A Single Track Weapon
New Features
» Electric Start
» Lower Seat Height
» Front Rescue Strap
» Six Speed Transmission
» 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 Cylinder
Congratulations to FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Trystan Hart for wrapping up the US Hard Enduro Premiere championship win, which concluded at the Tennessee Knockout in Sequatchie, TN.
photo courtesy KTM
EDITORIAL
CONTRIBUTORS
Future7Media
Abigail Buzzelli
Ryan McCasland
Mary Rinnell
Josh Strang
Brian Pierce
Jenny Keller
Shan Moore
Art Pepin
Heather Wilson
Mack Faint
facebook.com/ onthepegs @onthepegsmagazine www.on-the-pegs.com
On the Pegs is covering the events, personalities, and machinery of GNCC, enduro, trials and more with beautiful photography in a free monthly digital magazine.
To get involved or send content, email stephanie@onthepegsmagazine.com
• 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
• 5 hour+ quick change and fast charge battery
• new 6.5-hour interchangeable battery also available
• 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.
The Big Picture
DOUBLE TROUBLE FOR KTM
KTM had two reasons to celebrate at this year’s edition of the Tennessee Knockout. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Mani Lettenbichler took the event win, and FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Trystan Hart sealed the deal on the US Hard Enduro Championship series.
PHOTO BY FUTURE7MEDIA
The Big Picture
SEALING THE DEAL!
He’s done it! Sealing the deal with one round to spare, GASGAS Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona has won the FIM Enduro2 World Championship after topping the timesheets on both days at the GP of Wales. Winning every day except one so far, where he finished as runner-up, Andrea’s near-perfect season has earned him a well-deserved seventh career world title.
PHOTO COURTESY GASGAS
The Big Picture
WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER!
FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Johnny Girroir took his seventh-straight overall victory, and the title, in the 2024 US Sprint Enduro Series.
BY ART PEPIN
PHOTO
STEPH VETTERLY Editor-In-Chief
What are the plans for the rest of 2024 for OTP?
This year has already been packed full of adventures in countless states, and of course, lots and lots of miles. But this year isn’t over yet.
Coming up, I’ll be heading to Ohio, New Jersey, Michigan, Florida, Oklahoma, and Arizona, just to name a few. Between the US Hard Enduro series’ remaining regional rounds and the AMA NATC National Mototrials Series, and some vintage racing, there’s so much to cover. I’m also planning to head to The Race of Gentlemen, a seriously vintage-focused motorcycle and car racing
event that takes place on the beaches of Wildwood, NJ. I first noticed this event back in 2019 and was instantly excited. Reading more about the organization, I realized that they are extremely strict when it comes to periodspecific machines with some incredible limitations on what they do and do not allow. Of course, 2020 brought about COVID and the cessation of all gatherings, and since then, I haven’t been able to attend. But this year, I have the weekend free!
I’m also hopeful to add a trip to Oklahoma to cover the grand finale of AHRMA’s multiple vintage off-road racing disciplines.
Does it still feel like work three years later?
Of course it does. Staying up Sunday night until the wee hours of the morning editing photos for multiple brands and writing race recaps for multiple magazines takes a lot of effort. For some reason, though, being out in the woods watching riders push their capabilities and being able to show the world how amazing these events are makes it all worth it. I also love the challenge of trying to better my photography each race so I can showcase these folks in the best light possible. I hope I’m able to make a positive impact on the future of these events, no matter how small.
Some of these disciplines, like trials, are incredibly niche, and unless effort is made to put content out in the world, no one will take notice. If we want people to care about the sports we love so much, we need to share them.
If you want to help share your story, or the story of your favorite organization, shoot me an email and let’s see what we can do.
stephanie@onthepegsmagazine.com
LEBLOND & HUSQVARNA CONTINUE INTO 2025 AND BEYOND
The 22-year-old from Pennsylvania currently sits third in the 2024 U.S. Hard Enduro point standings after picking up three podiums in the opening five rounds onboard his Husqvarna TE 300. He also claimed a P2 podium result at the standalone Silver Kings Hard Enduro.
LeBlond will transition across to the Husqvarna FX 350 when EnduroCross commences in Colorado Springs on October 12, where he will aim to build upon his fifth-place result achieved in the series last season. Next year will mark the Pennsylvania native’s third season at Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing.
“I am super-excited about signing another multi-year deal to do what I love!”LeBlond commented.”It was an easy decision, we have such a
strong team with the current bike and all of the people involved. I can’t wait to see what we do in the future.”
Anthony DiBasilio, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Off-Road Team Manager:”We are excited to welcome back Ryder LeBlond to continue racing the U.S. Hard Enduro and EnduroCross events. Ryder has grown so much over the last couple of years and is just getting started. We know Ryder will continue to rise to the top in the Hard Enduro series, as he has shown he can consistently battle for the podium. Ryder will continue to hone his EnduroCross skills in an attempt to fight for the podium in that series as well. We are looking forward to the next couple of years of helping Ryder achieve his dreams and to win some championships.”
TEAM ERIC CLEVELAND MEMORIAL TO MAKE HISTORY IN 2024 ISDE
As 31 total riders will represent the United States at the 98th FIM International Six Days Enduro, which takes place Oct. 14-19 in Galicia, Spain, history will be made in more than one way.
American club Team Eric Cleveland Memorial will be the first FIM-recognized club team fully comprised of women riders to compete in the ISDE, headlined by riders Ava Silvestri (GASGAS), Olivia Pugh (KTM) and Jocelyn Barnes (Husqvarna).
“ISDE serves as the pinnacle of international competition when it comes to Enduro racing, and each year the sport’s history books are rewritten,” ISDE Coordinator Michael Jolly said. “Team Eric Cleveland Memorial is primed to make their own mark on the history of the event as
the first all-female club team, and we cannot wait to see them compete in Spain this October!”
Club teams rely on generous donations to help cover the costs of competing in the prestigious ISDE event, including travel costs, lodging and bike transportation.
Follow the links below to offer support for Team Eric Cleveland Memorial.
Olivia Pugholiviapugh.myshopify.com/
Jocelyn Barnesgofund.me/9d6e3e4d
Ava Silvestriinstagram.com/avasilvestri
PHOTO BY RYAN MCCASLAND
PHOTO BY MARY RINNELL
JACK EMERSON, AMA WORDS
STRANG TO JS BETA RACING
Josh Strang announced via social media that he and ShercoUSA were parting ways. Since the separation, Josh has rejoined forces with Vince Strang Motorcycles out of Australia and is now racing under the brand JS Beta Racing. Strang placed ninth at the Kanati Tires Buckwheat 100 GNCC on the new bike, reportedly with only about two hours on the bike.
PHOTO BY @JOSHSTRANG, IG
PROVISIONAL 2025 ENDUROGP SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED
Even before the 2024 series has concluded, EnduroGP has announced their 2025 season.
