There was no denying Johnny Girroir of a third win and eighth-consecutive podium in Round 8 of the GNCC Series, making the Mount Morris weekend count with the XC1 Open Pro Class and overall victories. The weekend also saw Grant Davis win the XC2 250 Pro Class, landing on the podium overall in P3.

Girroir started the 2024 season with a bang by winning the opening two rounds and consistency has kept him at the top of the GNCC points table since. However, the Mason-Dixon GNCC was his time to shine once again in technical conditions, charging hard all race long to edge title rival Steward Baylor Jr for P1. As a result, he's increased his XC1 Open Pro lead to 34 points.

Johnny Girroir: "Everyone around the track was cheering, we were battling the whole last mile and came together down a downhill – it was hectic! That was cool, that's what racing's all about. I've never had the best of luck here in the past, but today was good and it went my way."

Round 8 saw FMF KTM Factory Racing bring Dante Oliveira back into GNCC competition for his first appearance since winning the Camp Coker Bullet in March. After completing the opening lap in 10th, he moved forward on his KTM 350 XC-F to an eventual fourth-place result in the XC1 Open Pro Class.

Dante Oliveira: "Fun day on the bike! I rode nervous on the first lap, then started flowing. I'm not stoked on fourth, but glad to be in the battle."

It was a strong day out for Grant Davis in the XC2 250 Pro Class, the FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers rider taking back-to-back wins – his fourth of the year – directly ahead of teammate Gus Riordan, and that was good enough to land third on the podium overall. 

Grant Davis: "I got into the lead early and we were up front from there. Gus caught me and I went down, so he passed me, but I got back in my groove again and was able to get him back. We went back and forth a bunch of times over the last lap – he was riding really good!"

Davis was up front early while Riordan raced his way to the head of the pack following a mistake at the beginning, but it wasn't enough as Davis held on as the checkered flag flew. The pair – both racing KTM 250 XC-F machinery – are now separated by 23 points in the championship standings with five rounds remaining on the schedule. 

Angus Riordan: "It's always good battling your teammate, like another training day out there. The race started off a bit rough, I was dead-last off the start and crashed in the third turn, then went down again on lap one and wasted my energy again. I caught Grant and took the lead with two to go, but he ended up getting the best of me in the end."

FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers also had Brandy Richards on the WXC Class podium for the fifth time in eight rounds, racing to a second-place finish this weekend. Brandy gained confidence in the conditions as the race progressed onboard her KTM 250 XC-F, currently ranked third in the title race.

Brandy Richards: "I had a pretty decent start, around third, and then I was able to stay consistent. The first lap was super slick, but I tried to put a charge on in the second lap and slowly caught Korie [Steede], but wasn't quite close enough. It was a good battle and a great time!"

XC1 Open Pro Class Results
1. Johnny Girroir, FMF KTM Factory Racing
2. Steward Baylor Jr, Kawasaki
3. Jordan Ashburn, GASGAS
4. Dante Oliveira, FMF KTM Factory Racing
5. Craig DeLong, Husqvarna

XC2 250 Pro Class Results
1. Grant Davis, FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers
2. Angus Riordan, FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers
3. Cody Barnes, Honda

WXC Class Results
1. Korie Steede, Husqvarna 
2. Brandy Richards, FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers
3. Tayla Jones, Husqvarna 

FIM HARD ENDURO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP – ERZBERGRODEO

Reigning U.S. Hard Enduro Champion Trystan Hart made his anticipated return to the Iron Giant for the weekend's 2024 Red Bull Erzbergrodeo, where the FMF KTM Factory Racing rider finished in second position behind current World Champion Manuel Lettenbichler.

Round 2 of the 2024 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship saw Hart join over 1300 riders – narrowed down to 500 for Sunday – in taking on the grueling event, qualifying on the front row in ninth position following the Iron Road Prologue's qualification process, and setting him up strongly for Sunday's Main Race.

Hart eventually earned a career-best runner-up result behind Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team rider Lettenbichler, making for a KTM 1-2 result and further establishing the Canadian as one of the most capable Hard Enduro riders on the planet.

Trystan Hart: "I'm so happy to have finished second and on the podium again! The first corner threw me off initially and, because of that, it felt like I was in a warzone for the first 30 minutes of the race. It was a lot of fun though and when I got to Carl’s Dinner, I felt really good and managed to get up into second place. There were some really tough sections, but I put my all in and held on to that position. This is my third podium in a row at Erzberg and this place really does feel like home to me now. I’ll definitely be fighting for the win next year!"

Overall Results
1. Manuel Lettenbichler (GER), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
2. Trystan Hart (CAN), FMF KTM Factory Racing
3. Mario Roman (ESP), Sherco
4. Graham Jarvis (GBR), KTM
5. Wade Young (RSA), GASGAS

UPCOMING OFFROAD RACES – JUNE 2024
6/9: National Enduro Series - Round 4
6/16: U.S. Sprint Enduro Series - Round 6
6/16: U.S. Hard Enduro Series - Round 6
6/23: Grand National Country Series - Round 9
6/29: Silver Kings Hard Enduro