In capturing a fifth NGPC premier class title in succession, FMF KTM Factory Racing's Dante Oliveira put forward a dominant performance in Blythe, California, to win his sixth race of the year in commanding fashion.

Oliveira has been the class of the field onboard his KTM 450 XC-F once again in 2024, getting out front from the outset in the Gold Rush Grand Prix with the holeshot and he controlled the race from there. Dante eventually took the checkered flag 11 seconds clear of the chasing pack, which secured him the championship with one race remaining in the nine-round series.

Dante Oliveira: "My ride was awesome today! I got off to a great start, the bike was dialed, and I felt good on the track. It was a lot of fun, so we were able to get into a flow, and it's always an epic track at Blythe. Mission accomplished with the championship this weekend, I have a great team behind me at FMF KTM Factory Racing, and am super-excited to get title number five in NGPC."

FMF KTM Factory Racing teammate Mateo Oliveira – also just back from the International Six Days Enduro – started strongly and completed the opening lap in third position, before sickness caught up with him during the middle stages of the race and he eventually finished in P7.

Mateo Oliveira: "It was a so-so day for me. I came into the weekend a little sick from traveling home after the ISDE, so went for as long as I could, and then fell back. My speed is good, I just need to get healthy and make a good push at Havasu."

Pro Class Results
1. Dante Oliveira, FMF KTM Factory Racing
2. Austin Walton, Husqvarna
3. Tyler Lynn, Honda
7. Mateo Oliveira, FMF KTM Factory Racing
8. Dalton Shirey, Husqvarna

GRAND NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY SERIES – ROUND 13

With FMF KTM Factory Racing's Johnny Girroir already claiming the 2024 GNCC Series and FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers standout Grant Davis winning the XC2 250 Pro Class title last time out, Ironman's 13th and final round of the season wrapped up what has been an exceptional year for KTM in the series.

Girroir was absent this weekend while awaiting the arrival of his second child at home, which left former champion Ben Kelley to fly the FMF KTM Factory Racing flag in XC1 Open Pro, where he would go on to finish in eighth position riding the KTM 350 XC-F in Crawfordsville, Indiana.

Ben Kelley: "We had very dry and dusty race conditions for the final round. I found a flow on lap three and worked my way into fourth, then was closing in on the podium when we encountered some trouble with the rear tire, so I had to limp back to the pit on lap five. That dropped me back to eighth in the end, but we still finished. It was disappointing to end the season that way, but I'm motivated for next year and learned a lot in the four GNCC races that I did get to line up in." 

Meanwhile, Davis traded his usual KTM 250 XC-F for a 2025 KTM 250 XC two-stroke at the final round, but unfortunately saw his day end early after striking a tree with his foot in the early laps. FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers teammate Gus Riordan rode his KTM 250 XC-F to P3 on the podium, with the pair going 1-2 in the final 2024 point standings.

Gus Riordan: "It was another tough Ironman, super-dusty and there were many things that could catch you off-guard today. We got through okay though, finished on the podium, and we'll be ready to go next year."

Grant Davis: "I was having a blast on the two-stroke, made my way into second after a terrible start, and then smashed my foot into a tree. I banged it up a bit, but other than that it was a fun day and it's been a really great season for us at FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers."