Single Track perfection
New Features
» Lower Seat Height
» Front Rescue Strap
» Zf SHC Front Fork Matched with a redesigned ZF Rear shock
» XTrig Flex Fix handlebar mounts to reduce vibration and rider fatigue
» New headlight mask, shrouds, & rear fender
» Coolant Recovery tank reduces coolant lost in extreme riding conditions
» frame which has improved turning Stability and reduced flex under load
» updated nissin rear brake master Cylinder
This year's International Six Days of Enduro (ISDE) saw some less-than-ideal weather. Here, the final day of racing gets underway.
Heather
CONTRIBUTORS
Mack Faint
Kayla Bolton
Ken Hill
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2025 NATC MOTOTRIALS SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED
The North American Trials Council (NATC) has recently announced their 2025 season schedule.
Provisional schedule
Rounds 1/2
April 5-6 Muenster, Texas
Rounds 3/4 April 12-13 Anza, California
Rounds 5/6 May 31-Jun 1 Weeping Water, Nebraska
Rounds 7/8 July 19-20 Tippecanoe, OH
2025 NEXT GEN MOTOTRIALS SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED
The Next Gen Mototrials organization has recently announced their 2025 Youth and Women's regional championship series.
Provisional schedule
CENTRAL June 7-8 Tulsa, Oklahoma
EASTERN June 27-29 Sequatchie, Tennessee
WORLD ROUND July 11 Next Gen Wagner Cup
WESTERN Aug 8-10 Sipapu, New Mexico
LUKE MUTER WINS 2024 NATIONAL ENDURO BETA CUP
Congratulations to Luke Muter for winning the Beta Cup aboard his Beta 2024 250 RR Race Edition. Luke had a great season at the National Enduro while competing in the C < 250 class. The fight for the Beta Cup was a long and tight battle to the very end with the final race determining the winner. Muter edged out Jacob Seiffert by only five points. He claimed the title of Beta Cup Champion by earning the most points in his class compared to anyone else in their class competing on a Beta Motorcycle. With the victory, Luke has won a 2024 Beta RR model of his choice.
"It was another great season for our team SME/28 motorsports. We have a sevenman team that all ride Beta and have been for the last two
NEPG seasons. The bikes are awesome, I rode this whole season on a 250 and didn’t have a single DNF or bike issue. It’s really a testament to these machines and a huge shoutout to my mechanic Ryan Kerr at 28 Motorsport. He has the Betas dialed every race, I really couldn’t do it without him and the support of our whole team. It’s really nice when you can show up to a race and trust your equipment and trust your team has everything in perfect shape!" said Luke Muter.
"Congratulations to Luke on a very successful National Enduro season and thank you to all who participated in the Beta Cup," said Bryan Wunsch, Marketing Manager at Beta USA. "It was exciting to see it come down to the wire
at the last event of the year. We look forward to the next battle to win the Beta Cup in 2025."
“The NEPG is pleased that there was such a title battle for the 2024 Beta Cup, as
four riders came into the last event with a shot at winning a new Beta motorcycle.
Congratulations to Luke Muter for his win and we hope that he enjoys his new bike," said Alan Randt, NEPG President.
YAMAHA INVESTS IN ELECTRIC MOTION
Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. announced that it has invested in French EV company Electric Motion SAS (hereafter, “Electric Motion”), a company that develops and manufactures electric motorcycles for trials and off-road riding. The aim of this investment is to raise the presence of both companies in the electric motorcycle market as well as to delve into the possibilities available with electric motorcycles for competition. As strategic partners, the two companies will bring together their respective expertise and capabilities to explore collaborative avenues in technology development.
Since its founding in 2009, Electric Motion has sold its products under the “EM” brand name in approximately 40 countries around the world-including Japan--and
is steadily increasing its presence in the market for competition trials and offroad bikes. Electric Motion’s products have achieved spectacular results in the Trial World Championship, the FIM E-Xplorer World Cup-the world’s premier electric off-road motorcycle racing series--and other events.
Yamaha Motor, in line with its Yamaha Motor Group Environmental Plan 2050, is working toward being carbon neutral* throughout all of its supply chains, including the company’s business activities by
2050. As we strive to achieve a more sustainable world, Yamaha Motor will continue to promote the research and development of technologies and products that contribute to sustainability.
HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING & PRO TAPER PARTNERSHIP
Husqvarna Factory Racing is excited to announce an extension to the strong partnership with premium control component manufacturer ProTaper into 2025. The renewed agreement will see ProTaper supply its products to Husqvarna Factory Racing teams globally in Enduro, Motocross, and Supercross.
ProTaper has been an industry leader in premium control components since 1991, and has created a number of cutting-edge products such as the Taperwall handlebar. The company is constantly innovating to keep up with the dynamic world of offroad motorcycle sport.
Through 2025, ProTaper will supply products for Husqvarna Factory Racing Teams across
US Offroad, AMA Supercross, Pro Motocross and SMX, as well as Enduro and Motocross in Europe. The US-based company has supported Husqvarna to success for seven years already, with 14 world championship titles earned while using their products.
Robert Jonas Vice President Offroad Racing:
“We are really pleased to continue our successful partnership with ProTaper. Having worked with them for seven years now, they have supported our Factory Racing teams to 14 world championships, with hopefully many more to come. We value our technical partners significantly, and an established company like ProTaper shares our goals
for success, so we are looking forward to continuing the adventure.”
Paul O’Brien ProTaper Brand Manager:
"ProTaper, industry leader in handlebars and grips, is proud to extend our longstanding partnership with
Husqvarna. They have been a key contributor to our brand’s success, and likewise we are proud to have supported them to multiple world championships and race wins over the past seven years. Now, we are excited about the potential for even greater achievements together."
HOW TO KNOW WHEN A DIRT BIKE CHAIN IS WORN OUT
Knowing how to replace a dirt bike chain is half the battle. The other side of the coin is knowing when it’s time to replace a dirt bike chain. We chat through the ways to know when it’s time to replace your dirt bike chain. We then put on a new RK 520 O-Ring to finish off the enduro season!
I recently noticed I was adjusting the chain tension
WORDS & PHOTOS
after every ride. That was the first indicator that I needed to look closer at the current state of the Sherco’s chain. Here are a few other indicators for a worn out dirt bike chain.
• More than half-tooth showing when pulled away from sprocket
• Spun rivets/pins in chain links
BRIAN PIERCE
• Excessively worn/flat chain plates
• Missing or damaged o-rings (if you have an o-ring chain)
• Links that simply won’t rotate or seem to be “kinked”
It makes sense the Sherco’s chain needed to be replaced after only ~40 hours and ~700 miles. I’ve raced in a lot of tough conditions this year, including the Black Buffalo National Enduro MUDFEST! Sand and mud are the two conditions that wear on all parts more than any other. The debris works its way into the chain and wears away the rivet/plate connection
to start stretching the chain sooner than normal.
Racing hours on the bike are more demanding than regular riding hours. You’re typically pushing the machine harder and longer than you would during a day of trail riding. Take this into consideration as well when looking at your drivetrain, or any parts for that matter.
After looking at the chain more, I noticed side to side play between links and quite a few spun rivets. I then gave the front sprocket a gander and noticed the teeth were starting to rotate forward, or shark tooth. All of these indicators told me it was time to replace the chain and front sprocket. The DDC steel rear sprocket is also showing slight signs of wear. I’ll plan to replace
it with my next new chain, which is hopefully is in more than 40 hours.
Installing a dirt bike chain is a process, and there are a lot of different processes talked about online. You need to find the process that works for you and follow it. I like to use vice grips and channel locks for disassembly and reassembly of the master link. I also use a grinder to cut the chain to length, instead of a chain breaking tool. Call me crazy.
www.seattime.co
What weird ways have you found over the years that work for you?
With the race season coming to a close, the hours on the Sherco may slow down a bit. I doubt I’ll have too much of a wild hair over the winter to ride a ton since I have my Ultra Marathon coming up before Thanksgiving. I’ll be racing or running, and then I’ll be sleeping in on Saturday and Sunday’s for a bit!
The 2024 TSCEC Iron Mountain Enduro was everything an enduro racer could hope for in an enduro. The Barnwell Mountain Trail Riders laid out a technical course that had just enough flow and fast to keep the cramps down. Regardless of my result on the day, I will be voting for this race to be Enduro of the Year!
The weather coming into the race weekend was questionable. Barnwell Mountain had received a good amount of rain the week leading up to the race. The property takes moisture well, but we knew the rocks and roots were going to get slick. I went back and forth all week on whether I should put a gummy trail tire on the Sherco. At the last minute Saturday
IRON MOUNTAIN ENDURO
perfect single-track conditions
BEST TRAILS YET?
