Shan Moore | July 23, 2018
Josh Toth ended the stranglehold that the Baylor brothers have had on the Kenda AMA National Enduro Series in 2018 with an impressive win at the Rattlesnake National Enduro in Cross Fork, Pennsylvania, July 22. Going in, Steward Baylor had won two of the four races so far, while his brother Grant Baylor had won the other two. Toth’s win at round five ended any chance of a Baylor sweep of the season.
Josh Toth Snares Rattlesnake Enduro Victory
The victory was Toth’s first-ever in the series and it vaulted the FMF/KTM Factory racer into a tie for first in the series standings with Steward Baylor, solidifying Toth’s status as a championship contender this season.
At the end of the day, Toth won one test and finished 31 seconds ahead of runner-up Ben Kelley with Steward Baylor another 15 seconds back in third.
“This is incredible,” said Toth. “I had a feeling this week that I would do really well at this race—I knew I’d be competitive in this type of terrain and I’m pumped to get that first win out of the way.”
Toth’s roommate, longtime riding partner and fellow Connecticut resident Ben Kelley nailed down second place, stealing the spot from Steward Baylor in the last three tests by 15 seconds at the finish. Kelley also claimed his first test win at the Rattlesnake.
“Coming into this race I was excited and felt I could do really good in the rocks,” said Kelley. “I felt good all day and I just really wanted to win a test and I was happy to get it done in the last test.”
Steward Baylor (Tely Energy Racing KTM) rounded out the podium in third. After winning the first test of the day, he struggled the remainder of the day, especially in tests two and three.
“I just struggled to find that groove,” said Steward. “After I won that first test, I just spent a lot of time missing lines and hitting trees. This is one of my favorite tracks, but this year it just wasn’t my day.”
Grant Baylor (Tely Racing KTM) came into the Pennsylvania event riding a wave of momentum after winning the past two rounds, and looked as though he might grab his third win in a row after winning tests two and three. However, a nasty crash in test four left him temporarily shaken, bruised and suffering a dislocated shoulder.
“I came around a corner and all of a sudden I was in some rocks that threw me head-first into a much bigger rock,” said Grant. “It demolished my bike and I popped my shoulder out.”
Grant recovered and managed a shaky 15th for the test, but still managed to finish fourth overall after turning in the fourth-fastest time in the final test.
Fifth overall went to FAR Racing GasGas North America’s Andrew DeLong. The former National Enduro champion has been on the comeback trail in 2018, getting back up to speed after spending the last few years dealing with a nagging wrist injury.
After five rounds, Toth and Steward Baylor sit atop the series standings with 123 points each. Meanwhile, Ben Kelley moved ahead of Grant Baylor by one point to take over third in the standings, 92 points to 91. Buttrick rounds out the top five with 77 points.
Rattlesnake National Enduro
Cross Fork, Pennsylvania
RESULTS: July 22, 2018
OVERALL
- Josh Toth (KTM)
- Ben Kelley (KTM)
- Steward Baylor (KTM)
- Grant Baylor (KTM)
- Andrew DeLong (GG)
- Craig DeLong (Hus)
- Cory Buttrick (Hus)
- Evan Smith (Hus)
- Mike Witkowski (Bet)
- Jesse Ansley (KTM)