McARTHUR, OH

Josh Gaitten (328, right) beat fellow New Straitsville, Ohio, pilot Robbie Jenks for the overall at the 51st annual Little Burr Enduro in McArthur, Ohio.

Athens Sport Cycle/Osburn Associates/Scott Goggles/EVS/Taulby Chiropractic-backed KTM rider Gaitten and MSN/Michelin/Enduro Engineering-sponsored Husaberg pilot  Jenks tied through every section except for the 3.2-mile technical section leading into the ninth check at 53.6 miles. Gaitten pulled in a minute late, while Jenks missed the flip timers by seconds and was two minutes late. The Enduro Riders Association course of 114 miles was decided there. KTM pilots Trevor Kline and Rodney Judson finished a minute apart as well, but five minutes behind Jenks, to settle for third and fourth.

This was the fourth year the Burr has been moved from its traditional May date to late August. And in a welcome contrast to past events (notably 1969, when just one rider finished, and 1979, when there were only 19 survivors), almost 130 riders and close to that many finishers were treated to an unseasonably cool and dry event.

Heads of layout "Chef Bob" Short and "Big John" Zanotto provided short, technical sections early in the event. Midway through the event, Gary Spencer (Grand Champion of the 2007 Silver Anniversary Little Burr Vintage Enduro) marked a series of sections ranging from 3.2 to 6 miles as well as providing a large mowed field for a gas stop. The event concluded with the traditional Bierhup sections, a quick trip through the 4-foot drainage tunnels under Route 32, and a blast through the outskirts of beautiful Mulga, where the townsfolk turned out in droves to cheer the riders.

Top A rider was KTM-mounted William Farmer from the Vet A class, finishing one minute behind Judson. Mike Vancise beat his fellow Yamaha rider Eric Kriberney by 19 seconds for top B rider honors.

Local off-road legend and former ISDT star Wally Wilson schooled the Super Senior A class again, winning by three minutes over KTM-mounted Mark Lederle. Perennial off-road ace Jim Kallaker, on his KTM, finished third in the Super Senior class, for riders over 50.

With his win, Gaitten passed Judson and Kline in the overall series standings, which Robbie Jenks (230, below) still leads going into the three final ACES events.

The next event in the Appalachian Championship Enduro Series by Osburn Enterprises will be on September 20 - the Athens Motorcycle Club's annual Milk Run Enduro. The Enduro Riders Association hosts the ISDT Reunion on October 2, 3 and 4, and the Baby Burr Trail Ride on October 17 and 18.

Results

AA: 1. J. Gaitten (KTM); 2. R. Jenks (Husaberg); 3. T. Kline (KTM).

S/SR A: 1. W. Wilson (KTM); 2. M. Lederle (KTM); 3. J. Kallaker (KTM).

SR A: 1. T. Ghearing (Kawasaki); 2. J. Johnson (Yamaha); 3. L. Shaffer (KTM).

VET A: 1. W. Farmer (KTM); 2. D. Rinehart (KTM).

OPEN A: 1. G. Johnson (KTM); 2. C. Eberts (Hus); 3. R. Cherry (Yamaha).

250 A: 1. B. Hollingshead (Yamaha); 2. C. Klier (KTM); 3. M. Molnar (KTM).

200 A: 1. R. Henizerling (KTM); 2. C. Foust (KTM); 3. S. Sims (KTM) 4. J. Wright (KTM).

S/SR B: 1. Ronnie Jarvis (KTM); 2. M. Popp (KTM); 3. A. Schuler (KTM).

SR B: 1. M. Kelly (KTM); 2. D. Knecht (KTM); 3. F. Beckert (KTM).

VET B: 1. M. Vancise (Yamaha); 2. Jeremy Jarvis (KTM); 3. J. Yerkey (KTM).

OPEN B: 1. E. Kriberney (Yamaha); 2. J. Rinaldi (KTM); 3. J. Uhrig (KTM).

250 B: 1. J. Mills (KTM); 2. E. Bierhup (Kawasaki); 3. C. Skinner (KTM).

200 B: 1. B. Graves (KTM); 2. J. Kitchen (KTM).

OPEN C: 1. J. Malarkey (Honda); 2. L. Exline (KTM); 3. D. Dickerson (Kawasaki).