US Sprint Enduro Series
Round 6
April 23-24, 2022
Track 93
Fairmont, West Virginia
AmPro Yamaha’s Layne Michael claimed his first overall victory of the season at round six of the US Sprint Enduro Series at Track 93 in Fairmont, West Virginia, beating out series point leader Josh Toth by just over eight seconds after two days and 12 tests of racing.
Michael took the win on the first day of racing by 1.9 seconds ahead of the FMF/KTM-backed Toth, after a tight day of racing. However, Michael tidied up some lines on day two to take a more comfortable win.
After spending much of the year dealing with a shoulder injury, Michael was pleased to get the victory.
“It’s been a frustrating year at these, so it’s good to finally get this win,” said Michael. “I feel like I’ve been just barely getting beat. I just haven’t been able to put it together. This weekend was really good. I just started off strong on Saturday and then stayed off the ground all weekend.”
On Saturday, it was pretty much back and forth between Michael and Toth, with Michael getting the upper hand by a couple of seconds in the cross test, while Toth would have a two-second edge in the enduro test. Amazingly, Toth nearly hit a deer in the second enduro test and went down, losing eight seconds to Michael. But then came back in the final enduro test to out-pace Michael by nine seconds, leaving the two riders with less than two seconds separating them at the end of the day.
“We were pretty close all day on Saturday,” admitted Michael. “He did have a crash in the second one, but then that last test I was puzzled. I was just wondering where I could make that time up. Honestly, I went out there and I didn’t see any new lines. So, I just kind of put my head down and did the best I could.”
On Sunday, Michael was able to pick up a little speed in the enduro test, which was the difference in the two days, and the overall.
“We were a lot closer today, so that felt nice,” said Michael. “I was still able to put a little time on him in the cross test, but that second enduro test today really kind of gave me the confidence going into that last test. He still nabbed me by a few seconds, but I’ll be honest, I was pretty nervous going into that last little bit. I made it through the hard stuff. I rode pretty crappy the last little bit. Just didn’t want to make a mistake. To win both days, it’s good. Kind of closes the points a little bit. For me just to get a win this year how the season has went, it’s motivating moving forward.”
With two rounds remaining in the series, Toth still holds a comfortable lead in the chase to the championship, meaning that Michael would need to win all four remaining days.
“I felt like I rode strong all weekend,” said Toth. “I really only had one bad enduro test. Unfortunately, I think it kind of cost me the overall. Layne was riding great. He really picked it up in the enduro test and was pretty much matching my time before. I couldn’t keep it on him in the cross test. So, I just needed to figure things out a little bit better in the grass track and not lose any time there so I could just get ahead, but Layne picked it up.”
Making his first appearance in the series for 2022 was Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Craig Delong, who came away with a solid third overall. DeLong is testing the waters for a potential trip to France for the ISDE.
“I’d like to go to Six Days; that’s something I would like to cross off my bucket list before I be done in however many years,” said DeLong. “I figured I’d come out and try to improve on something that I’ve always struggled with, which is sprint speed. Saturday was good. I was close in most tests, but today they picked it up and shifted up another gear or something. I’ve always struggled on second days when I’ve done the sprints in the past. Same today, but not quite as bad. I guess making progress. That’s all that matters. That will help with the national enduro with my intensity.”
Phoenix Racing Honda’s Cody Barnes was fourth overall and first in the Pro 2 division despite starting off the weekend with a huge crash.
“First day right off the bat I had a pretty good crash in the cross test, but was able to kind of recoup and just ride kind of solid,” said Barnes. “I didn’t have any other crashes throughout the weekend, which was a big thing. There was a lot of off-cambers and little rocks and things that could catch you off guard. For me, it was a good weekend. It’s awesome to get another pro 2 win. So, hopefully we can keep it going. We have two more rounds and we’ll see what happens.”
Coastal Racing GasGas’ Ryder Lafferty made a rare sprint series appearance at the West Virginia event and came away with fourth in the Pro division and fifth overall. Lafferty decided to race a 350 instead of his 250 in preparation for an upcoming national enduro.
