he was able to take the final spot on the Podium. Winning the Womens Elite class at the FMF Sumter round was Red Bear Rocky Mountain Kawasaki rider Rachael Archer. The New Zealand rider won final VOL. 9 ISSUE 2 - FEBRUARY 2024 // PAGE 113
three of five sections. She found her groove on the later part of the day and was able to stretch the margin to over a minute over second place. Rachel Gutish was second in the Womens Elite class on her new Sherco ride. Gutish was able to grab the first two test wins. Gutish said “Im happy to be on a real enduro bike with a head light and kickstand. I had a pretty smooth day and happy with how I rode.” Fresh off of two knee surgeries last year was the Womens Elite third place rider Shelby Turner on her new Enduro Engineering GasGas ride. The Canadian rider said she was ON THE PEGS // PAGE 114
getting better as the day went on and felt the best at the end of the day. Top AA rider was Caleb Baltimore on a KTM. Overall A winner was Chase Landers on a KTM. Jacob McPherson was the top B class rider. Brayden Clark on a Kawasaki was the fastest C class rider. The next stop on the 2024 Red Line Oil AMA National Enduro Series circuit is on April 7 in Forest Hill, LA for the Beta Motorcycles Cajun Classic National Enduro.
EVENT RESULTS (NE PRO1) 1. Ryder Lafferty (GG) 2. Steward Baylor Jr (KAW) 3. Johnny Girroir (KTM) 4. Ricky Russell (YAM) 5. Josh Toth (GG) 6. Thad Duvall (KAW) 7. Evan Smith (HSQ) 8. Grant Baylor (KAW) 9. Trevor Bollinger (HSQ)
EVENT RESULTS (WOMEN'S PRO)
1. Rachael Archer (KAW) 2. Rachel Gutish (SHR) 3. Shelby Turner (GG) 4. Jocelyn Barnes (HSQ) 5. Brooke Cosner (GG) 6. Emma Hasbell (BET) 7. Carly Lee (KTM) 8. Cate Nash (YAM) 9. Tayler Bonecutter (SHR) 10. Annelisa Davis (YAM)
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