Expanding to eight rounds for the coming season, the championship will begin in early April and conclude in mid-October. From hardpacked terrain in Spain to the rocky forest tracks of Sweden and traditional enduro trails in both Wales and Germany,
Provisional schedule
each of the eight venues have been carefully selected to ensure a well-rounded, highcalibre, world-class Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship.
The 2025 FIM Enduro Women’s World Championship will provisionally take place across four rounds – GP of Portugal, GP of Wales, GP of France and GP of Germany.
Round 1 April 4-6
Portugal
Round 2 May 2-4 Spain
Round 3 May 23-25 Sweden
Round 4 June 20-22 Romania
Round 5 August 1-3 Wales
Round 6 Sept 12-14 France
Round 7 Sept 26-28 Italy
Round 8 October 17-19 Germany
if you’re viewing this as the digital version, click each product to be taken to its website where you can buy direct
Introducing the Bullet Proof Designs Clutch Cover, built from solid block of 6061 aluminum the BPD clutch cover is three (3) times thicker than competitive covers.
Engineered for the toughest conditions, our clutch cover is designed to withstand the rigors of extreme riding and racing, providing riders with peace of mind and exceptional performance.
If you’re racing hard enduro or out for a long weekend ride with friends, you don’t want a clutch cover failure from smashing one rock put an immediate end to your ride or race.
Elevate your performance with results! Once applied, No More Pump works rapidly and efficiently to relieve and prevent arm pump – Your Ultimate Solution for Pain Management!
Our Pain Relief Roll-On ensures prompt alleviation precisely where it is needed. Formulated with potent natural constituents such as menthol, arnica, reishi, aloe, boswellia, chondroitin, and glucosamine.
N.M.P. specifically targets minor muscular and joint discomfort, allowing you to perform your best during long moto’s and trail rides.
Benefits and Features:
• Prevent & relieve arm pump
• Maximize your grip
• Apply before, during, and after the Ride
• Triple-action formulation for optimal relief
• Prompt efficacy with a comforting impact within minutes
• Muscle and joint support tailored for individuals with active lifestyles
BULLET PROOF DESIGNS Clutch Cover - KTM / Husqvarna / GasGas
$229.99
Key Features:
• Solid 6061 Aluminum Construction: Precisionmachined from a single block of 6061 aluminum, this clutch cover offers superior strength and durability compared to traditional covers.
• Lifetime Warranty: We stand behind the quality and durability of our product with a lifetime warranty, ensuring that your investment is protected for the long haul.
• Enhanced Protection: Our clutch cover provides enhanced protection against impacts, debris, and wear, ensuring your bike’s clutch system remains intact and functioning.
• Aesthetic Appeal: With its sleek design the Bullet Proof Designs Clutch Cover not only performs flawlessly but also adds a touch of style to your bike.
• Works with Rekluse
2025 TC 85
Husqvarna
The new TC 85 is the perfect machine for riders aged 11 to 15 years old who are moving up from the 65 cc class as well as for riders entering the sport for the first time. It allows them to develop their skills and approach the full-size classes consciously with a machine that suits their needs, bringing them from the entry-level stages up to the competition classes.
The TC 85 is a proven machine that will allow future champions to compete in national and international classes as it provides young riders with the best
overall package in terms of technology and power.
The performance of the TC 85 is class-leading with ergonomics scaled down from the full-size motocross machines. For the first time, the TC 85 was developed with feedback from a variety of highly skilled international test riders from Europe, the USA, and Australia. Over the last two years, these young riders raced the TC 85 to success in both national and international championships.
The updated machine offers significantly enhanced
handling thanks to the new frame design and riders familiar with the old platform will immediately notice the improved rideability. Less input is required to corner, meaning that riders of all levels will benefit from the revisions made. The improvements to the engine deliver better performance in the low and mid rpm range. Therefore, young riders will not only experience faster lap times, but they will also see notable enhancements to their race pace over longer distances on the new TC 85.
Key Features:
• revised engine to deliver a significant boost from low to mid-range power
• new frame for improved stability and handling
• new WP XACT rear shock with shorter travel and easily-adjustable WP XACT forks
• scaled-down bodywork with ergonomics to suit youth riders
• two engine maps for maximum performance and reliability in all conditions
• Formula brakes and Galfer discs
• new, lighter swingarm
The USWE hands free kit is an additional purchase to your USWE hydration pack that allows a rider to drink from their hydration bladder without taking their hands off the handlebars. Yes, they named it well.
The helmet handsfree kit comes with a drink tube, quick connector and velcro; These are all the parts you need to have your helmet ready for hydrating hands free.
& PHOTOS
The install is fairly simple. You pick the side you want it on, remove the cheek pad and stick the velcro to the inside of your helmet. You may need to make a small hole in the front of your helmet for the bite valve hose to fit through. I was able to easily snip away small parts of the Leatt until the hose could snuggly fit through. Attach the female end of the coupler to your bladder hose and you’re ready to hydrate hands free.
BRIAN PIERCE
I like to route the hose out of the hydration poach in a way that the house doesn’t stick out too much. I do this to try to keep it from snagging on foliage or rouge spectators.
The USWE hands free kit is great for any rider who wants a simple hydration strategy while on the bike. I personally don’t use it during an enduro because we have time between test sections to hydrate properly. I believe it’s the perfect added accessory for XC and hard enduro riders or racers. Being able to keep your hands on the bars while hammering down, or traversing technical terrain, keeps you focused to the needs of the trail ahead.
I also like that the hands free kit is quickly removable. Since I don’t race XC as often as I do enduros, I can remove it for
single track riding or enduros without much fuss.
Every rider won’t need the USWE hands free kit, but those that want to attack the trail and hydration consistently and confidently, the hands free kit is the perfect addition to your hydration strategy.
victory &title
FOR BOU IN CAHORS
REPSOL HONDA FUTURE7MEDIA WORDS PHOTOS
The Repsol Honda Team had a winning conclusion to the penultimate round of the season, as Toni Bou was crowned TrialGP champion once again. He earned his ninth victory of the season to confirm the title. Teammate Gabriel Marcelli earned third position in the race, his seventh podium of the season.
Bou took the lead on the first lap after collecting 7 penalty points, one of them for time, on Zones 1 and 10. For the second run, the Repsol Honda Team rider was able to improve in places where he had made mistakes and finally, with an advantage of 8 points, took his ninth triumph of the season.
With this victory, the Montesa Cota 4RT rider won the TrialGP World Championship for the eighteenth time. In total, Bou has a total of 35 titles, including 17 in X-Trial and 18 in the outdoor discipline. He has 152 race victories and 208 podiums in TrialGP.
Marcelli also had a good performance in Cahors. On the first lap, the Repsol Honda Team rider was fighting for the podium positions, placing inside the Top 3 with 18 points. On the second lap he competed for second place alongside Jaime Busto and Adam Raga, finally claiming third for his first rostrum at the French town.
