Looking Back: The Sumter Enduro

East coast off-road racing got underway big-time this past weekend with the opening round of the AMA Rekluse National Enduro Series in Sumter, South Carolina. It was a huge event with a huge entry! Over 575 riders lined up in the Sumter sand to do battle on the traditionally tight and whooped out trail. This is always a biggie since it’s the first big national race of the year in the east and even the GNCC guys who won’t be contesting the entire enduro series show up to shake down their gear and get ready for another season.

It appears that the enduro series is really taking off, with plenty of new interest from the manufacturers and lots of new satellite teams. American Honda is involved in the series for the first time in a long while, through the support of Thad DuVall and the Shenandoah Honda/Offroadchampions Team. Honda has also posted $43,000 in contingency for the series, which is a good chunk of change. Another manufacturer getting involved is Husqvarna, who is throwing its support behind Fred Andrew’s team, FAR Husqvarna. Freddie has Pennsylvania rider Andrew DeLong on a TE310, while GNCC star Jason Thomas will be riding a 240F.

This year’s race featured a stacked pro class. In fact, 25 pros fought it out for the top prize, and in the end it was 17-year-old privateer Steward Baylor taking the win on a KTM. Baylor took the lead in the opening test and held it the entire distance, despite the best efforts of eight-time national champ Michael Laffery, who was second overall on a factory Husaberg, and Charlie Mullins, who rounded out the podium on his FMF/KTM.

An interesting note is that Mullins was riding one of the new 450 Factory Editions, or “Dungey Replica” as they are being called. Mullins is the only off-road team member on the bike right now because, according to team manager Antti Kallonen, they don’t have enough spare parts to support two riders. Mullins trashed two motors in Sumter when he accidentally unscrewed the oil filler cap with his boot allowing the crankcase oil to spew out. Mullins fried a clutch because of this in the third test. The crew replaced the motor at the next gas stop, and then Mullins did the exact same thing it the fifth test! You can bet this won’t happen at the next round!

Mullins says the Dungey Replica is an awesome woods bike, with a lot more torque than the 450 SX-F that he rode at the beginning of last year. He also said that the bike handles better, as well, and that the front end stays planted much better.

Two of last year’s standout performers, Russell Bobbitt and Nick Fahringer, had bad days, with Bobbitt finishing sixth and Fahringer getting 13^th. Both riders are coming off of injuries, and suffered from lack of seat time. Fahringer had ACL surgery in the Fall, and just needs to get back in the groove, where Bobbitt is recovering from a wrist injury and had the speed but admitted that the wrist is still weak and he had problems holding on.

Brad Bakken is also returning from a nasty wrist injury that he suffered last year, but turned in a nice fifth on a YZ250 supported by his new team Obermeyer Yamaha/Raines Riding University/Offroadviking.com. Bakken said he struggled in the first test, because his suspension setting was a little off, but the rest of the race flowed pretty well for him, and the Virginia rider was able to make up for lost ground.

Sumter Video

Jason Hooper gives us a look back on Sumter.: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAo9d6i6DbA

Photo Report: Sumter National Enduro

A look at the Sumter National Enduro. T&E News Home

Photos by Shan Moore

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T&E News Home

Thad Duvall sign with Shenandoah Honda/Offroadchampions.com

Shenandoah Honda and Offroadchampions are excited to announce their new team with 2008 XC2 GNCC champion Thad Duvall. The West Virginia native is scheduled to race the GNCC and the AMA Rekluse National Enduro series on a Honda 450 CRF.

Thad Duvall: "I'm excited and very thank full towards John Ross (owner of Shenandoah Honda) and Erik Nijkamp (offroadchampions.com) for this opportunity. I will start testing the Honda in the next few weeks with John Ross and other technical sponsors. I can't wait for the first Enduro in Sumter and later on the GNCC opener in Florida".

John Ross has been involved with HM Honda Zanardo’s (EWC team) effort during their North America EWC efforts in 2006 and 2007. Ross gained valuable knowledge and the team is confident that Duvall will have a competitive bike. Ross has selected a group a companies/sponsors based on quality to support the team. The program has not yet been finalized and a announcement with all sponsors will be made before the first

National Enduro on January 29.

Offroadchampions have been working with Italian based Team Jolly Racing for the last year and will be working with Duvall and Ross closely to get the best results and exposure.

More information regarding the team can be addressed to Erik Nijkamp

(offroadchampion@gmail.com) or John Ross (john@shenandoahhonda.com).

