MID-SEASON NEWS
With four rounds down and three to go, we are a little over halfway through another action-packed season of US Sprint Enduro racing! There have been intense battles in every class and venue, at venues new and old, through weather fair and foul – but always against the clock, US Sprint style!
The big story of the season in Pro1 was Johnny Girroir’s winning streak. It lasted an incredible 22 straight days. But like all good things it eventually came to an end. Liam Draper had been nipping at Girroir’s heels for some time now, and he finally got the job done at the Outback US Sprint, taking the overall win! The margins have been close between the two riders this season, though Girroir still holds a commanding points lead. Given that Girroir sat out this past weekend’s GNCC, likely due to injury, it will be interesting to see how he and Draper stack up heading into High Voltage. Cody Barnes, in his second year of Pro1, has become a regular podium contender, finishing third at each race, just ahead of Craig Delong, who beat him in Pro1 series points last year.
In Pro2, we have another winning streak to discuss, with Grant Davis keeping a perfect season alive through eight days of racing and four weekend overall wins in Pro2. He also sits third in the overall points, ahead of several Pro1 racers. His current points lead may best be described as “insurmountable” – barring injury or bike failure, of course. The rest of the class is more evenly spaced and competitive, with Gavin Simon, Cooper Jones and Collier Martinez all bouncing on and off the podium on a race-to-race basis.
In the Pro Women’s class, there has been a different winner at nearly every race. Rachel Gutish took a surprise win at the opening round – while she is a podium contender, Mac Daddy’s US Sprint was only her third-ever US Sprint Enduro win. At Outback, Brandy Richards made a guest appearance, sweeping both days. Given her recent injuries at the Camp Coker GNCC we are unlikely to see her this weekend (the US Sprint crew wishes Richards a recovery as fast as she is!). Fox Squirrel Ridge saw Tayla Jones finally put her new ride on the box. The switch to Honda after so many years with Husqvarna was certainly an adjustment, but she has gained comfort and speed with every round, taking a second win at Olde Mill. At this point, Korie Steede is the only front-runner in women’s pro without a weekend win, only two individual day wins – but she gets the last laugh, as she holds the points lead! She’s had strong finishes at the last two GNCCs, and High Voltage could very well be the weekend she stands on the center of the podium.
Jojo Cunningham also has a perfect season going in Pro-Am, sort of… he has won every day of racing he has attended, but he did not come to the Outback US Sprint. Missed races seem to be a theme in the Pro-Am class though, as only second place Colton Shields is currently getting the gold star for perfect attendance. Third place Hunter Smith has missed two races (four days of points) and fourth place Chase Bright has missed one race (two days of points). However, the Pro-Am class, like all the other classes aside from Pro1 and Pro2, does get two individual days dropped from the final tally. So, the points could be considerably shaken up by the time we finish the final test at round 7… especially considering the final round of US Sprint pays double points!
So far this season, all of our US Sprint Amateur Overalls have come out of a stacked 250A class. Round One saw Brayden Baisley take the top amateur spot. The Amateur Overalls at the remaining three rounds were all captured by Olin Daniels, who finished 12th, 12th and 16th. Most of Daniels’ competition at these races came from his fellow Rocky Mountain / Red Bear Racing / Team Green amateur teammate Caleb Wood (who finished only a handful of seconds down from Daniels at Outback and Fox Squirrel Ridge)
Moving on down to the youth bikes, the current overall points leader is Lucas Skeleton, with six individual day wins, one second place and one DNF. He is followed by Nash Peerson and Cooper Stickley, all three in the Super Mini Senior class. In overall points, Kenzie Connor is the top female, coming in at a respectable 6th place overall.
In overall points, Kenzie Connor is the top female, coming in at a respectable 6th place overall.
Nathan Zhang is the current overall leader amongst the micros. Second place Tanner Toland does have more wins, but missing the most recent round at Olde Mill set him back. Once the dropped races are factored in the points could be subject to change – though we do still have a lot of racing to go. Alden “Cheeto” Tsakanikas rounds out the podium in the micro-overall standings.
That concludes our mid-season US Sprint Enduro wrap-up. We have an exciting weekend of racing coming up at here in a few days. In addition to the usual thrills of the fast and hilly cross test that the High Voltage US Sprint is known for, there are some “bonus features” of this race that you won’t want to miss. High Voltage is this year’s ISDE east coast qualifier, so watch along as some of the fastest amateur riders in the nation vie for coveted ISDE Club team positions and the honor of representing their country in Bergamo, Italy this August. Many of top male and female pros on the World Trophy Teams will also be there to practice before the race and show off their skills.
US AMA ISDE REPRESENTING AMERICA
HEAD TO HIGH VOLTAGE TO WATCH THE TOP OFF-ROAD RACERS AS THEY PREPARE FOR 2025 INTERNATIONAL SIX DAYS OF ENDURO IN BERGAMO, ITALY IN AUGUST!
Additionally, because this race is on Easter weekend we are planning an Easter Egg hunt for the littles as well as a visit from the Easter Bunny followed by an Easter Prayer by Trail Seeker Adventures and an Easter Potluck Dinner in the registration/staging zone – see times below.
Let’s not forget! Friday AMA Hall of Fame Racer, Barry Hawk is hosting an off-road skills clinic! Spots are still available at the time of this being published. Please check out the details below.
If you have questions about this weekend, please reach out via email: trailpros.us@gmail.com