Thanks to this result, Marcelli retains second place in the overall standings, 7 points clear of Jaime Busto. The runner-up position will be decided on the last weekend of the season.
The final round of the TrialGP World Championship season will be held from September 13-15th, with a double header in Ripoll.
“First of all, I would like to thank the team for the incredible work they have done this season,” said Bou. “When there is a chance to win the title, there is always more pressure and the possibility of making a mistake, as was the case on the first section, but after that I was able to ride at my best and we got a great victory. If we can win the title by winning the race, then it’s even better. It has been a very good season in which we have worked very well. It is one of the best seasons of my professional career and I am very happy.”
“It was an incredible day and I want to congratulate Toni for the victory and the title,” said Repsol Honda Team Manager Takahisa Fujinami. “He has once again shown how great his talent is and the effort he puts in race after race to achieve the best results. I am also happy with Gabri’s race. Despite some mistakes, he is still second in the standings and had a good ride. It will be important to continue at this level in Ripoll to achieve the runner-up position. I want to thank HRC, all the sponsors and the team for supporting us on the way to the title and making it possible once again.”
credit Pep Segalés
X
ABELLAN DETERMINATION KEEPS IN
CONTENTION
WORDS PHOTOS
Without doubt one of the greatest female Trial riders of her generation, Berta Abellan (Scorpa) has carved a career for herself through a combination of skill, dedication and sheer dogged determination that has carried her to four FIM silver and two bronze medals in a top-flight career stretching back to 2014.
While her career stats are already very impressive, they become even more remarkable when you consider that she is still only twenty-four years old with many years ahead of her in the sport.
Coming from Terrassa, just thirty kilometres north-west of Barcelona in the Spanish Trial hotbed of Catalonia, the Health Emergencies student is extremely honest and open about the fact that winning the FIM Women’s Trial World Championship is her primary motivation. Currently trailing defending champion Emma Bristow by thirteen points with three scoring days left, it is an
ambition that she is looking increasingly likely to have to put on hold for another season, but it comes as no surprise to learn that Abellan is not giving up.
“I can [catch Bristow], whatever happens will happen. I’m going to fight to the end. It’s a thorn in my side that I’ve wanted to get rid of for years, but even so I also know that she will be fighting to finish in the best possible way.”
Her 2023 campaign got off to a flying start when she won both days at the opening round in Spain, but this year she faced the double disappointment of twice finishing third when the series got under way in Japan in mid-May. However, in keeping with her neversay-die mindset, despite again finishing third on the first day of competition in Germany she fought back to claim a fifth-career TrialGP Women victory the following day before finishing a solid second behind Bristow last time out in Belgium.
“I feel just as strong! In all these events I have learned a lot and maybe I did have a bad day in Japan on Saturday, but on Sunday it was not only up to me and in Germany [on day one] I had a mistake that I couldn’t recover from. The victory [on day two] for me was a turning point and gave me motivation and satisfaction for all the effort I have put in.”
Runner-up behind Bristow for the last two years and currently lying second in the series, when the British legend retires from FIM World Championship competition at the end of the season Abellan is the obvious heir to the crown – although, staying true to her modest character, she is not taking anything for granted.
“For now, I’m not thinking about it, but I think everything will stay pretty much the same – a lot of work and I’ll continue to enjoy the sport.”
2024 TRIALGP WOMEN STANDINGS
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
New Braking discs
New Akrapovic headers on 250/300/450/500 SEF
New side entry air boxes
New Akrapovic silencers on 250/300/450/500 SEF
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.
New side stands
New frame protector with built in gripper
New higher ground clearance SPES3 Exhaust for 2 stroke models
New brighter LED taillight
GARCIA HOLDS POINTS LEAD
HOLCOMBE AND GARCIA TAKE ENDUROGP WINS
WORDS
PHOTOS
ENDUROGP
POLE POSITION COMMUNICATIONS
After waiting 15 years since its last visit to Wales, the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship roared into life for day one of racing at the FORSITESERVICES GP of Wales in Rhayader. With spectators lining the special tests from early morning, there was an air of excitement and anticipation to see if they would be rewarded with a British winner come the end of the day.
With the opening ACERBIS Cross Test located just metres from the start ramp, riders were immediately thrown into the deep end of racing. Mixing a motocross circuit with fast, flowing grass tracks, it was a case of maximum attack straight away.
Beta Factory Racing’s Brad Freeman came out swinging and duly topped the ACERBIS Cross Test. But only just. Honda Racing RedMoto Enduro Team’s Steve Holcombe was only one second behind in second, with GASGAS Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona a further four tenths of a second back in third.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia clocked the fourth quickest time to hold a one second lead as they headed across the Welsh valley to Saintswell to take on both the MAXXIS Enduro Test and POLISPORT Extreme Test.
Spurred on by a wealth of home support, Holcombe was on a mission. Winning both special tests, he ended lap one of three with a seven-second lead over Garcia. Verona sat third, with Freeman now up to fourth and closing in.
Continuing his run of form from round five in Slovakia, CH Racing Sherco’s Wil Ruprecht was up to fifth, with both Nathan Watson (Beta) and Hamish MacDonald (Sherco) hot on his heels in sixth and seventh.
The second ACERBIS Cross Test saw the top three times of Garcia, Freeman and Holcombe split by just one second. Returning to the MAXXIS Enduro Test, Holcombe was again in command and clocked the fastest time over Freeman. A mistake from Garcia saw Holcombe stretch his lead out to 12 seconds over the Spaniard, with Freeman overhauling Verona to take third.
Holcombe again topped the POLISPORT Extreme Test to increase his lead to almost 16 seconds with just one lap remaining. With another mistake from Garcia, Freeman was looking dangerous, sitting just sixth tenths of a second behind him in third.
Heading into the final lap, Holcombe held the upper hand, but the battle was on for the final podium placings.
Topping the penultimate ACERBIS Cross Test, Freeman moved into second to set up a potential British 1-2. Winning the final MAXXIS Enduro Test, the Beta rider was now beginning to threaten Holcombe’s lead, shortening it to seven seconds with two special tests remaining.
Winning the final POLISPORT Extreme Test, Holcombe was able to stretch his lead back out again. Despite Freeman’s best efforts on the fourth and final ACERBIS Cross Test, Holcombe had him covered
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP:
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia (26)
Honda Racing RedMoto’s Steve Holcombe (1)
GasGas Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona (99)
Beta Factory Racing’s Brad Freeman (12)
Zachary Pichon (SHR, 101)
and took the EnduroGP win. Forced to settle for second, Freeman still made it a memorable British 1-2 on day one in Wales.
Regrouping well in the closing stages, Garcia placed just one second behind Freeman for third. With the top three separated by five seconds, and Verona just a further 16 seconds back in fourth, day two is already shaping up to be an exciting one.