Airgroup Radiant Racing Announces 2012 Lineup

Jack Morrison, Team manager for Airgroup Radiant Racing (ARR), is excited to announce the signing of their 2012 NEPG National Enduro Series team.  Under the ARR canopy for 2012 will be “Pro” rider Shane Hufford Jr.(Honey Brook, PA), “Pro” rider Paddy Holloway (Dyke, VA), and top “A” rider Zach Ingram (Fort Smith, AR).  All three riders will be seated on the new 2012 Husaberg TE 250 2 stroke machine.

“We at Airgroup Radiant Racing have more confidence than ever, that we have put together a solid, competitive group for 2012.  2011 was a successful year for our team, but in 2012 we are taking it up a notch with 3 riders finishing at or near the top of their classes in previous year competition”, states Jack Morrison of ARR. “Shane, Paddy, & Zach should prove to be a solid team combination for ARR, our valued team sponsors, and fans of enduro racing”.

Airgroup is a member of the Radiant family of companies and provides worldwide transportation and logistics services through a network of over 100 company-owned and exclusive agent offices across North America.  The company services a diversified account base that includes manufacturers, distributors and government agencies, using a network of independent carriers and international agents positioned strategically around the world.  For more information about Airgroup, please contact Jack Morrison at (402) 451-1152.

Chris Bach to ride 2012 Rekluse National Enduro Series

American Beta GNCC regular Chris Bach has committed to compete in all 10 rounds of the AMA Rekluse National Enduro series on a 2012 Beta 450 RR. The likeable Indiana racer will add the enduro series to his regular GNCC race schedule.

"With the growth and interest of the National Enduro series over the last couple years, the choice to make a full time run at the series was a pretty simple one.  Being as I've never done this series before, I really look forward to racing new venues and learning the ropes along the way.  I think it's fair to say this series will continue to grow, so I am excited to become a part of it as well as show off the Beta motorcycle brand to new group of racing enthusiasts." Bach explains.

American Beta will be preparing a bike built just for the enduro series. Ben Weathers from Powersport Grafx will be helping Chris out at the events. Beta's Marketing Manager Tim Pilg describes the details, "This was actually Chris' decision which shows us that he is 100% committed to put our Beta's on top of the box! His attitude is stronger than ever and combined with our 450RR, we feel he will be a major contender. It also gives us the opportunity to test the Beta in an enduro atmosphere."

Bach will also run the entire GNCC series, kicking off the first week of March in Florida and  will be receiving extra support from Bob Brewster of WMR Competition Performance based in Stuart Florida with their Off Road Manager George Pollard building Chris' race motors.

Bach describes his outlook; "2012 is shaping up to be a great season for the American Beta racing team.  With added factory support from Europe, and joining forces again with one of my 2010 supporters, WMR/Nihilo Concepts, we are well on our way to building a championship team.  With all these people behind me building the best bikes and supplying me with the best parts, I want to repay them by showing the world we will be major contenders in the GNCC and National Enduro championships."

Chris Bach's sponsors include Factory Beta Racing, RidePG.com, FMF, Fly Racing, Maxxis, Kal Gard Lubricants, DC Shoes, Fasst Company, WMR Competition Performance, Hammer Nutrition, SIDI Boots, CV4, Scott, Dirt Tricks, Regina Chains, and Concept 2.

American Beta is the sole US importer of high quality Beta motorcycles. Beta motorcycles are handcrafted in Florence, Italy offering a complete range of Off Road competition, Dual Sport as well as class-leading Mototrial motorcycles.

For more information go to www.americanbeta.com            

Photo Report: Indiana National Enduro

A few of Shan Moore's photos from the Muddobbers National Enduro in Upton, Indiana - the final round of the Rekluse/AMA National Enduro. 

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Bobbitt Wins Enduro Title With Muddobber Win

