GNCC Racing

Steward Baylor Jr. Becomes Three-Time AMA National Enduro Champion

Monday, November 5, 2018 | 8:10 AM

Round 10 (Finale) - AMA National Enduro Series - November 4, 2018 

Steward Baylor Jr. clinched his third AMA National Enduro Championship.
Steward Baylor Jr. clinched his third AMA National Enduro Championship. Shan Moore

STANTON, Ala. – KTM riders swept the overall podium once again on Sunday for the tenth and final round of the 2018 AMA National Enduro Series in Stanton, Alabama. It was Tely Energy Racing/KTM’s Grant Baylor who topped the day’s results at the Gobbler Getter National Enduro, but it was his teammate, Steward Baylor Jr., who emerged as the 2018 Champion following a third-place finish on the day. FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Josh Toth completed the all-KTM podium with a hard-fought second-place finish. 

Steward Baylor Jr. put a cap on a successful 2018 season, where he finished atop the podium at each of the ten rounds. With three victories under his belt, Baylor’s season-long consistency was key in earning his third-career title. With one goal in mind, Steward kept a steady pace all day, finishing inside the top-four throughout each of the day’s six tests. With a test-win in section five, Baylor kept himself in the hunt for a win but, in the end, third overall was more than enough to secure the 2018 championship.

Grant Baylor showed the most consistency and speed of the day, as he maintained control of the race from start to finish. Baylor came out swinging with a win in the opening test and from there, he went on to notch two more test-wins in sections three and four, which gave him a favorable position heading into the final two tests. Finishing second and fourth in the last two sections, Grant was able to maintain his lead to earn his fourth victory of the season. He concluded the 2018 season with third overall in the championship standings. 

It was a solid day for Toth, who battled for a podium position all day. Toth kicked things off with a pair of thirds in the first two tests, before jumping up to second in test three. He dropped back to fourth in section four but he battled his way back to finish strong with second in test five and a win in test six, which was good enough to catapult him into second overall for the day.

In his first full season of competing in the AMA National Enduro Series, Toth earned second overall in the championship standings with a solid panel of finishes, including one overall win and six podium-finishes.

Steward Baylor Jr.:“I’m pumped to wrap up another National Enduro Championship! We had an awesome year with a very smooth season and I look forward to the 2019 season, where I look to defend my title again.” 

Josh Toth finished second overall on the day.
Josh Toth finished second overall on the day. Shan Moore

Josh Toth:“The final National Enduro of the year was a ton of fun with a great course and conditions. I had super close racing all day with Stu Baylor and Evan Smith, and it came down to the last test with me in fourth place, just ten seconds from second-place. I put my head down and ripped the last test, winning the test and grabbing second overall. I’m very happy to have had a consistent year in NEPG, while learning a lot and improving my riding. It was my first year competing in the series and being runner-up to a three-time NEPG champion and fighting all the way into the last race is something I am proud of, I will only improve from here!” 

Team Manager, Antti Kallonen:“Congratulations to Steward and Tely Energy Racing/KTM team for their championship. It was a great season by all KTM riders and I’m happy to see Steward on the top step and earning his third National Enduro Championship.” 

NE Pro1 Results

  1. Grant Baylor, KTM, 2:20:40.899
  2. Josh Toth, KTM, 2:21:09.132
  3. Steward Baylor Jr., KTM, 2:21:21.978

NE1 Pro Championship Standings

  1. Steward Baylor Jr., 224 points
  2. Josh Toth, 208
  3. Grant Baylor, 192
  4. Ben Kelley, 155
  5. Cory Buttrick, 122