The fight for fifth was also incredibly close. Carding his best result of the season, Ruprecht took fifth, with Watson only one second behind in sixth. MacDonald was less than half of a second behind Watson in seventh, and with Zach Pichon (Sherco)
two seconds adrift in eighth, the racing was super tight in Wales.
Forced to settle for third on day one, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia began day two in a determined mood. Placing second to Verona on the opening ACERBIS Cross Test, he won the following MAXXIS Enduro Test to take up an early lead in EnduroGP.
Completing the first POLISPORT Extreme Test, Garcia held the race lead, but by only by six tenths of a second over Beta Factory Racing’s Brad Freeman in second. Verona sat in third, with Honda Racing RedMoto Enduro Team’s Steve Holcombe fourth, and only five seconds behind Garcia.
Holcombe’s teammate Samuele Bernardini was fifth, but was under fire from the CH Racing Sherco trio of Zach Pichon, Wil Ruprecht and Hamish MacDonald. If the results at the end of lap one told anything, it was that the Welsh hills were delivering incredibly close battles.
Winning the second MAXXIS Enduro Test, Freeman forced his Beta into the lead, much to the delight of the British crowd. And despite Garcia topping the second POLISPORT Extreme Test to end lap two, Freeman led the Spaniard by seven tenths of a second heading out into lap
three and the final four special tests. With Holcombe trailing them by three seconds in third, he wasn’t out of the running yet either.
Fastest in the penultimate ACERBIS Cross Test and final MAXXIS Enduro Test, Freeman started to edge clear. However, a mistake in the final POLISPORT Extreme Test, won by Holcombe, saw Freeman’s five-second lead slip to less than two seconds, with just the final ACERBIS Cross Test remaining. With the pressure on all three riders, the day two win was up for grabs.
Playing it to perfection, Garcia went fastest. Beating Freeman by two seconds in the process, he took the EnduroGP class victory by an astonishing 15 hundredths of a second. Although missing out on a home win, Freeman could still be proud of his efforts in second. With Holcombe third, the top three were separated by only five seconds, proving just how competitive EnduroGP is right now.
Despite being in the mix early on, Verona dropped behind the leading trio as the day progressed to take fourth. Fifth eventually went to Pichon to equal his best result of the season. Less than two seconds back, Ruprecht took sixth. Nathan Watson (Beta) was just three seconds behind Ruprecht for seventh, with Bernardini only eight tenths of a second behind the Beta rider in eighth.
DOUBLE WIN FOR BADIA IN WOMEN’S ENDURO
RIEJU Factory Racing’s Mireia Badia extended her Enduro Women win streak to four with victory on day one in Wales. The Spaniard held the upper hand over her classmates for the day, despite multiple mistakes.
Securing a podium on home soil, Rosie Rowett (RIEJU) gave the British fans a lot to cheer about with second place. France’s Elodie Chaplot (Beta) enjoyed her day in the Welsh hills to take third.
The FIM Women’s Enduro World Championship saw RIEJU Factory Racing’s Mireia Badia back up her day one victory with a commanding win on day two.
The Spaniard was simply unbeatable, marching ahead to a 63-second margin of victory. With a 37-point lead in the title fight, Badia looks champion elect for the final round in France in September.
Team KBS Sherco teammates Rachel Gutish and Nieve Holmes enjoyed a daylong battle for the runner-up result. In the end, it was USA’s Gutish who claimed the upper hand. Holmes finished third, much to the delight of the British crowd.
LEFT: Rachel Gutish (SHR, 413)
BELOW: Rieju Factory Racing’s Mireia Badia (432)
INSET: Stage 2 Women’s podium
GASGAS FACTORY RACING’S SUPER-FAST ITALIAN WRAPS UP ENDURO2 TITLE
Switching to the GASGAS EC 350F and the Enduro2 category for the 2023 season, Andrea finished the year as runner-up. Now in 2024 and with more experience under his belt, the number 99 has enjoyed a dominant season in the class, taking 11 wins from the 12 days raced, and headed into the penultimate round with an impressive 39-point lead in the Enduro2 standings. Talk about consistency!
Arriving at the GP of Wales with a 39-point lead in Enduro2, Andrea looked to get his weekend off to a solid start in Friday’s Super Test on his GASGAS EC 350 F. Unfortunately, a small crash put a dampener on things. But quickly getting back on the gas Saturday, the Italian went on to top the Enduro2 timesheets
on all but one test. Winning the class by a comfortable 59 seconds moved him one step closer to clinching the 2024 title.
Raring to go on Sunday, Verona came out swinging to top the opening test in Rhayader. Maintaining his streak of winning results, and despite a crash on the cross test on lap two, the Italian won nine of the 10 tests raced to bring his EC 350F home 24 seconds ahead of his nearest E2-class rival. In securing the win, Verona claimed the Enduro2 world title with one round to spare – an amazing achievement for the insanely fast 25-year-old!
With the Enduro2 title wrapped up, all eyes are now on the final round of
the FIM EnduroGP World Championship, where Andrea will look to take the fight to Josep Garcia in EnduroGP. Narrowly missing the podium on both days in Wales, Andrea still lies second overall in the EnduroGP class standings. And you can be sure the GASGAS star will be giving his all at the final round, held in Brioude, France, on September 13-15.
Andrea Verona: “I’m really happy to get the Enduro2 title
with one race to spare! It’s been a great season and I’m so happy to have won every single day except one. This was one of our goals for the year and we have pushed hard all season to get here. Thank you to the GASGAS Factory Racing team and everyone who has helped me all year. For sure we will take the fight to Josep Garcia at the final race for the EnduroGP title!”
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HART
SKIS TO VICTORY
US HARD ENDURO
Trystan Hart of FMF KTM Factory Racing won the Donner Hard Enduro in California, gaining valuable points over Cody Webb in the Bulletproof Designs US Hard Enduro Series, Presented by IRC Tire. The Donner Hard Enduro was part of a larger offroad event hosted by Brian Garrahan at the Donner Ski Ranch, called the Donner Challenge. The Donner Challenge consisted of AMA District 36 Hare Scrambles, California Motoclimb Series races up the ski hill, and the US Hard Enduro Championship races, which included the final round of the AMA West Hard Enduro Series, Presented by Klim. The diverse terrain and Garrahan’s winding course at the Donner Ski Ranch makes this venue one of the favorites for many racers and spectators alike. In the 11-mile course, racers experienced granite slabs, steep hills, thick forest trails, lava rock, creeks, shale, and sharp rocky climbs on top of the 7,700 ft. tall peak, overlooking the picturesque Donner Lake.