WORDS & PHOTOS
morning I decided to swap my mousse balls over to a Tusk Talon Hybrid I had in the garage. I’m going to do a full recap on the tire, but it’s safe to say it was a good decision.
The race started right at mile zero. It’s always nice when you get a few miles to warm up, but NOT TODAY! The seven mile test section jumped back and forth between new
trails and old trails being run backwards. I LOVED the layout of this because the new trail was fun, and the old trail backwards felt completely new. I bet it was tough on the C and Super-short riders, but what better way to gain enduro experience.
Test two was one of the most fun of the day. The Trail Riders had access to a few new acres, so they cut in a wicked wooded sand track. I was nowhere near the fastest on the day in that section, but you couldn’t help but have a huge grin in those trees. They ended the section with some slick, tight single track; I approve.
Test three and four felt very similar. One had more open fast roads than the other, but the single track felt similar. They were both also the longer tests on the day, being at, or around, nine miles long. I began catching riders quicker in these sections. You could tell they were starting to ride a bit slower, as the day and miles started to take their toll. My Utility Can Caddy came in clutch at the remote gas stop after test four. I had water, Neutonic, Ucan Energy Gels, Ucan Hydrate + Aminos, rice, oranges, and extra gas.
Test five and six is where it
got spicey. Five was the first A & B section. It was just a bit more of everything we had before and dropped in mileage a bit to 6.8 miles. Test six was the A Only section and it was a hoot. The hill climbs got a bit gnarlier and the downhills got a bit steeper. I know a few of the back rows got caught in the storm that came in, making it even more challenging.
The Iron Mountain Enduro is what enduros should be. It was challenging at all times because the technical level asked a lot of the riders. If you wanted to ride fast, you had to pay attention and find a groove. If you just wanted to ride at a casual pace, you could, but going too slow sometimes could also be challenging.
I rode like I knew I could because I stopped holding myself back. After the Golden Eagle Sprint Enduro I broke down my weaknesses, realizing my ego was getting in the way. I made some motivational reminders to place on the inside of my Enduro Engineering open guards so I could remind myself what to focus on. At the start of each test, I would breathe, remind myself to attack and not to think about the result until the end of the day. Turns out riding like that won me the Overall A award.
Can this happen again? Sure. Do I expect it to? No. There are so many factors that come into play for an Overall A award. I have to continue to focus on what is in my control, which is the way I ride in each test section. If I can ride to my full potential again, and that equates to another Overall A, awesome. If it doesn’t, that’s ok too. I don’t need validation from a result to know I am putting in the work and riding to the best of my current capacity.
NEW FROM THE SKID
COMPLETE REDESIGN FOR 2025
New look, new side entry air filter access, new chassis, new cooling system, new handguards, new fork protector, new skid plate, new side stand, new electrical harness, and additional model-specific updates to make each machine perform at its highest
SKID PLATES UP.
Braking discs, new CNC triple clamps, new dashboard support, new harness, new fuel tank mount, new axle linkage, improved access to the muffler highest level.
2025 EE 5
Husqvarna
Since its very successful launch in 2019, the EE 5 has provided young riders with a smooth introduction to riding and racing motocross. Powered by a capable and highly efficient 907 Wh Li-Ion battery and 5 kW electric motor, the EE 5 rivals the performance of its 50 cc, combustion engine competition. With a choice of six ride modes, the power delivery can be easily customized to suit all rider abilities.
When the lowest mode is selected, the battery offers approximately two hours of riding time. The overall running time varies depending on the track conditions and
mode selected with the least restrictive option allowing for up to 30 minutes of action. Simple recharging is assured with the worldwide charger, which can be connected to any 110 or 230-Volt socket. Once plugged in, an 80% charge can be achieved in just 45 minutes while a full recharge taking only 70 minutes.
Beyond the water-cooled motor, the EE 5 is expertly crafted with a perfectly balanced and height-adjustable chassis. By simply refitting the ergonomic bodywork and seat into the lower mounting points, reinstalling the WP shock in the alternative position, and raising the
WP forks through the triple clamps, the EE 5 can be altered from its standard height of 674 mm to 626 mm. This adjustability allows shorter riders to begin riding the EE 5 in its lowest setting, and as they grow, the higher setting can be re-introduced.
With an extensive list of quality components used to assemble the small machine, the EE 5 delivers an unrivalled on-track experience for all youngsters. Hydraulic disc brakes, a high-strength, chromium-molybdenum steel frame, NEKEN handlebars and ODI grips, and MAXXIS tyres underline the high specification of the latest EE 5.
Key Features:
• State-of-the-art, electric motor with a peak power of 5 kW and new water cooling
• New bodywork and adjustable ergonomics
• Six different ride modes to suit a wide range of riders
• Easily rechargeable, 907 Wh Li-Ion battery
• Modern chassis and adjustable WP suspension
• Proven, race-tested components
• MAXXIS ST tyres for maximum grip on all surfaces
• NEKEN handlebars and ODI grips
Husqvarna 2025 PIONEER
Husqvarna continues to grow its electric motorcycle range by unveiling its exciting and all-new Pioneer. The street-legal machine is designed primarily for offroad use and is powered by a 5.5 kWh Li-Ion battery that offers a WMTC range of up to 85 miles and a running time of up to three hours.
The Pioneer is expertly crafted around a chromiummolybdenum frame for assured durability and performance. The unique chassis design incorporates the motor and battery as load-bearing components, which in turn reduces overall weight and contributes to the precisely calculated geometry and flex characteristics of the new machine.
Selectable ride modes further enhance the exceptional riding experience that the Pioneer offers. With three options
to suit varying abilities as well as the terrain, the perfect amount of power is always delivered to the rear wheel. In addition, Traction Control can be activated in conjunction with any ride mode, while three levels of energy recuperation for the battery are available. All options are easily engaged using the handlebar-mounted switch cube.
With no clutch or gearbox, the Pioneer offers beginners an easy introduction to riding motorcycles, while allowing those with more experience to master more technical terrain with ease. Adding to the simplicity of riding the machine is the rear brake, which is operated by a lever on the left side of the ProTaper handlebars.
The battery can be replaced with a fully charged spare within 10 minutes if required.
Using the supplied 660 W charger, you can get a full recharge in eight hours using a standard household supply. With the Pioneer designed to be ridden offroad in all conditions, the battery, motor, and all connected components are rated IP 67, making them all fully dust and waterproof.
Adjustable WP suspension, offering 250 mm of travel front and 240 mm of travel rear, ensures all riders can customise the settings to suit their requirements. The WP XACT forks feature an air spring, and the Pioneer is supplied with the pump required to adjust the pressure. Additionally, the compression and rebound can be fine-tuned using the easy-access clickers. The WP XPLOR PDS rear shock offers both high and low speed compression, rebound, and preload adjustment to ensure maximum comfort and traction.
Key Features:
• 11 kW nominal power
• 19.2 kW peak power
• 95 km/h top speed
• 21”/18” wheels
• 5.5 kWh battery capacity
• Battery removal (10 minutes with tools)
• Charging time (0-100%) with included 660 W charger ~ 8h
• Charging time (0-100%) with optional 3,3 kW power charger ~ 2h
• Weight – 112 kg
• Michelin enduro tyres
• ProTaper handlebars and ODI grips
Sun, Sea, and Hard Enduro Await
WORDS PHOTOS
HEWC FUTURE7MEDIA
It was all systems go for the penultimate round of the 2024 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship (HEWC) in Turkey for the Sea To Sky. A longstanding race on the hard enduro calendar, this year’s 15th edition of what’s fondly dubbed as ‘the world’s most enjoyable hard enduro race’ marked its first time in the FIM HEWC.
Held in the tourist region of Kemer, and set against the stunning backdrop of the Turkish Riviera, the Sea To Sky is a firm favorite among riders and fans for good reason. The event itself spans five days, featuring two warm-up days of training and enduro tours that take in the spectacular trails of the region.
A three-day race format sees action begin on Thursday with the traditional Beach Race. Friday marks the
first important outing for FIM HEWC competitors with the Forest Race also acting as a points-paying race with FIM Qualifying points on offer. The Forest Race is a 28-mile time trial, taking in some incredible riding around Kemer.
The all-important Mountain Race, which marks the final day of racing truly embodies the hard enduro spirit. Riders start with their wheels on the shoreline of the Mediterranean Sea before racing head-to-head to the finish line located on the summit of the nearby Olympos Mountain, some 2,365m (approx. 7,800 feet) above sea level. Through sandy beaches, canyon riverbeds, forest tracks and finally scaling rocky mountain peaks, the 40-mile course is every bit as spectacular as it is physically demanding.
Coming into this race, defending champion, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Manuel Lettenbichler held a nine-point lead over three-time Sea To Sky winner, Red Bull Leader Tread’s Wade Young. Despite missing round three due to injury, the German has won every other round contested.