Bobbitt Claims Title With Muddobber Win Upland, Indiana, Oct. 1, 2011 – Russell Bobbitt clinched his fourth national enduro title with a dominating performance at the final round of the Rekluse/AMA National Enduro Series in Upland, Indiana. The Georgia rider came into the Indiana round with a slim, one-point lead in the series standings over FMF/KTM teammate Charlie Mullins in a showdown that would see the title go to whichever rider finish ahead of the other. Bobbitt, however, quickly separated himself from Mullins and the rest of the competition by winning the opening test by 13 seconds over Mullins. Bobbitt went on to win all five tests of the 65-mile race and claimed the overall win by 58 seconds over Mullins. “It feels great to win the title, I definitely worked hard all year for this and it paid off,” said Bobbitt. “There was a good variety of terrain here in Indiana, and I felt good all day. I came in prepared for this, I did some testing in similar terrain and my mechanic Tanner Harding worked hard to give me a great bike and this just worked out for us.” Factory Husaberg rider and eight-time series champ Michael Lafferty rounded out the podium, just nine seconds behind Mullins, while KTM rider Shane Hufford Jr. grabbed his best-ever finish with a solid fourth. Am Pro Yamaha’s Thad DuVall was fifth, with KTM riders Zach Klamfoth and Hunter Williams taking sixth and seventh. The win marked Bobbitt’s fourth time to top the podium this year and it gave him the championship title by four points over Mullins, 239 to 235. Nick Fahringer, who missed the Indiana round after having knee surgery, finished third on the year having won three-straight rounds, while FMF/KTM’s Cory Buttrick (out with a concussion) was fourth overall ahead of Lafferty.

Tennessee Knockout Teaser Video

The first ever KENDA Tennessee Knockout, fueled by Monster Energy took place in Sequatchie, Tennessee on Sunday, August 28^th. Over fifty riders started the event with only ten qualifying through to the main event after a three round Knockout format that thrilled the crowd on hand. KTM’s Mike Brown won the event and Throttle Entertainment was on hand to capture the action for their upcoming Enduro Kings TV show. The link below is a sample of the action from the TKO event and the type of footage that will be featured as Enduro Kings highlights the Extreme Enduro events from around the world. Check it out here.

Cool Cole Kirkpatrick Video

Check out this cool video from US Gas Gas rider Cole Kirkpatrick here.

ISDE DVD Released

EVERY INTERNATIONAL SIX DAYS ENDURO SINCE 2002

Just in time for Christmas giving, IGNITON3 has assembled a 6 DVD combo package that contains films that cover every ISDE from the Czech Republic in 2002 to Portugal in 2009. The entire 8 years of team USA in the ISDE is over 20 hours of exciting action for only $69.95. The crew from IGNITION3 has covered the ISDE with great storytelling and great cinematography. In 2009 the AMA named IGNITION3 the media company of the year for their ISDE coverage. The ISDE is a contest of man and machine against the terrain and the clock. Riders cover the six days of off-road competition as theyworkd to stay on a demanding schedule and each rider does their own maintenance including daily tire changes. The ISDE Collection set is available exclusively at www.motorsportsfilms.com . Or call Motorsports Films at 818.225.7335 ### For more information contact: Dick Lague Dick@ignition3.tv 818.225.7335 818-402-1400 mobile

Big Muskie Video

Check out this cool video from the Big Muskie National Video by Dave Peterson.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XM3NqiE7C8&feature=channel_video_title

Taddy Talks Endurocross

Taddy Blazusiak is undefeated in 2011. (Photo by Shan Moore)

KTM Enduro Factory Team rider Taddy Blazusiak has further extended his lead in the 2011 US Endurocross championship claiming his third straight main event win at round three of the series held in Indianapolis, IN. Once again taking charge of the 10-lap main event Blazusiak claimed a comfortable win to extend his championship advantage to 22 points. With the opening three rounds of the ’11 Endurocross championship taking place within a five week period, Taddy now heads back to Europe where he will race a 350 EXC-F machine in the Enduro 2 class at the penultimate round of the Enduro World Championship in Andorra. We caught up with the Polish indoor enduro star shortly before he jetted off back to Europe to find out more about his hugely successful start to the US Endurocross campaign and his return to the EWC…

Q: Congratulations on a third consecutive Endurocross win, how was the event in Indy?

TB: ‘The event went really well, I got a third straight win and I extended my championship lead so it was pretty much perfect. The track was much easier than the first two rounds, so I knew good starts would be important. Unfortunately, I made a small problem during the hot laps session and lost four seconds when I got stuck on the tyres. I finished seventh, which wasn’t ideal, but still managed to have a good heat race. By winning that and having the fastest heat race time I got the first gate pick for the final. I started in second but kept out of trouble during the first lap and dropped to third for a while. But I was soon battling with Mike Brown and after a few laps moved into the lead. It was 10 laps of 100 per cent effort with no mistakes and a winning result, which I was really pleased with.’

Q: With three wins from three events you must be pleased with the way your championship campaign’s started?

TB: ‘Definitely, it couldn’t have gone any better. Like every rider I wanted to start the series by winning, which I’ve been able to do at the first three races now. I feel really good on the 350, and feel like my fitness is better than ever. And I’m really enjoying the races. Everything’s come together perfectly and I hope I can continue winning.’