A new Prologue format was added to this year’s race on
Saturday, giving the racers a chance to qualify for a better row position for Sunday’s main race. The Prologue was 1.5 miles long, starting from halfway up the hill and traversing down to the finish line at the ski lodge. All 210 racers lined up in rows of five, starting with the Pro class and going all the way to the C and Youth classes. Cody Webb of FactoryONE Sherco was the winner of this sprint race, finishing in 4 minutes and 23 seconds. Some of the Amateur racers took nearly two hours to complete this course, which gave them plenty of extreme riding time and a taste of what was to come the next day.
After the AMA District 36 Youth Hare Scrambles wrapped up on Sunday afternoon, the Donner Hard
PREVIOUS: FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Trystan Hart (1)
BOTTOM LEFT : FactoryONE Sherco’s Cody Webb (2)
BOTTOM RIGHT : Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Ryder LeBlond (513)
Enduro main race kicked off, which consisted of a two-lap race around the mountain, with a four-hour time limit. There were six checkpoints, and each checkpoint had a Pro/A and B/C split, which allowed different levels of racers to have a more enjoyable experience. The racers started in rows of 10, leaving one minute apart. The front group started battling as they made their way through the famous Spectator Hill.
Once the Amateur classes started, chaos ensued in that section, which made for an awesome spectating experience for the hundreds of fans perched up on the granite slabs. Up front, Cody Webb and Trystan Hart were going back and forth, while Rockstar Husqvarna’s Ryder LeBlond and Factory GasGas’
Will Riordan were battling, which continued for those two the entire race. Hart gained a couple minutes on Webb, who made a couple mistakes early on that cost him some time. Going through AA Hills, Hart said he made it through nearly perfect, barely making any mistakes on the infamous rocky hill section. Simultaneously, Webb suffered an electrical issue that forced him to return to the pits and lose his second-place position. After the first lap, Hart had a five-minute lead over Riordan, who was ahead of LeBlond by four minutes. Webb caught back up to fourth after his repair, and James Flynn was in fifth after lap one.
During lap two, the leaders had to get creative while passing through lappers who were scattered throughout
the entire course at this point. Hart began to extend his lead as he made his way through the field, cleaning lines and passing amateur riders who were stacked up in certain sections. He ended up finishing the two laps in 2 hours and 19 minutes, and was really happy with the race and how he made his way through the difficult course.
“It was a good day at Donner today,” said Hart. “Cody [Webb] was riding really good in the Prologue, so I was a little stressed out, and then I got a good start and was able to take the holeshot. He made a really aggressive pass on me, but I picked it up a bit and was able to gap him after he made a mistake – I never saw anyone again after the first lap when I had a pretty big lead. It was good to get the win here at the penultimate round and we’ll look to carry this into the next one.”
LeBlond eventually passed up Riordan, and finished 15 minutes behind Hart for second place, while Riordan finished in third place five minutes behind LeBlond. Branden Petrie and Colton Haaker were running really solid races at a good pace, and they finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
“It was good to finish second this weekend,” LeBlond said.
TOP LEFT : Pebs Madolora (13)
TOP RIGHT : FactoryONE Sherco’s Louise Forsley (77)
RIGHT: Rieju USA’s Quinn Wentzel (5)
“I got around Will [Riordan] at the end, so that put us into P2 and we’re happy with the result! It was dusty this weekend, but a lot of fun, and I’m excited to finish out strong at TKO in a couple of weeks.”
“It was a pretty good day, we were happy to finish third, and it was a really diverse course today,” explained Will Riordan. “The track was really dry and technical today, so we were working hard in the conditions, but we are pumped with the result in the end and to be on the podium again!”
Hart gained valuable points over Webb in the USHE Premier Championship, which ends at the Red Bull Tennessee Knockout, while Webb ended up winning the AMA West Extreme Off-Road Championship by a wide margin.
In the Pro Women’s class, Louise Forsley was the only woman to complete two laps, winning the class. Katie Hall-Lead and Addy Albrecht
finished second and third respectively. HTR Gas Gas’ Braxton Hintze won the A Class, while his teammate Kael Widdicombe was the overall Amateur winner on the B/C course.
Brian Garrahan’s Donner Challenge offered the mass of racers and spectators plenty of action all weekend long, and the racers of the Donner Hard Enduro seemed to be very happy about how enjoyable and difficult the race was.
PRO
1. Trystan Hart (KTM)
2. Ryder LeBlond (HSQ)
3. Will Riordan (GG)
4. Branden Petrie (SHR)
5. Colton Haaker (HSQ)
6. Cody Webb (SHR)
7. Kawelo Huddy (KTM)
8. James Flynn (BET)
9. Keith Curtis (KTM)
10. Ryder Guest (KTM)
PRO WOMEN
1. Louise Forsley (SHR)
2. Katie Hall-Leah (TM)
3. Addy Albrecht (HSQ)
4. Hallie Marks (SHR)
5. Hannah Olsen (BET)
6. Pebs Madolora (HSQ)
Lettenbichler Outduels Hart
for 2024 red bull tennessee knockout win
WORDS
PHOTOS
TKO FUTURE7MEDIA, JENNY KELLER, RYAN MCCASLAND
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing backed Mani Lettenbichler came out on top of a race-long battle with FMF KTM’s Trystan Hart to win the 2024 Red Bull Tennessee Knockout (TKO) at the Trials Training Center in Sequatchie, Tennessee. This was the fourteenth annual TKO and it was Lettenbichler’s second win at the event and his first since 2019. The victory allowed the German to increase his lead in the FIM Hard Enduro championship, which has two remaining rounds for 2024. Hart put up a great fight and led multiple times but a mistake on the penultimate lap allowed Lettenbichler to take the lead back. South Africa’s Wade Young rounded out the podium riding a GasGas.
The long weekend of racing kicked off in downtown Nashville on Thursday night where American Cody Webb won the prologue straight rhythm event that took over Broadway Street with a manmade enduro course. Fellow American’s Colton Haaker and Ryder LeBlond rounded out the podium despite a strong list of riders representing seven different countries.
The pro racing kicked off on Saturday afternoon with a Hot-Lap on a nearly twomile “short course” where Lettenbichler set the fastest
time of six minutes and five seconds. Young was second fastest with a time of six minutes and fourteen seconds. Canada’s Hart was third fastest with a six minute and fifteen second lap. The UK’s Ashton Brightmore was fourth in six minutes and nineteen seconds and Spain’s Mario Roman rounded out the top five with a time of six minutes and twenty-two seconds. A total of sixty-six riders completed the Hot-Lap to move on to the three rounds of racing on Sunday.
On Sunday morning, the riders took on an eleven mile “long course” with the first knockout round. Only the top thirty riders moved on to the second knockout round. Lettenbichler again topped the results sheet with a time of fifty-four minutes and three seconds. Bulgaria’s Teodor Kabakchiev put in a strong ride that was just four hundredth of a second slower on his Sherco. Hart was again third fifteen seconds back. Young and fellow South African Matthew Green rounded out the top five times. Jordan Ashburn, LeBlond, Will Riordan, David Cyprian and Colton Haaker finished sixth through tenth respectively.