Making his long-awaited return to racing is Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt. The 2021 world champion, and 2023 vice-champion, has missed out on competition this season due to injury. Although race-rusty, the Brit has the talent to deliver a surprise result in his first race back.
Bolt wasted no time in getting up to speed and won Thursday’s Beach Race over Lettenbichler and Young, which resulted in Bolt leading the field out early in the morning for the Forest Race.
After 30 seconds Lettenbichler was next to start, with a determined looking Young giving chase a further 30 seconds later.
Clearly enjoying the trails, Young quickly closed in on the two leaders. Catching up to them early on, he took over control of the race lead and was never challenged. Riding ahead, he went on to claim a very impressive three-minute-and-11-second margin of victory. In doing so, he also secured three important championship points.
Despite working his way past Bolt, Lettenbichler wasn’t able
to match the pace set by Young in the Forest Race. Keeping a comfortable rhythm, he did enough to finish second and secure two championship points.
A promising ride from Bolt showed he’s getting back up to speed following his recent layoff. The Brit rode well to open the course and keep Young and Lettenbichler within range, eventually taking third place and the final championship point on offer.
The final day of racing saw competitors assemble for the Sea To Sky Mountain Race.
Despite nursing a wrist injury following yesterday’s Forest Race qualification, Lettenbichler was determined to keep his championship lead intact by lining up for the Mountain Race. A quick reaction off the start saw him grab the holeshot as they headed out into the early, highspeed, dusty sections.
As riders battled to establish position, Lettenbichler arrived at the early canyon riverbed section with the race lead.
Sherco Factory Racing’s Teodor Kabakchiev was close behind in second, with Young
and Bolt third and fourth. Despite the disadvantage of starting from row two, Sherco Factory Racing’s Mario Roman had worked his way into fifth and was riding at a higher pace than his immediate rivals.
Exiting the infamous Sea To Sky canyon section, the course steadily increased in difficulty as riders began to work their way round the Olympos Mountain towards the summit. By now, Roman had reached Lettenbichler and the duo were pushing the pace, with Young and Kabakchiev in tow.
However, a rock strike after the Dark Canyon passage resulted in a damaged exhaust for Roman, which allowed Lettenbichler the breathing room he needed to escape. Opening up and then controlling his advantage across the final mountain passes, the German rode to victory for the fifth time this season.
Behind Lettenbichler the fight for the final podium places came alive in the closing stages as Roman struggled to
maintain momentum with his damaged exhaust. After quietly sitting in the shadows, hard enduro legend Graham Jarvis (Husqvarna) came to the fore in the latter stages of the race.
Disposing of Bolt, Young and Kabakchiev, the Brit reached Roman. Putting his wealth of race craft to use, Jarvis incredibly took second position. Despite having produced one of his best rides of the season, Roman was unable to hold Jarvis at bay and had to settle for third. The Spaniard was still pleased with his ride, knowing he’d challenged for victory early on.
After keeping pace with the front runners for the majority of the difficult sections, Bolt ran out of steam towards the top of the mountain and had to be content with fourth.
Claiming one of the best results of his hard enduro career, Francesc Moret (Sherco) made it two Spaniards inside the top five with fifth. Moret put his vast trials skills to work in the most difficult of sections and
TTR Squadra Corse's Mitch
was able to overhaul Young and Kabakchiev to secure a memorable result.
“I’m super stoked with the victory today," said Lettenbichler. "After my crash in yesterday’s Forest Race I was unsure if I could race today. I injured my wrist and needed to get it checked out. I was determined to go anyway this morning. I had a pretty good start and got the holeshot, which helped me to stay out of the dust on the opening sections. At the canyon rivers, Teo was with me. But I was trying to ride my own race as best I could. Teo, Wade, Mario and myself were altogether at the most difficult sections, fighting. I managed to get a gap on them and then control that advantage over the final mountain sections.
I’m so happy to win, it was tough!”
“With it being a world championship round, the course was much longer and tougher than previous years," said Jarvis. "The difficult sections were relentless, and I had to dig deep in places. But I’m delighted with this result.”
“I’m very happy with my race," said Roman. "I had a mechanical issue in yesterday’s Forest Race, so I only qualified onto the second row. That meant I had a lot more dust to ride through early on. Before the canyon, I got up to fifth and could see Billy and Wade, so I realised my pace was good. After that, the course got tougher and tougher. I started passing some riders and reached Mani. We shared the race lead for a long time, but I hit one rock by
mistake in an off camber and destroyed my exhaust pipe. It was a junior mistake for sure and something I’ve never done before in my career. It’s disappointing because I know the win was there for me today. As a result, the last half hour was tough physically and mentally to make the sections. I had an amazing battle with Graham, but he beat me over the line.”
OVERALL
1. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM)
2. Graham Jarvis (HSQ)
3. Mario Roman (SHR)
4. Billy Bolt (HSQ)
5. Francesc Moret (SHR)
6. Wade Young (GG)
7. Teodor Kabakchiev (SHR)
8. Matthew Green (KTM)
9. Sonny Goggia (KTM)
10. David Cyprian (KTM)
Team USA defends womens trophy
WORDS PHOTOS
After a busy week of preparation in Silleda, the FIM International Six Days of Enduro (ISDE) finally got down to racing for day one. Wasting no time easing the 540 plus competitors from over 30 nations into proceedings, opening today was a physically demanding day in the saddle.
While the rain stayed away, conditions were soft and the terrain quickly chewed up. With riders completing six special tests and two laps of the roughly 78-mile Santiago loop, it was clear come the end of day one that this year’s NOCO FIM 6DAYS® was going to be a true enduro challenge.
Great Britain were the first of the leading World Trophy nations to run into trouble. Team rider Harry Edmondson (GASGAS) had engine trouble. Losing over forty minutes to make repairs, it instantly dropped the 2022 champions to the bottom of the leaderboard.
Later, Italy became the first World Trophy nation to lose a rider when Andrea Verona (GASGAS) stopped on the liaison as they began lap two. Also losing Manuel Verzeroli (KTM) in the Junior World Trophy ensured a bad day at the office for the Italians.
& POLE POSITION COMMUNICATION
WORLD TROPHY
At the head of the World Trophy, it was game on for France. Enjoying the muddy conditions, they did exactly what they needed to do to take control of the race lead. With their four riders placing third, fourth, fifth and sixth overall, France found themselves with a two-minute-and-fivesecond lead heading into day two.
“Today was an incredible start for France,” told Hugo Blanjoue (Honda). “Although the conditions were muddier than we are used to at home, the feeling was good. We placed third, fourth, fifth and sixth to take the overall lead. We had a good week of walking the special tests and it paid off for sure, let’s hope for more tomorrow.”
Defending champions the United States placed strongly on day one and sat behind France in second position. Pleased with their efforts while adjusting to the tricky special test conditions, they will naturally aim to build on things tomorrow.
Ending their day in third, and less than forty seconds behind the United States, were host nation Spain. Led by Josep Garcia (KTM), who placed as the outright fastest rider, Spain had a comfortable advantage over Australia in fourth and planned to use that to go on the attack on day two.
No doubt adjusting to the muddy conditions of day one, Australia slotted into fourth. However, the former champions were already nearly five minutes behind Spain and would need to fight back on day two. A promising performance from the Czech Republic on day one saw them move into fifth. Two seconds separate sixth-placed Chile and Belgium in seventh.
After a dramatic opening day, which saw Italy and Great Britain exit the World Trophy race, competitors settled into racing for day two.
A wet start to the morning ensured slippery and muddy conditions for those first to arrive at the early special tests. But as the competitors completed lap one of two of the Santiago loop, the afternoon’s conditions proved drier and more predictable.
France were determined to build on their advantage throughout the day. Mastering the slippery mud on the opening special test, they extended their lead, as Spain closed in on the United States.
Completing test three to end lap one, France were out to an overall lead of over three minutes, with Spain now charging hard in second and gradually gapping the United States. A perfect final lap from the French saw them take the win on day two to lead by four-minutes-and-fourteenseconds over Spain.
Spain was pleased with their efforts to move into second, while defending champions United States hoped to regroup for the next day. Australia remained unchanged in fourth and were now over twelve minutes behind France in the classification, with the Czech Republic fifth.
With three day wins from three starts, France set about making it four. The French have proved both impressive and consistent in the mud and ruts of Galicia and again found their way to the top of the classification on day four. Entering the fifth and penultimate day of racing, they led the United States, now in second, by almost eight minutes.
“It’s really good for the French team, we pulled another minute on our rivals and have moved into a very good position,” told Leo Le Quere (TM). “Tomorrow is the last full day on the trail. We’re looking forward to it but know not to take anything for granted.”
