ROUND 4 “WARRIOR SPRINT” 2023 RACE REPORT
6 min read
Thank You to our Warrior Class racers and families – all of our Veterans and active Military Members . We are a safe and prosperous Nation because of you.
This USSE Headline Picture is not what you may be used to seeing on our race report. This Round was a special one… The venue took place at “Veterans RV Resort” (a VIR affiliated property) is a special place in the making. The folks here are also the founders of Racing For Heros, a non-profit that reaches our Veterans in a unique environment – through Motorsports! We were so happy to bring the USSE family to their special place and introduce them to Sprint Enduro. Not only did we have excellent racing through the weekend, but we also came away with a better understanding about the important role Motorsports plays in some of our service members when they return to day-to-day life environments after deployment. We urge you to click on the links above to learn more about their efforts and perhaps you may know someone that could use their services.
Pictured above was the Round 4 top 5 in the Warrior Class (this is a class for active or retired service members)
1st David Parsons, 2nd Travis Lamb, 3rd Nathan Ackerman, 4th Stuart Lucas and 5th James Yost. These Warriors were presented military challenge coins and shirts from Racing For Heros. Thanks to RFH as well as these racers for participating!
For Immediate Release –
Girroir Takes Overall Win at Warrior US Sprint Enduro Presented by Moose Racing
US Sprint Enduro Series
Round 4
March 25-26, 2023
Semora, North Carolina
FMF/KTM’s Johnny Girroir relied on a strong final day to claim the overall win at this
weekend’s Warrior Sprint Enduro, round four of the US Sprint Enduro Series Presented
by Moose Racing in Semora, North Carolina, beating out RPM Racing’s Angus Riordan
by just 14 seconds to claim the “W” after two days of racing.
Rain on Saturday made for a slippery course in the North Carolina clay, however the
sun came out on Sunday and dried the track making for considerably different
conditions.
Cody Barnes topped Girroir for Saturday’s win, the Phoenix Honda Racing Pro 2 rider
beating Girroir out by just under eight seconds after winning two of the six tests (both
Enduro tests).
Riordan and Phoenix Honda Racing’s Ruy Barbosa were third and fourth behind Girroir
with Coastal Racing GasGas’ Thad DuVall rounding out the top five.
On Sunday, Girroir got his mojo working and won three tests outright, while also tying
Riordan in the final Enduro test, giving the former motocrosser Sunday’s win by 12.3
seconds over Riordan, in addition to the overall win for the weekend.
“Me and Thad were both laying on the ground the first test Saturday, which is never a good
thing,” said Girroir. “The Pro 2 guys were flying all day. I finally put it together in the sixth test on
Saturday and came out swinging for Sunday. Today, I minimized the mistakes and stayed off
the ground and had a good day.”
Riordan ruled the Cross test on both days, with all four of his wins coming in the test,
(which was a combination of grass track and woods) en route to second overall for the
weekend and first in the Pro 2 division. Barnes, DuVall and Barbosa rounded out the top
five.
“It was good to finally get a win over Cody,” said Riordan. “He’s been showing it to us all
last year and this year. So, it was good.”
After winning on Saturday, Barnes had a rough day on Sunday, spending too much time
on the ground, which dropped him to third overall and second in the Pro 2 division.
“Yesterday was good; I rode well,” said Barnes. “Today, Angus wanted to show us all
how to go fast. Both tests were super fun. I had a lot of fun, but I should have had a little
less mistakes, but it is what it is.”
DuVall started off with a slow start on Saturday, finishing fifth, but picked up the pace on
Sunday, beating Barbosa by 19 seconds, which gave the GasGas rider fourth overall for
the weekend.
“Yesterday was a bit of a struggle,” said DuVall. “I just couldn’t stay off the ground. I was
fighting the bike a little bit. But we made some changes yesterday afternoon after the
race and it seemed to help today. I felt like it was definitely a lot more racy today. I was
battling for test wins with Johnny, so that’s always a plus.”
Barbosa was fifth overall, despite a huge crash in the second test, while FXR GasGas’
Layne Michael, who only rode Sunday’s event due to a prior commitment, was sixth
overall, despite the deficit.
