| April 30, 2018
2018 Virginia Full Gas Sprint Enduro Results – It was a close one, but Ryan Sipes (Rockstar/Leatt/Maxxis Husqvarna) pulled out the overall win at the Harleywood Sprint Enduro, round two of the Kenda Full Gas Sprint Enduro Series in Bristol, Virginia, April 28-29, edging Tely Racing’s Grant Baylor by a mere 1.5 seconds for the victory.
2018 Virginia Full Gas Sprint Enduro Results
A large crowd turned out for the Harleywood event, as Sipes showed his dominance, once again, on the cross test. At the conclusion of two days of racing and 12 tests, the former supercross star won all six of the cross tests. At the series opener in Georgia back in February, Sipes was able to supplement his cross-test wins by running a fast enough pace in the enduro tests to carry the overall. That almost didn’t work in Virginia, as Grant Baylor managed to win just enough of the enduro tests (three) and stay consistent enough in the cross tests to give Sipes a run for his money. A pair of sixths in the enduro test almost cost Sipes the overall.
As usual, Sipes’ saving grace was the cross test. On Saturday, the Kentucky rider was winning the cross test by 5-7 seconds. On Sunday, when the course was much drier (and ran backwards), he was winning it by 11-12 seconds.
Despite Sipes’ speed in the cross test, Grant Baylor managed to beat Sipes to win Saturday’s proceedings by less than a second. On Sunday Sipes went into the final test of the weekend with a 14-second advantage over Grant. However, a couple of mistakes wiped all but 1.5 seconds of that lead away, and Sipes escaped by the skin of his teeth to claim his second win in a row in 2018.
“I made way too many mistakes in that last test,” said Sipes. “It was an emotional rollercoaster for me this weekend. I would kill ‘em in the cross test, and then they would get me back in the enduro test. I was a little upset about Sunday’s race, losing eight seconds in the last test. But overall, it was a good weekend. I’ve got two overall wins in two races and I think I’m getting better in the enduro tests with every race.”
Grant Baylor claimed his best finish in the series with the win on Saturday and second overall for the weekend. The South Carolina rider was strongest in the enduro test, but just fast enough in the cross test to compete for the overall.
Grant broke a bone in his hand just over two weeks ago, but said after the race that it wasn’t a factor.
“I got off to a slow start, but I picked up the pace starting with the second cross test,” said Grant. “I won the Enduro test twice on Saturday and I was second in the cross test, and that was enough to take the win for the day.
“I started off struggling on Sunday, and I was making mental mistakes, but I managed to get it together for the final few tests and I think Ryan had a problem in that last one, which made it close. He had a good lead on me in that last test, but I knew I could beat him. I figured he would back it off a little since he had a big lead, but I came up just short, but I’m happy with second overall.”
Josh Strang (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory) made the podium for the second race in a row with a third overall. Strang started strong with a second in the opening cross test, followed by a win in the enduro test. However, he crashed in the final enduro test on Saturday, which cost him valuable time, and perhaps a chance at the win.
2018 Virginia Full Gas Sprint Enduro Results
On Sunday, Strang struggled with the drier conditions, but still managed a consistent third overall.
Layne Michael (KR4 Husqvarna) made a great showing in Virginia, winning one of the enduro tests, then grabbing four seconds and a third en route to fourth overall. He was just three seconds off of the podium behind Strang.
Rounding out the top five was Steward Baylor (Tely Racing KTM). He struggled on Saturday, never finishing higher than fourth in any of the tests. On Sunday, Steward was sixth fastest in the first test, but then seemed to catch fire with a pair of seconds, followed by a win in the enduro test. The South Carolina native finished up with a third and a second in the final two tests to claim fifth overall.
Jordan Ashburn (Beta USA) scored a second on Saturday and another on Sunday en route to sixth overall.
Evan Smith (SRT Racing KTM) was seventh overall, while Liam Draper (KR4 Husqvarna) finished eighth overall and first Pro2 rider. Mike Witkowski (KR4 Husqvarna) was ninth, followed by JoJo Bowden (KTM) in 10th. Bowden’s finish was also good enough for second in the Pro2 division.
Tayla Jones (KR4 Husqvarna) took the win in the Women’s Pro division, finishing 42 seconds ahead Mackenzie Tricker (Bonanza Plumbing/Trail Jesters KTM). CN
2018 Virginia Full Gas Sprint Enduro Results
RESULTS: April 28-29, 2018
OVERALL
|
OVERALL |
1. Ryan Sipes (Hus) 1:19:50.151 |
2. Grant Baylor (Hus) 1:19:51.698 |
3. Josh Strang (Hus) 1:20:11.487 |
4. Layne Michael (Hus) 1:20:14.062 |
5. Steward Baylor (KTM) 1:20:29.051 |
6. Jordan Ashburn (Bet) 1:20:42.620 |
7. Evan Smith (Hus) 1:21:47.653 |
8. Liam Draper (Hus) 1:23:23.951 |
9. Mike Witkowski (Bet) 1:24:09.384 |
10. JoJo Bowden (KTM) 1:24:15.403 |
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