The biggest change of day four saw the United States move past host nation Spain in the fight for vice-champion. Despite Josep Garcia (KTM) winning the individual classification, the United States performed better as a team and moved over one-minute-and-forty-seconds clear of their rivals. Australia maintained their position of fourth, with the Czech Republic fifth.
Returning to the top step of the World Trophy podium for the first time in seven years, France put in a champion’s ride on the Final Cross Test Galicia on day six. Facing horrendously wet and muddy conditions, they managed their advantage over closest rivals the United States to perfection. With the United States taking the final day win, France followed them home in second to win the World Trophy.
“It’s been an incredible week,” told France’s Hugo Blanjoue (Honda). “All week we rode together as a team and did everything necessary to take this victory. Today was one of the toughest races of my life. The mud was insane, but we fought and fought. Thank you to everyone who has made this result possible, we did it!”
Giving it their all on day six, outgoing champions United States faced too tall a task to topple the French in Galicia. Content with winning the Final Cross Test Galicia, they ended their week as vicechampions, five-minutes-and-thirty-eightseconds behind.
With the support of their home crowd behind them, Spain took the third and final step of the podium in Galicia. Australia weathered the mud to take fourth overall, while the Czech Republic rounded out the top five. With Belgium sixth, Austria seventh and Finland eighth, Portugal and Poland completed the top ten nations in this year’s World Trophy classification.
WOMEN'S WORLD TROPHY
As defending champions of the Women’s World Trophy category, the United States was more than pleased to end day one in control of the race lead. With Brandy Richards (KTM) taking the outright fastest women’s time, it pushed them on to build up a one-minute-and-thirtynine-second lead over long-time rivals Australia in second. Both the United States and Australia ended last year’s NOCO FIM 6DAYS® in first and second, and it already looked like that battle would continue in Spain.
“It was a good day today,” explained Richards. “Thankfully, the rain stayed
away, so it was nice to have at least one dry day. The tests got super rough and the transfers were physical, but overall it’s been a good day. To see the United States lead is very rewarding.”
For Sweden, third on day one marked a strong start to their week. The Swedes were less than three minutes behind the United States and would prove to be a nation both the United States and Australia would need to keep an eye on.
France took fourth on day one, with Spain completing the top five. Great Britain finished sixth, but only held a twentyone-second lead over Canada in seventh, with newcomers New Zealand a further fourteen seconds behind in eighth.
The classification saw the United States win on day two to double their lead to three-minutes-and-twenty-nine seconds over Australia in second. The United States were once again led home by Brandy Richards, who continued to place as the fastest individual women competitor.
Third-placed Sweden slipped further behind the leading two nations but had established a firm ten-minute advantage over France in fourth. Spain maintained their gap over Great Britain to close out the top five in fifth.
For Spain’s Mireia Badia (Rieju), she was fighting for the individual win with Richards. Although with her teammates less experienced in the NOCO FIM 6DAYS®, their overall goal was simply to reach the finish line on Saturday, in what was proving to be wet and difficult conditions.
“It’s normal to see the weather we are getting here in Galicia,” explained Mireia Badia. “The tracks are always difficult to ride without mistakes, especially when the level is so high. I’m fighting every corner and giving it my best. As a team, Spain’s goal is to reach the finish. My teammates have less experience, so there is no pressure for a result, just finish.”
The class saw another close battle between leaders the United States and Australia in second. The United States managed to win again and increase their lead on day four by another twenty-one seconds to three-minutes-and-fifty-five-seconds over Australia.
Sweden remains third in class and were over ten minutes in front of France in fourth, with Spain thirty minutes behind France in fifth.
“It was a good day for Sweden, much better than yesterday,” said Hedvig Malm
(KTM). “Overall, we are in third and happy with our advantage over France. Tomorrow is the last full day, and we have a new course to ride, so we are all looking forward to that now."
Determined to secure their fifth Women’s World Trophy victory in style, the United States powered ahead to claim the Final Cross Test Galicia win on day six, and with it, successfully defend their crown in Spain.
“That was one of the toughest 6DAYS® I’ve ever done,” told the United States’ Brandy Richards. “Today was crazy in the mud. I knew I needed the holeshot and managed to do that and stay clean for as long as I could.
“Overall, it feels incredible. To keep the United States on top was our goal starting out the week, and I’m so happy we’ve been able to do just that!”
Placing second today, Australia finished this year’s race as vice-champions. Sweden made no mistakes and crossed the line to finish on the final step of the podium in third overall. France battled their way through the mud to secure fourth overall, while Italy completed the top five in the final Women’s World Trophy classification. With Great Britain sixth, Canada finished as the seventh and final nation to reach the finish line with all three competitors.
JR WORLD TROPHY
The Junior World Trophy class saw Sweden end day one with an early lead over defending champions France. The Swedes were pleased to have hit the ground running, but France was determined to bring the fight to them. With only fifteen seconds separating both nations, the stage was set for an exciting battle.
“The team has done good and Max (Ahlin) rode great,” said Albin Norrbin (Fantic). “This is my first time back riding a fourstroke, so I feel like I still need to adapt. But overall, Sweden leading at the end of day one is where we need to be. We’ll go over things tonight and aim to build on this tomorrow.”
Sitting one-minute-and-twenty-five seconds behind Sweden were the United States in third. With little or no mistakes from them, it was a solid outing, but they would look to bridge that gap to Sweden and France the next day.
Australia held fourth at the end of day one, while Great Britain edged out Spain by just six seconds to complete the top five.
Sweden found the measure of close rivals France and extended their lead to oneminute-and-thirty-one seconds on day two. Boosted by both Max Ahlin (KTM) and Albin Norrbin (Fantic) placing inside the top fifteen, the Swedes were increasingly looking like the nation to beat this year. Defending champions France were not giving up without a fight and knew that there was still an awfully long way to go.
“Today we were able to start further ahead and it was a good feeling,” said Max Ahlin. “The conditions this morning were much wetter than yesterday and quite slippery. It dried out better towards the end of the day. It feels good to be leading and challenging for the overall victory at the end of day two. France are strong, so we can’t let off the gas.”
Although holding onto third, the United States dropped further behind Sweden and
France. With just over one-minute between them and Australia in fourth, the battle for the final step of the podium was alive and well as the race approached day three. Spain completed the top five, with Great Britain close behind in sixth.
France emerged as the day four winners, following a titanic battle with Sweden. Topping the standings by just one tenth of a second, the defending champions were be pleased to see themselves on top and motivated to attack on the penultimate day. With only two-minutes-and-eight-seconds separating the two nations, day five was going to be a crucial one for both.
Gaining one minute on rivals Australia, the United States looked increasingly solid in third. Team rider Grant Davis (KTM) enjoyed a great ride in the mud for seventh outright.
“I had a great result today, finishing seventh overall and inside the top ten,” said Grant Davis. “The United States are third overall. It will be hard to catch France, but we will keep pushing.”
Behind the top four, Great Britain moved up to fifth, as Spain slipped down the leaderboard to sixth. Problems for the Spanish saw their three-and-a-half-minute advantage beginning the day turn into a thirty-five-second deficit as they rolled back into the NOCO Parc Fermé at the end of the day.
Through the mud came tears of joy as Sweden raced to victory. Following their agonising loss on day six in 2023, the trio of Max Ahlin, Albin Norrbin and Axel Semb made no mistakes this time around and won. Fittingly, it was Norrbin who rode to the eventual race win in the Final Cross Test Galicia, as Sweden led home outgoing champions France, with the United States in third.
Australia ended their week in fourth overall, with Great Britain completing the top five. Host nation Spain took sixth, with Portugal and Canada placing seventh and eighth. Team FIM LA and Belgium rounded out the top ten.
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Martyn Clinches NATC Title in Florida
WORDS & PHOTOS
Two hurricanes couldn’t stop the Florida Trials Association (FTA) from hosting the final rounds of the 2024 AMA/ NATC MotoTrials USA National Championship Series, presented by Trial Store USA, at Promise Ranch, the same location as the 2023 season opener. US Montesa Honda’s Toby Martyn was able to secure the points lead and take the win on the season amid some very tight and technical section riding.
Less than a month prior to the event, Promise Ranch in Center Hill, Florida, experienced fallout from both hurricane Helene and hurricane Milton. Members of the FTA ended up re-marking the 24 sections three separate times, as winds and rains from the storms destroyed the layout
STEPH VETTERLY
of the competition sections. Alex Niederer, Beta USA pro rider and current president of the FTA, had heard the reviews from riders throughout the season and decided to take competition challenge to a new level. Alex had also recently announced his retirement from the Pro class, so this event would be his final ride at the top level.