Q: Switching to KTM’s 350 four-stroke seems to be working well, what is it that you like about the bike so much?

TB: ‘I switched because I was looking for a new challenge after a lot of years on a two-stroke. When I first tested the bike I liked it. The bike’s great off the start, which is really important for Endurocross. It’s also incredibly fast out of the corners. And it’s light enough that it doesn’t feel too different to my old two strokes. I was sure I’d be faster on the 350 and so far things are working out really well.’

Q: You’ve had some mixed fortunes during the Hot Laps sessions at Endurocross, how important are they to you?

TB: The Hot Lap sessions are really important. That determines you gate pick for the heat race and that result determines your gate pick for the final. It’s hard getting one lap perfect, especially for me. You have to push hard but not too hard. Maybe sometimes I try a little too hard, or other riders have a little more luck than me. But so far this year I’ve finished with the first, second and seventh fastest times. I’m happy with that.’

Q: With three events in five weeks it’s certainly been a busy start to the ’11 Endurocross series, have you enjoyed the week-on, week-off schedule?

TB: ‘I’ve really enjoyed it. It’s been cool having a race every second weekend. I knew I was ready for the first round of the series, so having three in a row hasn’t been a problem for me. I like it because you stay in race mode. You stay focused on the next race and don’t feel like you have to wait weeks before you’re back racing again.’

Q: You head back to Europe now but going straight back into competition at the penultimate EWC event of the year. What are your expectations for that race?

TB: ‘I’m just looking forward to racing the 350 outdoors for the first time. I’ve done plenty of outdoor training on the bike but not raced it yet. The Enduro World Championship events are very different to indoor races, but I’ll be giving it everything. It’ll be the first time I’ve raced in the Enduro 2 class but with all my training being focused towards Endurocross I’m not expecting too much of myself. I just want to have fun and enjoy the event.

Q: You’ve managed to open up a good lead in the Endurocross championship, are you thinking about the title yet?

TB: ‘I’m always thinking about the title because that’s the thing I work so hard to try and win each year. I have a 22-point lead now so I can’t just keep going all out for race wins now, I have to think about the championship. My goal for the next four races is to get on the podium each time. If I feel I can win then I’ll push to win but maintaining my championship lead is the most important thing now.’

Round four of the 2011 Endurocross series takes place at the Citizens bank Arena, Ontario, CA, on September 17.

Fahringer Out For Season

Nick Fahringer revealed after the Big Muskie Enduro that he had torn the ACL in his knee a week before the Ohio race and is scheduled to undergo surgery on Friday, Sept 2nd, which will keep him from riding the series finale in October. “I was out training by myself, doing some turning drills and I was pushing hard and just spun out and landed on my knee funny and I felt it pop and there was a lot of pain. After a trip to my surgeon he said my ACL didn’t feel right so I got an MRI and they said it was a tear. I knew I would have to get surgery but I kept it quiet because I didn’t want anyone to have a mental advantage over me. It will be about a four-month recovery so I want to get it taken care of so I can be ready for next year.”

Photo Report: 2011 Indy Endurocross

Shan Moore photo report from the Indy Endurocross.

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Photo Report: Big Muskie Nat’l Enduro

Shan Moore photos from the Big Muskie

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Mike Brown Wins TKO

Mike Brown won the TKO at TTC. Photo: Drew Ruiz

Sequatchie, TN (August 28, 2011) – Tennessee native Mike Brown outlasted a tough field of over fifty riders to win the KENDA Tennessee Knockout, fueled by Monster Energy. The first time “American Extreme Enduro” lived up to its billing as a tough race as Brown noted at the finish that the 40 minute long main event “Was tougher than anything I have ever done. At the halfway mark, I thought I would not be able to finish but I was leading so I kept pushing”. Cody Webb, the factory Beta rider and 2010 AMA Trials champion that has become a regular podium finisher in EnduroCross events finished second and was within striking distance of Brown on the final lap before stalling his bike. Bobby Prochnau, the super tough Canadian KTM rider finished third.

Taddy Blazusiak, the pre-race favorite was eliminated from the competition during the first Knockout round when a minor crash knocked the fuel injection system loose and forced him to pull out of the event. Blazusiak was a good sport though and stuck around all afternoon to cheer on the other riders.

The four round format started with a single timed lap on a very extreme “short” course that took Cody Webb three minutes and twenty five seconds to complete. Brown was just two seconds behind and GEICO Honda’s Kyle Redmond was another four seconds back. This set the starting order for the 50 riders that would go into Knockout round one with the fastest riders going first and getting the advantage of less dust but also the disadvantage of having to pick the lines for the first time on the ten mile “long” loop.

