Husqvarna’s Mike Brown attacks the desert section of the Enduro Challenge Course during the Mesquite Off-Road Weekend in Mesquite, Nevada. Brown topped both the Pro and Vet Pro events. Photography by ifilm, UT
Wet dirt and cool temperatures turn the deserts of the Southwestern into a winter utopia for off-roaders – the perfect setting for the crew in Mesquite, Nevada to once again hold the Mesquite Off-Road Weekend. For the third year in a row, Mesquite, Nevada and the Eureka Casino Resort hosted the off-road festival that drew out some of the best off-road racers and freestyle motocrossers in the world. Unique and creative challenges kept riders on their toes, and fans entertained, throughout the weekend, as the pros battled for the $20,000 purse. In the end, it was Mike Brown and “Cowboy” Kenny Bartram taking home the biggest chunks of change in the Pro and Beyond Pro classes, respectively.
Enduro Challenge
The Enduro Challenge race at the Mesquite Off-Road Weekend provided a familiar format for riders. The GP-like course took racers through motocross, EnduroCross and off-road sections, and Pros completed two 20-minute motos.
Husqvarna’s Mike Brown and Kawasaki-mounted Destry Abbott had some good battles in both motos, but in the end it was Mike Brown taking the win in both races, and topping the podium with a 1-1 score.
“In the last race of the Pro class my bike didn’t start real quick so I was dead last off the start,” said Brown. “[Destry] got a good start, so it was a good race trying to catch up to him and get around him.”
“I led most of it, then Brown got by me with like three laps to go,” Abbott recalled. “I finished about four seconds behind him. Not too disappointed.”
Destry Abbott of DA8 Training finished second in both the Pro and Vet Pro events – both times behind Brown. Photography by ifilm, UT
Abbott held on for a 2-2 finish while Beta USA’s Max Gerston rounded out the podium with a 4-3 finish. SRT/KTM’s Cory Graffunder barely missed the podium with his 3-4 tally while Tucker Larrieu rounded out the top-five with a pair of fifths.
Brownie helped himself to anther victory in the Vet division, carding another 1-1 overall, once again ahead of Abbott who finished second in both motos. Rory Sullivan rounded out the Vet podium, which proved to be nearly as competitive as the Pro feature.
Young Cooper Abbott made dad proud by taking the overall win in the Amateur class with a 1-2 score.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Colton Haaker had a rough time in Mesquite. He came into the weekend as one of the heavy favorites for the podium, but a practice crash during the week left him too banged up to compete. Haaker started the first moto, but pulled off commenting that he “tried to stomach [the pain], but it was too much.”
Beyond Pro Championship Race
The weekend culminated with the “Beyond Pro Championship Race” – a very unique race that combines elements of Freestyle and EnduroCross together into one very entertaining event.
Destry Abbott explained a little about the Beyond Pro format, that pits the off-road racers against freestyle riders…
“We [the off-road racers] have a ramp we ride over – it’s like 50-55 feet. The freestyle guys were cool enough to help us out; they pulled us over a few times in practice. Then we have our own EnduroCross section we go through while they do a 75-foot ramp and have to do a trick. Then we race each other. Their section is definitely a little bit easier, but it’s still fun. It’s a great show!”
“Cowboy” Kenny Bartram shows off his Beyond Pro trophy – making him a three-time winner at the Mesquite Off-Road event. Photography by ifilm, UT
If there ever was a race made for “Cowboy” Kenny Bartram, the Beyond Pro race is it.
Combining his freestyle skills and his speed on the track (which is pretty impressive), Bartram powered his way to the big win. He and Mike Brown had a great battle going for most of the race, as Bartram hounded him for the lead lap after lap. Brown was headed for the trifecta on the weekend, but couldn’t quite pull it off.
“That was absolutely the most intense race, much more than the last two years,” Bartram said. “I was racing for everything I had to catch Brownie. During the race I almost under-rotated a backflip and died! It took me a second to re-group and breathe after that, but somehow I rode it out.”
Despite the blunder, Bartram kept going strong, and finally got the opportunity he needed late in the race when Brown ran into trouble.
Freestyle motocrosser Aaron Murray takes flight. Photography by ifilm, UT
“I had it until a lap or two to go, but lappers crashed in front of me,” Brown lamented. “That’s part of it.”
It was just the break Bartram needed to capture his third-consecutive win in as many races, making him the undefeated Beyond Pro of the Mesquite Off-road Weekend.
“That was unfortunate because I don’t like to win like that, but a win is a win,” Bartram said. “It was intense – that’s for sure!”
Results:
Pro:
1. Mike Brown (Hus)
2. Destry Abbott (Kaw)
3. Max Gerston (Bet)
4. Cory Graffunder (KTM)
5. Tucker Larrieu (KTM)
Vet:
1. Mike Brown (Hus)
2. Destry Abbott (Kaw)
3. Rory Sullivan (Unk)
4. Travis Newbold (Unk)
5. Jake Simmons (Unk)
Beyond Pro:
1. Kenny Bartram (KTM)
2. Mike Brown (Hus)
3. Brett Cue (Unk)
4. Destry Abbott (Kaw)
5. Cory Graffunder (KTM)
6. Nate Adams (Unk)
7. Tucker Larrieu (Unk)
8. Nick Thompson (Unk)
9. Max Gerston (Bet)
10. Aaron Murray (Hon)