The focus on section design was technicality; most of the sections for the weekend required very precise riding with very little margin for error, with a few throwing in
PREVIOUS: US Montesa Honda-backed Toby Martyn LEFT: FactoryONE Scorpa's Alex Myers BELOW: FactoryONE Sherco's Pat Smage
some big hits for flavor. The property typically drains any rainfall rather quickly, but because of the storms, a few of the sections were still partially under water.
Starting bright and early Saturday morning, FactoryONE Sherco’s Pat Smage had an unfortunate start to the day, taking full points in section 2 on a rather tricky rocky splatter. Both Smage and his bike were unscathed, but the mood was set. A handful of single dabs in several of the following sections left him tied on 12 points with teammate FactoryONE Scorpa’s Alex Myers for fourth place after the first loop. Martyn was able to find an extremely solid flow, cleaning every section and finishing the loop with zero points.
“Today was a tough one for sure,” said Smage. “It started off a bit rough. I had a big mistake in section 2; I just let my bike go on a big splatter, and really didn’t have great confidence after that. I had another 5 on the second loop. I didn’t ride as well as I needed to to beat the guys ahead of me; they just out-rode me. I put together a solid last loop, but it was too little too late at that point. I think it was the hardest event of the year and it showed with the points spread.”
"Today went pretty well, all things considered," explained Myers. "Sections were super technical with a couple big hits in there; nothing crazy. You just had to be on your marks to the “T.” A couple inches here and there would cause a dab. It was a techie day. It was hot here in Florida even though it’s October, it’s hot. It was a bit tricky to stay hydrated, keep feeling fresh all day. Ultimately ended up fourth. Not far off the lead 3’s. I’m happy with my riding, it’s just that a couple things need to clean up. I had two dumb 5’s, and 5’s really hurt you today, so if I want to be competitive with the top 3 and get into the podium where I think I should be, I definitely really need to
minimize 5’s and just practice hitting my marks.
"It was a bit tough, especially here in Florida just after Hurricane Milton. There’s a lot of flooding still, so there’s wet bits and traction changes a lot. A lot of things going on, but overall, I’m pretty happy with my riding, and I think we can clean it up for tomorrow."
GasGas' Josh Roper kept his head above water, finishing the day with only 18 points, 5 of which were gained on the last ride of the last section. Section 12 fell victim to some flooding, with the start gate completely submerged under water. Roper's bike was apparently thirsty and sucked up some of the water, threatening to hydrolock.
"There’s a giant water hole going into the section right at the very beginning," Roper explained. "Last two loops, it was perfectly fine. I watched a guy on my last loop go right before me - he rode right through it. I thought it was a little deep, but I figured I would keep the idle up. As soon as I went in, it just sucked in some water and the bike just shut off completely."
Roper also had spectators wondering if he was having issues with the bike throughout the day. While typically riding with the pack out front, Roper could be found hanging back a bit and taking a slower pace.
"Going into the event, I wanted to make a point, so I decided to slow my pace down a little bit, fall behind everybody, watch everyone and what lines they were taking, what worked and what didn’t work, and study what everyone else was doing. I was the very last rider. It looked like Pat just had one of those days. Everyone’s gonna have it; I know I’ve had them for sure. Nigel and I were just able to
capitalize on Pat’s mistakes, and Toby was just riding really good as well; props to him.
"Looking back on it, it ended up being a pretty solid day. Sections were really good and I guess they just suited my style."
Sunday’s sections had a bit more flow to them but were no less of a challenge. Two of the sections saw many Pro riders decide to punch full points instead of risking an attempt. Section 6 began with an offcamber hairpin turn followed by a splatter from a deep mud hole. Section 11 required a launch from a place in the water, with the risk of failure potentially leading to the rider drowning their bike.
Jitsie's Jan Cardinaels had easily secured the Expert championship for 2024, coming into Florida with a very solid 80+ series point lead over the rest of the class and moved up to ride the Pro line for Sunday. He would make an impressive fourth-
place finish on the day with 54 points just behind Roper.
"The idea was quite simple," Cardinaels explained. "I wanted to do seven rounds and try to win all of those, then have a feel for what the Pro class really is here and how I could manage physically. I'm 45, so I was thinking if I want to do next year in Pro and I pretty much die today, there's no point trying to do that. If I enjoy today, no matter what the result was, and I enjoyed it and was challenged, then it's worth working towards next season. To come back for another Expert season would be tricky.
"The trial was really fun. Some sections were too difficult for me to get through, but I gradually got better over my score. First lap was really ok, but first section I five'd with a tire puncture. Things got a lot better after that. I think my third lap was the best I've ridden all year. It's a really good class, and it's a shame that we have a few riders going out. The level is quite high."
Final results for the day were higher than the previous day,
but Smage was able to keep in front of the competition. After results were tallied, it was Martyn out front with 232 series points.
“I felt better today,” started Martyn. “Started off really good in the morning. I knew for the championship, I only had to be safe and get the day done. I had a few slack dabs, which meant that Pat beat me overall. The sections were a little bit harder today, but I’ve really enjoyed it. This season has been really cool. Pat kept me so honest and I knew he was going to be such a strong component all year. It was a bit tense coming into this weekend, for sure, but I’m super happy to get it done. I really wanted to tick this one off the list. We’ve got an exciting year ahead for next year, so it was cool to finish off the trials chapter with this win.”
"Today, I rode more confident and consistent and enjoyed it quite a bit more," said Smage. "I had a better attitude about things and just let it come to me; I didn't put too much pressure on myself to beat anybody or do anything - I just rode my own ride. I would've liked to have seen some of the other guys on the first loop, but I knew they weren't going to ride before me [laughs]. Jan [Cardinaels] had moved up to Pro today and was riding really well, so I was able to watch him a little bit on the loop. There were still a few lines I wasn't sure of. I changed up my lines for the second and third loops, and that helped me clean up a few of the sections."
In the Women’s Pro class, GasGas USA’s Maddie Hoover was joined by Beta’s Alicia Robinson, TrialGP Women rider from the UK. Robinson finished the 2024 TrialGP season in tenth place, and put pressure on Hoover for the weekend by taking the win on Saturday. Ultimately, Hoover was able to secure enough series points to take the overall win on the season.
"I, of course, had to start the day off with a 5, which seems to be my new thing," started Hoover. "We managed to pick it up from there. I had some pretty decent loop scores that I’m happy with. I ended up winning today which is always a good feeling. The riding was good - there were some moments of brilliance and then there were quite a few tricky spots that ate my lunch. I really enjoyed it. It was super fun. It was really technical and hard. The scores were right where they should be. I’m glad this was our last event; it really capped off the year.
I’m really happy that I won the championship. It was a battle
at the beginning and I’m just glad this is how it ended up.
I just want to thank GasGas USA and all of our sponsors for the trials team. We’re so appreciative. It’s such a small sport. I also want to thank my mom and my dad because they put in a lot of work this year to get me around."
"I've really enjoyed this weekend," said Robinson. "It's been a really good experience, and everyone's been so welcoming. [Saturday's] trial was more suited to me. Today, I found, was a bit tougher, but it was good training and helping to get ready for next year. Thank you to everyone who's welcomed me here and made me feel so at home."
SEASON STANDINGS
EVENT - SATURDAY
PRO
1. Toby Martyn (HON)
2. Josh Roper (GG)
3. Pat Smage (SHR)
4. Alex Myers (SCO)
5. Alex Niederer (BET)
6. Bryan Roper (GG)
7. Cole Cullins (BET)
8. Sam Fastle (TRS)
WOMEN'S PRO
1. Alicia Robinson (BET)
2. Maddie Hoover (GG)
EVENT - SUNDAY
PRO
1. Pat Smage (SHR) 2. Toby Martyn (HON) 3. Josh Roper (GG) 4. Jan Cardinaels (GG) 5. Alex Myers (SCO) 6. Alex Niederer (BET) 7. Bryan Roper (GG) 8. Sam Fastle (TRS) 9. Cole Cullins (BET)
WOMEN'S PRO
1. Maddie Hoover (GG) 2. Alicia Robinson (BET)
SEASON RESULTS
PRO
1. Toby Martyn (232)
2. Pat Smage (217)
3. Josh Roper (174)
4. Alex Myers (136)
5. Alex Niederer (123)
6. Cole Cullins (110)
7. Will Myers (70)
8. Bryan Roper (57)
9. Sam Fastle (39)
10. Jan Cardinaels (18)
WOMEN'S PRO
1. Maddie Hoover (214)
2. Kylee Sweeten (168)
3. Alicia Robinson (57)
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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.
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FLYNN DOUBLES DOWN IN MICHIGAN
FLYNN TAKES SECOND WIN AT MAD MOOSE HARD ENDURO
A chilly but beautiful autumn morning set the scene as IRC Beta’s James Flynn earned his second consecutive career win at the Mad Moose Hard Enduro, the penultimate round of the AMA East Hard Enduro series presented by IRC Tire.
