Press Release | August 5, 2019
GNCC XC2 champion and Red Bull Romaniacs winner ready to tackle TKO
This is a press release from TKO…
Sequatchie, TN (August 5, 2019) – FMF KTM’s Cody Webb, the six-time winner of the Kenda Tennessee Knockout, will miss the 2019 TKO while he recovers from a knee injury. But the KTM team will be well represented with Ben Kelley riding his Trail Jesters KTM Racing Team mount. The team will also host Manuel Lettenbichler, the young German rider that finished second at the 2018 TKO. Both riders will be competing on 300 XC-W TPI two-strokes when the ninth annual TKO invades the Trials Training Center on August 16-18.
Kelley was the surprise of the 2016 TKO when he earned a spot in Sunday’s competition by winning the Saturday amateur race. He then finished a strong fourth in Sunday’s main against a stacked field of better-known riders. He went on to join the Trail Jesters KTM team and won the 2018 GNCC XC2 championship and is currently undefeated in the 2019 title chase. It would not be a surprise to see the youngster from Connecticut win at the 2019 TKO.
Manuel Lettenbichler is one of the stars of international Extreme Enduro racing. The twenty-one-year-old German has learned a lot from his father, Andreas, who was one of the pioneers of Extreme Enduro competition. “Manny” has several major wins and podium finishes to his credit, including a win at the 2019 Red Bull Romaniacs to go along with a win at the Machete Hard Enduro in the Dominican Republic and a second place finish at this year’s Erzberg Rodeo. Lettenbichler finished second to Webb in 2018 so he will be one to watch.
The 2019 TKO will again serve as the AMA Grand Championship for Extreme Enduro with the Amateur riders competing in a Friday afternoon Prologue and then two rounds or racing on Saturday. The top 30 riders from Saturday will also earn the opportunity to compete on Sunday with the pre-qualified pro riders. The pre-qualified Sunday riders earn an invite based on top results in several major U.S. or International off-road motorcycle series and events. Top-25 pro finishers from the prior year’s TKO also earn a spot on the Sunday invite list.
The Sunday racing uses a unique four round Knockout race format that is challenging for the riders and entertaining for the fans. The course layout provides a lot of great spectator locations with some unbelievably challenging terrain for all four Knockout rounds. Mark your calendar for the weekend of August 16-18 to see the worlds best racers face off against the track and each other.
There is also a Women’s class with a separate main event that will run on Saturday afternoon. This is an AMA Grand Championship class and women riders can still enter.
Mark your calendar for the weekend of August 16-18 to see the worlds best racers face off against the track and each other.
Check out the video for highlights of some of the previous Kenda Tennessee Knockout events here:
2018 Highlights: https://youtu.be/DUOE0z7q42o
2017 Highlights: https://youtu.be/z8-RuVTbXjQ
2016 Red Bull TV Tennessee Knockout show: https://www.redbull.tv/video/AP-1QAU6F7C92111/recap-slick-and-muddy?playlist=AP-1QAU6F7C92111
2016 Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJfGKieHOYQ
2015 Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99Yqa9Uh-nw
2014 Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JZQAsUa1rk
2013 Highlights: http://youtu.be/VqJZnQBdTZ8
2012 Highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Moyylu0KN68&feature=plcp
For more information about the Kenda Tennessee Knockout, presented by Moose Racing and SRT, please visit: http://tennesseeknockoutenduro.com/
For general information please contact: Catherine.Bedley@trialstrainingcenter.com
For Expert rider race information please contact: Eric@ericperonnard.com
For Sponsorship information please contact: Sean.Finley@digitalthrottle.com