“It was a very technical enduro test,” said Michael. “Since I missed yesterday, it was
difficult jumping in and being competitive when those guys already knew the tests and
have them kind of burned in. It was quite difficult, but I did okay. I felt better in the
enduro test than the times showed. I was able to catch onto the cross test pretty quick
and got pretty close there the last test today.”
Sixth overall and top Pro-Am rider was Jason Tino on a Husqvarna. Just 20 seconds
behind Tino was Precision Offroad Racing’s Dominik Morse in seventh overall and
second in the Pro-Am division. Another 1:28 behind Morse was Husqvarna-mounted
Gavin Simon, while Zack Toth (KTM) and Sam Forrester (Hsq) rounded out the top 10.
Am Pro Yamaha’s Rachel Archer won 10 of the 12 tests over the course of the weekend
to take the win in the Pro Women’s division ahead of Over and Out Racing’s Rachel
Gutish, who won the other two tests. FLY Racing/KTM’s Shelby Turner finished out the
podium.
Archer was perfect on Sunday.
“I had a great day today,” said Archer. “I went six for six in every test and my best
overall finish was 12th, so I was pretty stoked with that. I felt really good on the bike. I
went out and pedaled last night and had my lines down. So, big improvement from
yesterday.”
YOUTH RACING
In the Youth Divisions, Austin Tsakanikas was the overall winner for the weekend and
first place in the Super Mini Senior (14-15) class, despite losing his brakes in the first
test and having a flat in the final test. Tsakanikas beat out Caleb Johnson and Benjamin
Neff on both days for the win.
“I had a Smooth day yesterday,” said Tsakanikas. “I won all six yesterday and won four
today.”
Mason Tsakanikas and Ryan Smith swapped wins in the Super Mini Junior class, with
Smith winning on Saturday and Tsakanikas winning on Sunday. Ryder Reick was third
on both days.
Brenan Mazzola beat Case Kight and Noah Hertzler for the win on Saturday in the 85
Senior division. On Sunday, John “Will” Berry took the win ahead of Mazzola and Kite.
In his first-ever sprint race, Deegan Caplinger came out on top in the 85 Junior division
ahead of Brody Boland and Maddox Hudnall to win Saturday’s race. On Sunday,
Caplinger beat Hudnall and Nolan Hudson.
Rylan Roberts topped Rylan Engle and Dylan Yeckley to win Saturday’s race by 10
minutes in the 65 Senior class. Rylan Roberts, Dylan Yeckley and Donnie Ryan went 1-
2-3 on Sunday.
Nicole Rupert beat Lola Grozbean on Saturday to top the Girls (10-16) division, with
Lillyanna Malloy getting third. Grozbean and Rupert swapped positions on Sunday, with
Grozbean getting the win ahead of Rupert, while Josie Grozbean was third.
In the 65 Junior class, Colt Chaney, Aubrey Tsakanikas and Mason Ramsey took the
went 1-2-3 on both days.
Eli Kettering outran Maci Ryan to win the Trail Bike class on both days.
Maura Tsakanikas was tops in the 50 Senior (7-8) division, beating Oliver Stewart and
James Dietrich both days.
In the 50cc Junior division (4-6) Ryder Baricska was first on each day with Carson Zink
in second and Gracelynn Bunch taking second and third each day.
Photo Gallery Links:
The US Sprint Enduro Series resumes action on April 8-9 at Pearl’s Pond Farm in
Arvonia, Virginia, for round five of the series. For more information on the series go to
www.ussprintenduro.com.
US SPRINT ROUND 4 OVERALL RESULTS
- Johnny Girroir (KTM)
- Angus Riordan (KTM)
- Cody Barnes (Hon)
- Thad DuVall (GG)
- Ruy Barbosa (Hon)
- Jason Tino (Hsq)
- Dominick Morse (Hsq)
- Gavin Simon (Hsq)
- Zach Toth (KTM)
- Sam Forrester (Hsq)
Media Contact:
Shan Moore
shan@tandenews.com