“I just came here to kind of have some fun and get some testing in for next weekend for the national enduro,” said Lafferty. “I was riding the 350 in the Pro 1 class so I knew it would be tough, but I figured I’d start out slow and then kind of by the end of the weekend on Sunday I would figure it out. That’s kind of how it went. I started out slower and then I got better towards the end of the day yesterday. Then today was the same thing. It’s hard to jump in with these boys and go fast. I just use it as a learning experience and kind of learn from it, work on it, make me better.”
RPM Racing KTM’s Angus Riordan had his best weekend of the season and came away with sixth overall and second in the Pro 2 division.
“It was good,” said Riordan. “It was a lot better than the last round, as I pull my finger out and have a go. I was able to get second and seventh overall yesterday and sixth today. The last few tests today hurt me for the overall.”
Tely Energy Racing’s Liam Draper had a bit of an off weekend and finished up seventh overall.
“I struggled a lot all weekend,” said Draper. “I tried a different tire and it didn’t really work in my favor. There were some times I was good and close to the boys, but Layne, Josh, and Craig were going good all weekend. They rode good and I rode bad.”
Seven-Sixty Husqvarna’s Thorn Devlin rounded out the podium in the Pro 2 class with an eighth overall. Meanwhile, Forbes Racing KTM’s Cole Forbes topped the 250 A division in ninth overall.
KTM-mounted Jason Tino won the Pro-Am division with a 10th overall finish.
Trail Jesters Racing KTM’s Kori Steede turned in a spectacular performance to win the Women’s Pro division, coming from behind in the final test on both days to steel the victory from Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Tayla Jones.
“I rode pretty tight all day both days, and then that last test I was just like, better send it, I guess,” said Steede. “I did and it worked out both days. Hopefully I’ll just do better at the start of each day next round.”
FXR Racing KTM’s Shelby Turner was third each day and third overall.
In the Youth Classes, Payton Feather emerged as the top overall Youth rider, as well as finishing first in the Super Mini SR (14-15) division. Rivers Morris and Austin Tsakanikas were second and third in the Super Mini SR (14-15).
Jacob McPherson won the Super Mini JR (12-13) class while Luke Praksti and Ryder Reick were second and third.
Mason Tsakanikas won big in the 85 SR (12-15) class, with Tyler Yost in second and Noah Orsini in third.
Hunter Porco beat Tanner Emmons and Braxtyn Chaney to win the 85 JR (7-11) class, while Trace Yost was fourth.
Hunter Hawkinberry ran away with the 65 SR (10-11) Division, with Nolan Hudson and Case Kight finishing second and third.
Colt Chaney claimed the victory in the 65 JR (7-9) class ahead of Landon Dalmasso and Brody Haugh. Aubrey Tsakanikas was fourth with Brody George fifth.
Korah Grace Jones topped a big field in the Girls (10-16) class, with Lola Grozbean finishing second and Nicole Ruppert in third.
Grayson Porco took first in the 50 SR (7-8) class, with Mason Ramsey in second Shawn Remington Jr. in third.
Maura Tsakanikas took another win in the 50 JR (4-6) class, with James Dietrich and Ryder Bower in second and third.
Jacob Glenn won the Trail Bike class ahead of Cory Deming and Maci Ryan.
The US Sprint Enduro Series returns to action on May 28-29 for round seven of the series at High Voltage in Dilliner, Pennsylvania. For more information go to www.ussprintenduro.com. For information on the Sprint Enduro World Championship to be held July 9-10 at Rivers Edge Outdoors in Sandy Level, Virginia, go to https://sprintenduroworldchampionship.com/
OVERALL RESULTS
1. Layne Michael (Yam)
2. Josh Toth (KTM)
3. Craig DeLong (Hsq)
4. Cody Barnes (Hon)
5. Ryder Lafferty (GG)
6. Angus Riordan (KTM)
7. Liam Draper (KTM)
8. Thorn Devlin (Hsq)
9. Cole Forbes (KTM)
10. Jason Tino (KTM)