Hosted by the UP Sandstormers in Marquette, Michigan, the course was comprised of three laps of 14 miles of flowy, but tight, single-track, with the usual hard splits for the Pro and A-class riders. This year, the course was dry, with traction being deceptive – the soil was loose but hooked up well while some of the rocks had moisture in them from the cold and were incredibly slick.
Flynn was able to take the holeshot with Rieju USA’s Quinn Wentzel hot on his heels. The two riders would spend the entire race within seconds of one another.
PREVIOUS:
IRC Beta’s James Flynn (55)
BOTTOM LEFT : Josh Parrett (2212), Michael Manuel (615)
BOTTOM RIGHT :
Rieju USA's Quinn Wentzel (5)
STEPH VETTERLY WORDS & PHOTOS
Passing was a challenge due to the course design, and while Wentzel was able to find a better line through some of the hard sections to make a quick pass, he wasn’t able to hold the position. On the final lap, almost to the finish line, he caught a rock and went over the bars, narrowly avoiding a tumble down the nearby cliff. Flynn was able to pull away and see the checkers just shy of two minutes ahead.
“Today was good,” said Flynn. “It was tough to pass out there. At the beginning, I knew it was important to get out front, and I was able to do that. Quinn [Wentzel] and I went back and forth a couple times. There was some opportunity to pass. In some of the hard bits, sometimes you were able to take a bit riskier of a line, especially in the lappers. This is the driest I’ve seen it out here, but it was cool because it opened some lines you typically wouldn’t be able to do. At the same time, if it HAD rained, it would’ve been a totally different race. [The win] feels good. Danny [Lewis] was here, Quinn [Wentzel] was here, they’re both very very good riders. I was very nervous coming into it, but I just focused on myself during the race and thought
about riding the best I could in each moment. The win is good and everything, but I think I’m just happy with my performance and where I’m at and I think it’ll be a good spot going into the national races next year.”
“That was the theme of the day,” explained Quinn. “[I was] literally just wheel-towheel with James all day. I got in front of him, he was on my wheel, and then he got in front of me. We just never lost each other. there was only one tough spot on the track where we had to get off and push on lap one - that was it. Whoever got out of that spot first made it to the finish first. It was just single-track from there to the finish, so I knew in my mind, whoever was getting out of there first on lap three was going to win, and that’s how it happened. This was probably the most fun I’ve ever had at this event; the club put a lot of work into it and I think they did a great job.”
Third place was a battle between Liqui Moly Factory Beta Team’s Danny Lewis, Rieju USA’s Hayden Mosa, and Champion Brick’s Tobin Miller. This was Lewis’s first race after a six-month hiatus battling Lyme disease.
Unfortunately, he found himself last going into the woods when his bike wouldn’t start on the line. After catching up to Mosa, the two riders’ bikes hooked up and crashed in the middle of the course. With nowhere to go, the rider immediately behind rode over Lewis’s bike, catching and removing the right handguard in the process, causing him to spend the rest of the race battling with saplings on the narrow course trying to engage his front brake.
Mosa’s levers and front end were twisted, and the crash quickly left him as the last rider from the front row. He was able to keep pace and make the pass on Lewis and Miller at the beginning of lap two. Towards the end of the lap, he got a little off his line, and a small sapling hit his brake line perfectly, snapping it clean off the master cylinder. Finishing out the lap and easing his bike back to the pit area, he repaired the line, but the brakes wouldn’t bleed. The leaders had already finished their three laps, and Mosa decided to call his race there. He would place seventh on the day in the Pro class. Miller would keep pace with the leaders until a side hill had
his number, allowing Mosa and Lewis to make the pass. He would find a bit more flow in the third lap, finishing 12 minutes behind Lewis for fourth place.
“I think today was pretty good given my circumstances,” said Lewis. “I caught up to Quinn [Wentzel] and James [Flynn] and tried to ride with them for a little bit. It felt like the pace was good and every time I tried to pass those guys, I would wreck. It was super hard to pass, so if you tried to make a pass, you were doing a line you didn’t really want to do or you were doing a line that was kind of stupid; every time I tried to do one, maybe it would go well, maybe it wouldn’t. I would end up wrecking and falling back. It just kept snowballing until I was about five or ten minutes
TOP LEFT :
Brock Schmalzried (906)
TOP RIGHT : Beta USA's Daniel Lewis (9)
RIGHT: Pro podium
BELOW:
Leysser Salguero (1073), Daniel Niemeier (2874)
behind. I’m really happy with how I felt today for not doing anything for [almost] six months.”
Rounding out the top five was Jeremie Lanthier. Regardless of class, riders had positive things to say about the course design, continuing the legacy that is the Mad Moose Hard Enduro.
PRO1. James Flynn (BET)
2. Quinn Wentzel (RJU)
3. Daniel Lewis (BET)
4. Tobin Miller (KTM)
5. Jeremie Lanthier (HSQ)
6. Zach Huegel (BET)
7. Hayden Mosa (RJU)
AMATEUR
1. Justin Hawes (KTM)
2. Michael Gardner (KTM)
3. Justin Gieszer (KTM)
4. Dawid Tapa (BET)
5. Jake Campbell (KTM)
6. Gage Hill (KTM)
7. Nick Klatt (KTM)
8. Thomas Barrie (KTM)
9. Bentlee Bredekamp (HSQ)
10. Cameron Latulippe (KTM)
Josh Toth Locks Up 2024 AMA National Enduro Championship with Win at KTM Zink Ranch National
As the Redline Oil AMA National Enduro Series, presented by MSR and Beta Motorcycles, draws to a close, it’s down to the wire for many competitors in the championship hunt. More than 325 had the opportunity to advance in the standings as they took on Zink Ranch in Sand Springs, Oklahoma.
The location of the 1994 International Six Days Enduro (ISDE), Tulsa Trail Riders organized the ’94 Six Days EnduroFest to coincide with the race weekend. The group hosted a 30th anniversary reunion ride and banquet to recognize and reconnect former ISDE competitors with each other and fans.
The KTM Zink Ranch National brought breezy, moderate temperatures in the mid-70s. Although, in the days leading up to the race, the location endured an extreme heatwave -- prompting the series to scale back the number of tests. At 58 total miles,
riders navigated hard-pack and rocky conditions with some dust thrown in. The first two tests were 7.5 miles each, followed by a 10-mile section. The fourth test was another 7.5-mile trail, and a 9.5-mile test wrapped up round nine.
It’s been a phenomenal season for Enduro Engineering’s Josh Toth, who has secured all but two wins this season. The Connecticut-based rider kicked off the day in Oklahoma with two test wins in NE Pro1. Then, he took the runner-up spot in the final three tests. Toth’s stellar performance throughout the season helped him secure his first-ever AMA National Enduro Championship with one round to go. The NE Pro1 rider also has the honor of representing the U.S. on the Trophy Team at the ISDE once again, which will take place in Spain during October.
“It was pretty nasty out there,” Josh Toth said. “The terrain is really unforgiving when you get out in the grass and stuff, so I just tried to be cautious and get through the first few tests smooth. And honestly, that was the best thing I could have done. It put me in the lead early. Then, I had a big crash in test four, but other than that, I just kept it up and steady. I’d like to thank my mechanic [Mike “Napper” Napieralski]. He does everything on my bike -rebuilds it between the rounds, does my suspension testing -he knows his stuff. It's great to have him all year, and it’s been awesome working together. Plus, the whole Enduro Engineering crew, the NEPG crew that puts on these events, NOCO, my trainer Steve Hatch for helping out, and my girlfriend Nicole for coming out. There are so many people involved in my program this year. I don't want to leave anyone out, but Bell's Electric and Enduro Engineering really stepped up and let me do what I want to do. So, it's been awesome.”
After collecting his first win of the season at the prior round, Steward Baylor Jr. was eager to continue that momentum aboard his Red Bear Racing Kawasaki. He fell just shy of that, taking the runner-up spot at the KTM Zink Ranch National. Just 22 seconds off of Toth’s pace for the day, Baylor Jr. pushed hard from the start. He claimed second in class through the opening test, third through the next three sections, and ended the day on a high note with the Test 5 win.
“I felt kind of comfortable all day,” Steward Baylor Jr. said. “The track was a good bit different than previous times in Tulsa. We've definitely had everything from mud to dust here, and today was really a good race course -- a little bit dry in places, but, overall, the dirt was perfect. Very open, easy to pay attention and take big lines if you wanted to. But I know this track can bite you if you do that, so I tried to stay
on the trail as much as possible and not flirt with those edges. I know there's a lot of big, loose rocks. But, outside of that, I felt comfortable all day. I just couldn't quite match Josh [Toth]. It's kind of been the story all year, so he's just been riding really good. I've been on years like that. Man, when you're on one, it's great. For him, it's phenomenal. I'm looking forward to the future. I’d like to thank the whole team, my mechanic, my wife, and everybody that makes these things possible. All the crews, all the clubs that put these events on. I’ve always said it's my favorite series. It takes a little bit more thought than just going out and racing head-to-head. You genuinely have to put some thought into these races, and I've always enjoyed this style.”