There was a last-chance qualification race on a straight rhythm course among the four riders that just missed
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Mani Lettenbichler (304)
Prologue podium - FactoryONE
Sherco’s
the top thirty and pro Trials competitor Josh Roper took that spot to be the last rider to make it to the second round.
The second-round changes format to place the thirty-one riders into five groups that race head-to-head. Four of those groups include six riders while the fifth group has seven riders including the LCQ winner. The riders take on the long loop with another mile of extremely difficult sections added. The top four finishers from each group earn spots in the twentyrider main event with the winners of each group earning front row starting positions.
Lettenbichler dominated group one to take the win in just under one hour, which was over five minutes ahead of Mitch Brightmore. Ashburn and James Flynn earned the other two qualifying spots from this group.
Kabakchiev topped the second group ahead of LeBlond, Webb and Graham Jarvis, who was making a rare appearance at a race in the US. Kabakchiev and LeBlond battled throughout the entire
Hart won the third group of riders in a time of one hour and one minute. Australia’s Will Riordan finished second and Ashton Brightmore was third. Cooper Abbott took the fourth and final main event qualifying spot from this group.
Young won group four with Mario Roman just over one minute behind. Spain’s David Cyprian finished third and Hawaii’ Kawelo Huddy punched the final ticket to the main from group four.
Haaker won the fifth group to earn a front row starting spot for the main event alongside the other group winners. Spain’s Alfredo Gomez finished second, well clear of Green and Quinn Wentzel.
The twenty riders that qualified for the main event moved back to the short-course for a 35-minute plus one lap race that ended up taking fortyseven minutes and fifty-three seconds for the winner to complete. Hart took the early lead followed closely by Lettenbichler and Kabakchiev. Young was just about five second back in fourth position The order remained the same until Lettenbichler took over the lead on the third of seven laps. Kabakchiev started to drop back from the leading duo, which allowed Young to close in. On the fourth lap, Hart took the lead back and he held it until the penultimate lap when Lettenbichler capitalized on a mistake by the Canadian. Both riders pushed hard on the final lap and the gap between them held ad five seconds, which proved to be enough for Lettenbichler to hold on for the win.
Young found his way past Kabakchiev take over third position on the fifth lap and he finished a little less than a minute and a half behind second and nearly a minute ahead of fourth placed Kabakchiev.
Eighteen-year-old Ashton, the younger of the two Brightmore brothers rounded out the top five on his Husqvarna. Colton Haaker came into the finish area in sixth place but mistakenly slowed down and launched his bike for fun just before the finish line, which handed the position to Rieju backed Gomez, who was close behind. Haaker rolled across the line in seventh. Roman finished eight on his Sherco. LeBlond recovered from a crash on the first lap to finish ninth on a Husqvarna and Webb rounded out the top ten.
The second place finish by Trystan Hart earned him his fourth AMA US Hard Enduro
TOP TO BOTTOM: Leader Tread’s Wade Young (55x)
TKO Prologue in downtown Nashville, TN
Cody Webb (1st), Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Colton Haaker (2nd), Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Ryder LeBlond (3rd)
Premier championship ahead of Cody Webb.
“We had a really good ride and Trystan was riding unbelievably good.”, Lettenbichler said. “I didn’t too good this week and got a little sick and was struggling to get the speed up for the intensity and I knew that this was super intense so it was not an easy one. I had a really good line at the hill-climb, but I was dead at the end, so I am definitely stoked to take the win here and get another TKO win.”
Hart won the AMA US Hard Enduro championship over Webb with his second-place finish but was disappointed to not take his fourth TKO win. “The race win was the goal today and the championship was a side thing because I was counting on that but the race win was my real goal but Mani is such a good rider that you have to be on point to beat him and I was a little off all day,” Hart said. “I was just a little off all day but in the main I took the holeshot and passed Mani a couple of times and we both made mistakes and I made the last one.”
“The race was good, super intense as always,” Young said. “I kind of just paced myself and got into my own rhythm, controlled my heart rate. I gained momentum and super stoked to get on the podium for the second time here at the TKO.”
The Women’s pro class competed along with the top amateurs on the more difficult Saturday race two and Rachael Gutish took the win over fellow Sherco rider Louise Forsley. Nikki Russell rounded out the podium on a Rieju. All three women chose to take on the Sunday pro course and Gutish and Forsley both managed to complete a lap in the time limit.
In addition to the pro racing, the Red Bull Tennessee Knockout crowned amateur champions in several classes. Saturday included two rounds of amateur racing with race
two serving as the AMA Gand championship-deciding race. During that second race, Tennessee’s Chase Landers earned the number one spot with a winning time of fifty-four minutes and forty-six seconds on a KTM. Coran Calvert finished second on a Sherco over seven minutes back and Tucker Miller rounded out the top three riding a KTM. The top thirty riders also earned the opportunity to compete with the forty-six pre-qualified pro riders, which kicked off their racing on Saturday afternoon followed by three rounds of racing on Sunday. Landers managed to finish thirty-third in the first round, just missing a top 30 spot to move to round two.
TOP TO BOTTOM: chaos off the start line
Rieju’s Alfredo Gomez (89x)
Sherco Factory Racing’s LMario Roman (74x)
GasGas Factory Racing’s Will Riordan (39)
FactoryONE Sherco’s Cody Webb (2)
ABOVE LEFT: FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Trystan Hart (1)
ABOVE RIGHT: FactoryONE Sherco’s Louise Forsley (177) RIGHT: Overall podium
Other Saturday class winners among nearly 500 participants included Boogie Rivera in Amateur B, Jose Julian Hernandez Rios in Amateur C, Brandon Wakefield in A Vet 30+, Drew Kirby in A Senior 40+, Stephen Thaxton in A Master 50+, Karol Nasuta in B 40+, Jordan Ouzts in 4-Stroke Sportsman, Carly Paet in Women’s Amateur and Gage Hill in Youth Lites 12-15.
The ECR eMoto class was recognized for an AMA Grand Championship and the riders completed three rounds of racing over three days. Thirtytwo electric motorcycle racers
took on the course and the top twenty earned a spot in the championship deciding Sunday final, which was on course with the pro riders. Canada’s Spenser Wilton took the ECR eMoto AMA Grand Championship number one plate for the second time and was riding a Stark. Australian Conor Hennessy finished less than a minute behind riding a hybrid KTM chassis with custom an electric motor. Canada’s Joshua Long rounded out the podium riding an Arctic Leopard. Noah Kepple finished fourth on an Electric Motion and Maxwell
Beaupre rounded out the top five riding a Surron. Five different manufacturers had bikes in the top five showing growing interest in the class. Several hundred people took the opportunity to test ride bikes in the Surron eMoto demo ride area throughout the weekend.