Brown showed his strength on the long loop with a 39 minute and 7 second time that set the standard. Webb was very close with a 39:25 lap and Prochnau came in with 39:56. Kyle Redmond was fourth at 40:59 and Am-Pro Yamaha’s Jordan Ashburn at 41:41. Paul Whibley was next in line followed by Colton Haaker, Rory Mead, Michael Williams and Dustin Gibson rounded out the top ten riders.

A total of twenty five riders moved forward to Knockout round two, which was a head to head race with five riders each in five groups. The top two riders in each group would move on to the ten rider final. Brown and Whibley qualified from group one. Webb and Haaker qualified out of group two. Prochnau and Mead qualified out of group three. Williams and Redmond qualified out of group four and Ashburn and Palmer qualified out of group five. Husqvarna’s Jamie Lanza and Ryan Sandoval were among the non-qualifiers along with GEICO Honda’s  Scott Watkins and Kawasaki rider, Gary Sutherlin.

Brown rocketed to the front of the pack at the start of the ten lap main event while Webb found himself on the ground in the first turn. Prochnau ran second followed by Whibley while Colton Haaker and Rory Mead battled for forth. Webb moved past four other riders on the first lap, which took around four minutes. Michael Williamson, a relatively unknown Tennessee based rider that turned heads all day with his speed unfortunately crashed after not making it up an extremely difficult alternate line up the side of a cliff and dropped out on the first lap. Brown pulled a few seconds gap and rode conservative lines while several riders battled for second. Webb finally got to second at the halfway point and began to reel Brown in. By then, Haaker had taken a tumble with an aggressive line on a downhill to take him out of contention. Whibley had a chain derail on his YZ250 2-stroke on lap five and lost a few positions. After nearly 40 minutes of racing, Webb moved to within striking distance of Brown on the final lap but stalled and tipped over to provide the gap that Brown needed to take the victory. Rory Mead had also closed in on Prochnau but slid out in a turn while trying to take the final podium spot. Whibley climbed back up to fifth after battling with an impressive Ashburn. Redmond and Palmer were the final two finishers in seventh and eighth.

2011 Kenda Tennessee Knockout, fueled by Monster Energy

1      Mike Brown                 KTM                USA
2      Cody Webb                 Beta                 USA
3      Bobby Prochnau         KTM                Canada
4      Rory Mead                  Honda             New Zealand
5      Paul Whibley               Yamaha          New Zealand
6      Jordan Ashburn          Yamaha          USA
7      Kyle Redmond            Honda             USA
8      Wally Palmer              Christini           USA
9      Colton Haaker             KTM                USA
10   Michael Williams         Kawasaki        USA

Fahringer Makes It Three In A Row!

Zanesville, Ohio, August 28, 2011 – Nick Fahringer made it three wins in a row with a dramatic come from behind win at the Big Muskie National Enduro in Zanesville, Ohio – round nine of the AMA/Rekluse National Enduro Series.

Heading into the final test of the 65-mile, six-test event, Fahringer sat in third position behind FMF/KTM teammates Cory Buttrick and Charlie Mullins. However, after being prodded by team manager Antti Kallonen to “go for broke”, the Ohio rider did just that and made up nearly a full minute on the leaders to take a one-second victory over Am Pro Yamaha’s Thad DuVall, who also eclipsed Buttrick and Mullins in the final test to finish second.

“Heading into that last test I realized I had nothing to lose, so I just started hitting the RPMs, found the right gears and starting hitting my lines and I pulled off a fast time and won the thing by a second,” said Fahringer. “That last test was a long and technical one and that’s what I do.”

DuVall became the last of the top Pros to make the switch to a two-stroke and borrowed a Yamaha YZ250 to race in the Ohio event and the move was obviously a good one.

“I felt really good on the bike and I got better and better on it as the day went on as you can tell by my final test,” said DuVall.

In the meantime, Buttrick rode his best race of the year to finish third, 14 seconds behind DuVall, while Mullins rounded out the top four another nine seconds back.

FMF/KTM’s Russell Bobbitt came into the race with a one-point lead in the series standings, but finished a disappointing fifth, which leaves him sitting one point behind Mullins with one race to go on the schedule, which is the series finale at Matthews, Indiana, on October 1, 2011.

After nine events, Mullins holds the standings with 210 points, followed by Bobbitt with 209, Fahringer with 198, and Buttrick with 181. Eight-time national champ Mike Lafferty sits fifth overall with 144 points after finishing sixth in Ohio.