Ricky Russell of Washington has had a challenging season. He started off the year with a fourth-place finish, but was plagued with injury for much of 2024. He was able to put his AmPro Yamaha on the box for the first time this year at round nine. He began the day with a fifth-place in NE Pro1 through the first test. The second test saw him earn fourth. Russell really showcased his talent on two wheels in Tests 3 and 4, topping those sections. In the last section, he earned third to secure third overall on the day.
“It just felt good to be back up here battling with the guys,” Ricky Russell said. “I haven't really been doing that this year, just been hurt all year and struggling. So yeah, I was happy to get a few test wins. Me and Stew [Baylor Jr.] were really close [in the last test], and I was hoping to get him. But Stew is always strong in the last test, and he got me by like 15 or 18
seconds. Happy to be on the box, so I'll take it. I’ve got to thank Corey [MacDonald] first off. He always gives it his all on the bike. He goes above and beyond, so I got to thank him and the whole AmPro Yamaha team. Dunlop Tires were hooking up great out there, Seat Concepts, Factory Connection suspension, Flexx bars, just all of our awesome sponsors sticking behind us with such a rough year.”
Red Bear Racing’s Will Sievenpiper collected his first win of the season, after finishing in the top five for the prior seven rounds. The Georgian went 3-3-2 in NE Pro2 through the first three tests. Test 4 saw Sievenpiper take the win, and he finished out the day with a secondplace result in Test 5.
Nicholas Defeo, backed by Team Babbitt’s Kawasaki, has been vying to get back on the NE Pro2 podium for most of the season after taking third at the opening two rounds of the series. He was finally able to make it happen this weekend. Defeo had a strong opening to his day – taking second in class through the initial test. He took fourth in the second test, and rebounded to the top spot in Test 3. He concluded the day with a fourth and third.
Earning his sixth NE Pro2 podium of the year, Yamaha’s Nathaniel “Bubz” Tasha struggled early in the day. A sixth-place in Section 1 set him back off of the start, but he hit the reset button to go 2-3-3-4 for the remainder of the day. It was a tight race
between Tasha and FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers’ Grant Davis at the KTM Zink Ranch National, but Tasha was able to swipe third in class by just eight seconds.
Red Bear Racing’s Rachael Archer of New Zealand swept the tests and captured the Women’s Elite podium win. Even more importantly, she collected her 2024 AMA National Enduro Championship with one round remaining. She’s notched seven class wins this season aboard her Kawasaki, and has yet to finish off of the podium.
“I loved the race today,” Archer said. “It was fast and flowy -- my kind of riding. Awesome to wrap up the championship, and I couldn’t have done it without the team backing me the whole way.”
Enduro Engineering’s Shelby Turner took the runner-up spot, scoring second through three of the four tests and taking third in one test. The GasGas rider has sustained her podium streak throughout the entire year.
Prestin Raines of Missouri earned a podium result at the KTM Zink Ranch National, finishing just a minute behind
Turner. The Sherco-mounted rider grabbed third through Test 1. She then picked up speed, taking second in Test 2. She rounded out the day with two fourth-place test results.
Louisiana’s Trevor Hulin claimed the AA class win. He blasted through the first test, putting himself in the lead to start the day. He went 2-1-1 through the next three tests and wrapped up the day with
second in the final section. The KTM rider also clinched the AMA No. 1 plate for the 2024 season.
The 30+A class saw Zach Ingram walk away with the win at round nine. The Texasbased rider ended the day almost three minutes ahead of his classmate. He started the day with a P2 through Test 1. From there, he swept the rest of the day aboard his KTM.
Factory
OVERALL
1. Josh Toth (GG)
2. Steward Baylor Jr (KAW)
3. Ricky Russell (YAM)
4. Jonathan Girroir (KTM)
5. Will Sievenpiper (KAW)
6. Evan Smith (HUSQ)
7. Nicholas Defeo (KAW)
8. Revor Bollinger (HUS)
9. Nathaniel Tasha (YAM)
10. Grant Davis (KTM)
WOMENS ELITE
1. Rachael Archer (KAW)
2. Shelby Turner (GG)
3. Prestin Raines (SHR)
4. Emma Hasbell (BET)
5. Tayler Bonecutter (GG)
HeadquartersMotorcycle We sell Gas Gas, Sherco, Beta, Montesa & Scorpa
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
DELONG TAKES VICTORY AT IRONMAN
CRAIG DELONG EARNS END OF YEAR VICTORY AT IRONMAN
WORDS
PHOTOS
KAYLA BOLTON
KEN HILL & MACK FAINT
The 2024 Progressive Grand National Cross Country (GNCC Racing) Series presented by Specialized, an AMA National Championship, concluded its season on Sunday, October 27, with the Yamaha Racing Ironman GNCC in Crawfordsville, Indiana.
As the green flag flew and the XC1 Open Pro class took off into the woods, it would be Babbitt’s Online/Monster Energy/Kawasaki Team Green’s Lyndon Snodgrass emerging as the early leader when the pack came through timing and scoring on lap one. Snodgrass would continue to lead the way for the next couple of laps before Rockstar Energy Factory Husqvarna Racing’s Craig Delong could make the pass stick for the number one spot.
Delong would push forward for the remainder of the race, finishing with almost a minute lead over the rest of the field. Snodgrass would ensue in a battle with AmPro Yamaha’s Liam Draper for the second place position, with Draper being able to take that position over on the fourth lap of the race. Snodgrass would continue to push and would hold onto third overall to round out the podium at the season finale.
Active Air/Max Motorsports/ FXR/Husqvarna’s Evan Smith would put in his best ride of the year to end the season with a fourth overall and in the XC1 Open Pro class. Smith would start back in sixth and work his way up as he continued to push himself forward.
After a mid-pack start, AmPro Yamaha’s Ricky Russell would only be able to work his way up to fifth overall to end the
season. Coastal GASGAS Factory Racing’s Jordan Ashburn also suffered from a bad start and was only able to make his way up to sixth in XC1 and ninth overall on the day.
Finishing seventh in XC1 was Phoenix Racing Honda’s Ruy Barbosa after a rollercoaster day of back-and-forth inside the top 10. FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Benjamin Kelley would battle his way towards the front, but he would experience some trouble with his rear tire near the end of the race. Kelley would still finish the race in eighth.
JS7 Beta Racing’s Josh Strang would end the season with a ninth in XC1, while Phoenix Racing Honda’s Michael Witkowski rounded out the top 10 in the class.
In the XC2 250 Pro class, Bells Electric Race Team’s Toby Cleveland would get a good jump off the line and lead the way for the majority of the race. Cleveland would continue to push himself at the front of the pack, as the rest of the class was trying to close in on him. When the white flag flew, Cleveland would push himself the rest of the way to take the class win.
Phoenix Racing Honda’s Cody Barnes would come back to take second in the XC2 class after working his way up from a top five start to the day. FMF KTM Factory Racing Lander’s Angus Riordan would have his work cut out for him as he came through seventh on the opening lap. However, he put his head down and pushed on towards the front. Riordan would make the necessary passes and would cross the line third in the class.
PREVIOUS: Coastal Racing GasGas’s Jordan Ashburn (3) is the first to see the checkers
RIGHT: FMF KTM Factory Racing Landers' Brandy Richards (198) Bells Electric Race Team's Toby Cleveland (213) Dakoda Devore (526) wins 2024 championship in XC3 Babbitt's Online/Monster Energy/ Kawasaki Team Green's Lyndon Snodgrass (178) Bailey Flynn (984, bike plate #3)
As the FMF XC3 125 Pro-Am class got underway it was Liqui Moly Factory Beta Racing’s Jhak Walker holding the early lead but would fall victim to a mechanical issue that would take him out of the race on the third lap and putting him sixth in the class and out of the championship contention. Devore/KTM/ FXR/SRS Suspension’s Dakoda Devore would take over the lead on lap two, and he would continue to push himself at the front of the class. Enduro Engineering/ Wossner Pistons/FXR’s Raley Messer would make the pass for second on the last lap and continue to hold that position until the checkered flag flew.
DW Cycle/G2 Ergonomics’ Jayson Crawford would be unable to hold off Messer on the last lap but would continue to push and finish third in the class.
Earning the Ironman Top Amateur honors was Joseph Cunningham who finished 11th overall on the day and would take home the Open A class win. Gavin Simon was second atop the Top Amateur podium with his 13th overall finishing position and first in the 250 A class. Rounding out the top three Top Amateurs was Hunter Smith who came through 15th overall and second in the Open A class.