1. Mani Lettenbichler (KTM)
2. Trystan Hart (KTM)
3. Wade Young (GG)
4. Teodor Kabakchiev (SHR)
5. Ashton Brightmore (HSQ)
6. Alfredo Gomez (RJU)
7. Colton Haaker (HSQ)
8. Mario Roman (SHR)
9. Ryder LeBlond (HSQ)
10. Cody Webb (SHR)
PRO WOMEN
1. Rachel Gutish (SHR)
2. Louise Forsley (SHR)
3. Nikki Russell (HSQ, DNF)
• Full
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
MARVIN’S MOUNTAIN
- SPRINT ENDURO -
ART PEPIN WORDS PHOTOS
SHAN MOORE
FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Johnny Girroir remained perfect for the season, picking up his seventhstraight overall victory in the 2024 US Sprint Enduro Series after winning both days of this weekend’s hot and dusty event at the Marvin’s Mountain Sprint Enduro in Masontown, West Virginia. In all, Girroir won 11 of the 12 tests during the weekend.
Girroir won all but one test on Saturday, finishing the day 11.6 seconds ahead of Am Pro Yamaha’s Liam Draper, who topped Girroir in the second enduro test, Girroir’s only defeat.
“Saturday went well,” said Girroir. “I won the first three tests and then the fourth test I got caught sleeping and Liam got me by about 11 seconds. I tightened it back up and crushed the last cross test and rode smooth in the last enduro test it was a solid first day.”
Meanwhile, Draper finished a little over a minute ahead of Phoenix Honda’s Cody Barnes, with FMF KTM Factory Racing Lander’s Angus Riordan another 30 seconds back in fourth.
Riordan was also the top Pro2 rider.
One of the top contenders in the Pro 1 class, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Racing’s Craig DeLong, went down in the second enduro test on Saturday, costing him over a minute, which dropped the Pennsylvania rider considerably down the standings.
Girroir crushed it on Sunday, sweeping all six tests to top Draper by 58 seconds for the day. Barnes was 13 seconds back in third, while Riordan edged out Husqvarna rider Jason Tino for fourth and top Pro 2 rider.
As far as the overall results, Girroir left no doubts, finishing the two-day event 1:07 seconds ahead of Draper, with Barnes another 1:17 second back. With the win, Girroir wrapped up the series championship one race early.
LEFT: FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Johnny Girroir (1) RIGHT: Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Racing’s Craig DeLong (342)
“I never really change tires, but for this track I brought a gummy and we ran an 81 on the cross test and after Liam blew my doors off in the second enduro test on Saturday we started running a gummy tire on the enduro test since it was so slick and silty,” said Girroir. “It got super rocky out there and it kept you on your toes. I think it tried to bite each of us at one point or another. This is the first time I’ve changed tires all year between the cross test and the enduro test, so it kept you on your toes all the time. Just Happy to get it done and wrap up the championship.”
Draper gave Girroir a good run for his money on Saturday, despite coming back from surgery to have some hardware removed from his knee.
“It was just nice to be back racing,” said Draper. “It’s always a little worrying when you come back from an injury how you’re gonna do and this weekend I felt like I was straight back to where I was before and super close with Johnny all weekend.”
Barnes was not totally comfortable with the rocky and silty terrain but still managed an impressive third overall.
“I had a third overall both days so I’m happy with that,” said Barnes. “The track conditions were super tough, definitely not my strong suit but I was able to make the most of it and just stay off the ground, that was my main goal this weekend. The enduro test had just a bunch of silt and a ton of loose rocks and I’m not very comfortable in those conditions, so to be able to keep it on two wheels and be somewhat competitive with those guys was good.”
Riordan topped the Pro 2 class winner and was fourth overall after a tight battle with Tino.
“Yeah, me an Tino went back and forth, and since it was a tight battle any mistake could mess up your day, so you really had to be careful out
there,” said Riordan. “There was a lot of silt and underneath the silt was rocks so you really didn’t know what was coming up”
Tino was second in the Pro 2 class and fifth overall.
“The racing was very tight and it made it very stressful, especially on a track like this,” said Tino. “It could bite you if you weren’t careful so I just put my head down and went as fast as I could in the conditions.”
Dominic Morse (Hsq) was sixth overall and third in the Pro 2 division.
Gavin Simon (Hsq) was the top Pro-Am rider in seventh overall, with Babbitt’s Online Monster Energy Kawasaki’s JoJo Cunningham hot on his heals in eighth overall and second Pro-Am rider. Meanwhile, Cooper Jones (KTM) finished ninth overall and third in the Pro-Am Division.
DeLong never regained his pace after his crash on Saturday and finished 10th.
The top Amateur was Tyler DiBartolo who won the Open A class.
Tyler DiBartolo (54)
AmPro Yamaha’s Liam Draper (198) Jason Tino (26)
Babbitt’s Online Monster Energy Kawasaki’s JoJo Cunningham (501)
TOP TO BOTTOM: FMF KTM Factory Racing Lander’s Brandy Richards (198W)
FMF KTM Factory Racing Lander’s rider Brandy Richards continued her undefeated streak in the Women’s Pro class ahead of Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Korie Steede and Jocelyn Barnes by sweeping all 12 tests.
“This was different from the other races we’ve had this year,” said Richards. “Just because of the drastic differences between the cross and the enduro tests. The cross test was tight and as the race developed you start getting braking bumps, so we would stiffen up the suspension for the cross test and then soften it up for the enduro test since it was so slippery. Once we started doing that it was a lot easier.”
www.ussprintenduro.com
PRO1
1. Johnny Girroir (KTM)
2. Liam Draper (YAM)
3. Cody Barnes (HON)
4. Craig DeLong (HSQ)
PRO2
1. Angus Riordan (KTM)
2. Jason Tino (HUS)
3. Dominick Morse (HUS)
PRO-AM
1. Gavin Simon (HSQ)
2. JoJo Cunningham (KAW)
3. Cooper Jones (KTM)
4. Michael Delosa (YAM)
5. Henry Symanski (YAM)
6. Andrew Tsakanikas (KTM)
PRO WOMEN
1. Brandy Richards (KTM)
2. Korie Steede (HSQ)
3. Jocelyn Barnes (HSQ)
4. Kayla O’Neill (YAM)
Toth WINNING Streak CONTINUES
HEATHER WILSON MACK FAINT
WORDS PHOTOS ROUND 7 - CHANDLERSVILLE, OH
The Enduro Engineering Grassman National treated more than 450 riders to Ohio single-track for round seven of the 2024 Redline Oil AMA National Enduro Series, presented by MSR and Beta Motorcycles. Ohio Woods Riders laid out the longest national enduro in recent years, at 81 miles.
Race day temperatures couldn’t have been any better, starting off in the low 50s and working into the mid-70s. Unfortunately, it’s been a dry summer in the state, so the
race course was extremely dry. Dusty conditions on the trail made visibility a challenge at times.
