Tuesday, April 30, 2024 | 9:55 AM
TRYSTAN HART BACK ON TOP AS U.S. HARD ENDURO
RESUMES AT BATTLE OF THE GOATS
KTM Offroad Weekend Update
U.S. HARD ENDURO SERIES - ROUND 3
The U.S. Hard Enduro Series continued with Round 3 of the 2024 season at the Battle of the Goats in North Carolina, where FMF KTM Factory Racing's Trystan Hart took his first victory of the year.
Defending champion Hart was supremely strong on his KTM 300 XC-W, winning the Prologue on Saturday and then going on to control Sunday's proceedings from the front of the pack in drier conditions than usually experienced at the Taylorsville race.
Following a consistent start to the season, Hart's Battle of the Goats win has now enabled him to move to within five points of the Pro Class series lead behind Cody Webb.
Trystan Hart: "It was a long race, despite how dry it was, and we did an extra lap than normal – around four hours in duration this weekend. I had some sick battles on lap one, and made some mistakes as well, but cleaned it up on lap two and was able to get my first win of the year. It's a good feeling, so I want to keep moving forward from here!"
Pro Class Results
1. Trystan Hart, FMF KTM Factory Racing
2. Cody Webb, SHR
3. Ryder LeBlond, HQV
4. Will Riordan, GAS
5. Colton Haaker, HQV
GRAND NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY (GNCC) SERIES - ROUND 6
A third-place result at the Hoosier's sixth round of the 2024 Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series extended Johnny Girroir's perfect run of XC1 Open Pro Class podium finishes for this year, currently holding a 10-point advantage in the standings.
After claiming the holeshot, Girroir led much of the race in Crawfordsville, Indiana, aboard his KTM 350 XC-F, but eventually had to settle for P3 on the podium. He initially took the checkered flag in second on track, but was demoted by one position after making a rare error during a pit stop.
Johnny Girroir: "The race was going awesome and then it fell apart, unfortunately. I missed my pit, wasn't that smart out there in the second half of the race and it bit me, so we'll go back to the drawing board and be back for the next one."
FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers delivered a 1-2 finish in the XC2 250 Pro Class at Ironman Raceway, after Gus Riordan and Grant Davis fought for the victory on their KTM 250 XC-F machinery. It's still Davis who has the points lead, now nine ahead of Riordan after he picked up his third win of the season.
Gus Riordan: "It was another stressful race for us, but good for the fans! We kept on swapping for the lead up until that second pit stop and then I was able to put my head down to pull a bit of a gap, which made things a little easier on myself. It was a pretty smooth race and we're really happy to win this one."
Grant Davis: "The track was good this weekend, for sure. We were all battling and I got into the lead at one point, then went down, and then went back to third. I was able to get back into the lead and was feeling really good, but had some trouble with a lapped rider – after that, it was about bringing it to the finish."
The WXC Class saw Brandy Richards continue to learn the ropes of GNCC competition, placing seventh at the Hoosier riding her KTM 250 XC-F. As a result, Richards is ranked third in the point standings, 29 points outside of the lead in the middle stages of the series.
XC1 Open Pro Class Results
1. Steward Baylor Jr, KAW
2. Craig DeLong, HQV
3. Johnny Girroir, FMF KTM Factory Racing
6. Trevor Bollinger, HQV
XC2 250 Pro Class Results
1. Angus Riordan, FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers
2. Grant Davis, FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers
3. Liam Draper, YAM
WXC Class Results
1. Rachael Archer, KAW
2. Shelby Turner, GAS
3. Rachel Gutish, SHR
4. Korie Steede, HQV
7. Brandy Richards, FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers
NATIONAL GRAND PRIX CHAMPIONSHIP (NGPC) - ROUND 5
A tight and technical fifth round of the 2024 National Grand Prix Championship (NGPC) descended on Fox Raceway in Pala, California, where FMF KTM Factory Racing rider Dante Oliveira finished second overall after putting up a fight for victory to the end.
After winning the opening four races, Oliveira rode his KTM 450 XC-F to P2 in the unique track conditions, continuing to lead the Pro Class standings, while younger brother and teammate Mateo Oliveira charged to a convincing fifth-place finish.
Dante Oliveira: "It was an awesome race, to battle it out with Cole [Martinez] across the last three laps was sick! I put myself in a bad position off the start, actually got a great jump but came in a little too hot. Other than that, I put my head down – it was a brutal track, dusty and treacherous, but a lot of fun. I fell a little short, tipped over on the last lap coming into the last two miles, so it was Cole's day today. We'll fight on from here, the body's strong and I'm ready to keep going!"
Mateo Oliveira: "Today wasn't bad. I think it could have been quite a bit better, but I made a few mistakes and they cost me. It was a crazy race in some ways, a lot of rocks, but cool to have a technical round again, and I enjoyed it a lot. I'm capable of a podium though, so I need to execute at the Grand Prix races and that's the goal."
Pro Class Results
1. Cole Martinez, HON
2. Dante Oliveira, FMF KTM Factory Racing
3. Dare Demartile, BET
5. Mateo Oliveira, FMF KTM Factory Racing
7. Austin Walton, HQV
UPCOMING OFFROAD RACES - MAY 2024
5/5: National Enduro Series - Round 3
5/12: Grand National Cross Country Series - Round 7
5/12: West Hare Scrambles Series - Round 3
5/26: National Grand Prix Championship - Round 6
5/26: U.S. Sprint Enduro Series - Round 5
5/26: U.S. Hard Enduro Series - Round 4