Coming through to earn the WXC class win was FMF KTM Factory Racing Lander’s Brandy Richards. After earning the Kanati WXC Holeshot Award, Richards would continue to push herself out front and take home the class win at the season finale at Ironman Raceway. Rocky Mountain Red Bear Kawasaki’s Rachael Archer would hold onto second for the duration of the race, while Tayla Jones made her second appearance of the season and would take third place home in the WXC class.
SEASON STANDINGS
XC1
1. Johnny Girroir (271)
2. Jordan Ashburn (229)
3. Grant Davis (224)
4. Steward Baylor Jr (210)
5. Craig Delong (168)
6. Liam Draper (161)
7. Angus Riordan (154)
8. Michael Witkowski (128)
9. Evan Smith (125)
10. Grant Baylor (114)
XC2
1. Grant Davis (334)
2. Angus Riordan (298)
3. Cody Barnes (231)
4. Toby Cleveland (177)
5. Brody Johnson (173)
6. Thad Duvall (158)
7. Jason Lipscomb (154)
8. Liam Draper (151)
9. Jesse Ansley (134)
10. Joshua Toth (118)
WXC
1. Rachael Archer (296)
2. Brandy Richards (282)
3. Korie Steede (246)
4. Shelby Turner (189)
5. Prestin Raines (173)
6. Carly Lee (144)
7. Addison Elliott (135)
8. Kaitlyn Lindsey (125)
9. Kayla O’Neill (124)
10. Rachel Gutish (105)
Steward Baylor Jr. Conquers Motion Pro Gobbler Getter National
ROUND 9 - SAND SPRING, OK
HEATHER WILSON MACK FAINT WORDS
While some racers had already wrapped up championships for the year, others were still in a fierce battle to claim an AMA No. 1 plate after nine months of competition. The finale of the Redline Oil AMA National Enduro Series, presented by MSR and Beta Motorcycles, offered up dry, dusty conditions to more than 560 riders. In the low 80s for much of the day, competitors navigated the hard-pack soil at the Motion Pro Gobbler Getter National.
The day opened with a short 4-mile test before launching riders into a 6.4-mile section. Section 3 offered up 9.2 miles of trail in Stanton, Alabama, while the next test treated riders to 10 miles of singletrack. Tests 5 and 6 were technical, at 9.2 and 10 miles in length, respectively, and that wore down many riders’ energy.
Steward Baylor Jr. was able to notch another overall win in the 2024 season, after capturing his first victory of the year at Round 8. The Red Bear Racing Kawasaki rider kicked off the day with two test wins. In Section 3, he captured the runner-up spot – just five seconds off of
the pace of this year’s series champion Josh Toth. He went 1-2 through the next two tests before finishing first in NE Pro1 and second overall through the final test of the day.
“I had a couple issues out there in the middle of the race,”
Steward Baylor Jr. said. “In the last two tests, I was mainly just trying to navigate without catching people at the wrong time. You got to play it smart and make sure that you don't rush and make those mistakes, which I've done before. The last section here is always a challenge. I know a lot of people complain about it, but I honestly had more fun in the last test than any of the other ones. You just really have to think about that one. I’m glad to close out with a win. It's been very, very few days that we could find a kink in this guy's armor [Josh Toth].
I thought that him being on a different bike might slow him down. But, based on the first five tests, I think the most it ever separated us was just a few seconds. So, obviously, he can jump on anything, ride anything, and still keep me on
my toes. Overall, a great day, and I'm stoked to be back up in the center.”
After securing his inaugural AMA National Enduro Championship at the penultimate round and helping the U.S. on the Trophy Team place second at the International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) in October, Enduro Engineering’s Josh Toth narrowly missed out on adding another win to his record. The Connecticut native has earned seven out of 10 wins this year. After racing his GasGas machine through Round 9, he switched to a Triumph for the final round of the year. It’s been many decades since the brand has been represented at the series, primarily dating back to the 1960s when Bill Baird won sevenconsecutive national enduro championships. Toth marks a new generation contributing to the relaunch of Triumph’s efforts in off-road racing. A solid ride through the first five tests, he struggled in the last test of the day – taking sixth in class and seventh overall through the section.
“The bike was awesome today,” Josh Toth said. “I don’t really have much experience riding it in the woods. It’s been great. I think I've learned a few things today. To change the stock gearing and go to an 18-inch wheel would have helped, but it held up awesome and worked well. Me and Stu were just neck and neck all day. He was riding great, so I'll give it to him. I was able to grab a couple of test wins and just a few seconds separated us going into the last test. Pretty early on, I got a big kind of a detour and got a big branch in the front wheel. It was kind of dragging my front wheel down, and I ended up tucking the front and going down. Once I stopped to yank that out, the heat definitely caught up to me and just really took the wind out of my sails. But props to Stu for being there all day and putting in a good ride.”
NE Pro1 rider Ricky Russell managed to put together a
strong finish to a tumultuous season, in part due to injury. With his first podium of the year at the prior round, the AmPro Yamaha rider was able to repeat that performance at the Motion Pro Gobbler Getter National. Maintaining top-five results in NE Pro1 throughout the day, he went 3-5-3-3-5-4.
“It was a good day,” Ricky Russell said. “We started off right there, in third place, but not too far off of these guys [Josh Toth and Steward Baylor]. That second test really killed me. I lost a lot of time there; I struggled. After that, I found my flow again and was kind of able to run a few tests close to these guys, but they're just on another level. I was able to kind of get a little gap from the guys behind me, but I was a good ways behind these guys. Happy with my riding, getting my speed back up and just being healthy. So, nothing to complain about.”
FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers’ Grant Davis captured his fifth NE Pro2 win of the year after he nabbed four out of six test wins at the Motion Pro Gobbler Getter National. And, he was officially able to lock up the class championship for 2024.
“It was good,” Grant Davis said. “I can't thank my whole FMF KTM Factory Racing Team enough -- Chris Landers and my mechanic Andy. We got two championships this year in both series we raced, and I can't thank him enough. And my whole family, Moose, X Brand, Alpinestars and everybody else.”
Nicholas Defeo also had a powerful performance
throughout the day, oscillating between second and first for the first five tests of the day in Alabama. The Team Babbitt’s Kawasaki rider scored fifth in NE Pro2 through the final section. Ending second in class on the day marked his fourth podium finish of 2024.
In only his third national of the year, Hunter Smith started the race day off with two sixthplace test finishes aboard his GasGas. He steadily advanced throughout the middle of the day, going 5-3-3 before placing fourth in the last test. His results earned him a spot on the NE Pro2 podium at the final round.
Already declared the Women’s Elite 2024 AMA National Enduro Champion at Round 9, Red Bear Racing’s Rachael Archer was aiming to conclude the season on a high. She went undefeated in the first four tests of the day before Enduro Engineering’s Shelby Turner
was able to edge her out in the last test. Archer ends the season with eight wins under her belt.
On the podium at every round of the 2024 season, Turner continued that trend. The GasGas rider finished just behind Archer in the first four tests before claiming the final test win.
Prestin Raines laid down steady results, netting third in all five tests. The Sherco rider earned her second podium of the year.
In the amateur ranks, Louisiana’s Grady Peevy secured the AA class win on his KTM, after earning four test wins and two runner-up results in Alabama.
Competing in his home state, Colby Yarbrough swept the 250A class at the Motion Pro Gobbler Getter National.
NE PRO 1
EVENT
1. Steward Baylor Jr (KAW)
2. Josh Toth (TRI)
3. Ricky Russell (YAM)
4. Trevor Bollinger (HSQ)
5. Ben Kelley (KTM)
6. Evan Smith (HSQ)
7. Ryder Lafferty (GG)
SERIES FINISH
1. Josh Toth (276)
2. Steward Baylor Jr (232)
3. Evan Smith (169)
4. Jonathan Girroir (166)
5. Trevor Bollinger (129)
6. Grant Baylor (117)
7. Ricky Russell (117)
8. Ryder Lafferty (104)
9. Ben Kelley (16)
10. Thad Duvall (15)
WOMENS ELITE
SERIES FINISH
1. Rachael Archer (KAW)
Shelby Turner (GG)
Prestin Raines (SHR) 4. Emma Hasbell (BET)
Addison Elliott (KTM)
Tayler Bonecutter (BET)
Holly Langford (KTM)
Dana Johnson (KTM)
1. Rachael Archer (265)
2. Shelby Turner (209)
3. Rachel Gutish (176)
4. Emma Hasbell (154)
5. Brooke Cosner (109)
6. Prestin Raines (89)
7. Tayler Bonecutter (85)
8. Carly Lee (30)
9. Kylie Harris (27)