Riders jumped into a 4.5-mile test at the beginning, and then tackled a 7-mile long section following that. Test 3 provided riders with 8.5 miles of trail to test their abilities. The day finished with longer sections -- an 7.5-mile, 7-mile and 10-mile test to round out the day. With 36 miles of transfer throughout the day, riders had some time to recover between tests.
OVERALL PODIUM
Enduro Engineering’s Josh Toth has been on a winning streak this year, clinching six-straight overall win so far. He got off to a bit of a rocky start at the beginning, taking fourth through the first test after a fall, but the GasGas rider quickly turned up the heat. He went on to win all of the remaining tests. At the end of the day, the NE Pro1 rider had bested the runner-up by more than 53 seconds to earn a unique trophy – a grassman wooden carving.
“I’ve been second place in this series three or four times now, and I’m sick of losing,” Toth said. “So, I don’t plan on stopping what I’m doing now. So, hopefully I’ll finish the rest of the year out strong and keep it going. [This race] didn’t go very smooth for me at all. A little mishap -- I ran over some ribbon in test one and lost my rear brakes. I was kind of overriding and pushed the corner. A big branch caught my throttle and threw me down. Test two or three, I broke my shifter off like first mile. It was just stuck in third gear, and I think it honestly helped me. I was just frustrated and mad the whole time thinking I was behind. I was just hammer down and just trying to roll all
the tight spots. Trying to keep my momentum up and keep the RPMs up -- not smoke the clutch by the end of the test hopefully. I ended up winning that test. Overall, really good riding and just a few mishaps here and there.”
FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Jonathan Girroir captured second overall in Ohio. He opened the day with a win in Test 1. The next four tests saw him in the runner-up spot. The day concluded with Girroir taking third through the sixth section. He was unable to attend the podium presentation, as he needed to travel to the airport, but was excited about putting it on the box for the fourth time in 2024.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Trevor Bollinger claimed third overall. The Georgia-based rider took second through the first test, before taking fifth in Test 2. He then collected a trio of third-place results before wrapping up the day with a fourth-place result in the final test.
“I really went home and did some different stuff on the bike,” Bollinger said. “I really went back to the fundamentals, and it seems to be helping a lot… It feels really good to put it on the box here, and my goal is to try to keep it on the box the rest of the year. I really enjoy riding these things and have a lot of fun at them. It was easy to make a mistake out there today. I was trying to
be aggressive, but you had to be really patient coming into the turns and stuff. I didn’t hit the ground but maybe two or three times. Kept it solid. Nothing too crazy.”
LEFT: Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Trevor Bollinger.
TOP RIGHT: FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Jonathan Girroir.
BOTTOM RIGHT: Enduro Engineering-backed Josh Toth on his way to his sixth-consecutive victory.
NE PRO2 PODIUM
Entering this round, KTM’s Grant Davis was the NE Pro2 points leader. Unfortunately, a crash in Test 4 - resulting in a shoulder injury and withdrawal from the racecould have a profound impact on his championship chase this year.
Yamaha’s Nathaniel “Bubz” Tasha has been lurking behind Davis this season and was able to top the NE Pro2 overall podium for the third time. The day started off with a test win for him in his class. He followed it up with no less than a second or third-place finish in each of the rest of the tests.
Hunter Smith grabbed the runner-up spot aboard his KTM. A third-place in the NE Pro2 class through Test 1 set a good foundation for the day. He went on to collect a test win in the
second section, as well as the final test. In Tests 3 and 4, he put his machine in secondplace, while dropping to fifth in Test 5. Ultimately, he finished the day just 3 seconds behind Tasha.
The Enduro Engineering Grassman National marked the fourth time this year that Red Bear Racing’s Will Sievenpiper has put himself on the podium. While he had hoped a solid start to the day with a second-place class finish in Test 1 would set the trajectory for the next few tests, he would walk away with a fourth and seventh through the next two sections. It wasn’t until Test 4 that his momentum picked back up, taking the test win. He followed it up with thirdplace finishes in the final two sections.
TOP
BOTTOM: Red Bear Racing’s Will Sievenpiper
TOP LEFT: Yamaha’s Nathaniel “Bubz” Tasha (24A)
RIGHT: Hunter Smith (33D)
(22A)
Enduro Engineering
WOMEN’S ELITE PODIUM
After taking third at round six, Red Bear Racing’s Rachael Archer rebounded to the top of the podium again –notching her sixth Women’s Elite win of the season aboard her Kawasaki. She set a phenomenal pace, even after a crash in the first test. By day’s end, she had bested secondplace rider Shelby Turner by almost five minutes on the day.
Turner, aboard her Enduro Engineering GasGas, has put together a consistent season -- she’s yet to finish off of the podium. A crash a week ago left her with a partiallyseparated shoulder, but the Canadian fought through the pain. Although she earned a fourth-place class finish in Test 1, she collected third and
second through the remaining sections to bring home a second-place overall finish in Women’s Elite.
Beta rider Emma Hasbell landed third overall on the day, after clicking off strong results all day. It marked the first-ever pro podium for last year’s Beta Cup winner. She collected a trio of third-place
test finishes, and two runnerup performances as well.
Canada’s Emma Sharpless didn’t let her first-ever national enduro intimidate her. She showcased her skills to claim fourth in Women’s Elite on her KTM.
TOP LEFT: Red Bear Racing’s Rachael Archer (20A)
TOP RIGHT:
GasGas’s Shelby Turner (19A)
RIGHT: Emma Hasbell (22D)
TOP AMATEURS
Cole Whitmer clinched his second class win of the year on his GasGas. The Pennsylvanian dominated by taking every test win for the AA class.
250A rider Chase Landers has yet to lose a national enduro this year. The KTM rider conquered his class, capturing every test win and finishing 1 minute and 43 seconds ahead of the runner-up.
View full event results and series standings at nationalenduro.com/scoring.
The Wiseco Flying W National will take place on September 8 in Cherryville, Missouri.
NE PRO 1
1. Josh Toth (GG) 2. Jonathan Girroir (KTM)
3. Trevor Bollinger (HSQ) 4. Evan Smith (HSQ) 5. Steward Baylor JR (KAW)
WOMEN’S ELITE
1. Rachael Archer (KAW)
2. Shelby Turner (GG)
3. Emma Hasbell (BET)
4. Emma Sharpless (KTM)
5. Rachel Gutish (SHR)
NE PRO 2
1. Nathaniel Tasha (YAM)
2. Hunter Smith (KTM)
3. Will Sievenpiper (KAW)
4. Nicholas Defeo (KAW)
5. Ryan Piper (KTM)
6. Hunter Bush (KTM)
7. Trevor Maley (KTM)
8. Steve Nicholas III (KTM)
9. Mike McGinnis (KTM)
10. Jason Lipscomb (BET)
www.nationalenduro.com
