Kit Palmer | August 3, 2020
There was no denying FMF/KTM’s Josh Toth this time. After just missing out on winning last week’s Rattlesnake National Enduro in Pennsylvania, Toth jumped out to an early lead just like he did one week ago but this time held on to take the overall victory at the Little Raccoon National Enduro in Wellston, Ohio.
Toth, in fact, dominated the Little Raccoon by winning all of the enduro’s six tests, but he could never rest, because the Baylor brothers, Steward and Grant, were always right there, as they battled it out for second place.
Toth slowly but surely stretched out his lead throughout the day, eventually winning with a one minute and three-second gap between him and eventual runner-up, Steward Baylor.
The win was especially satisfying after coming up short the week before, where he led all day only to lose out in the very last test to Grant Baylor.
The win was Toth’s second of the year and third-career National Enduro victory.
Four-time National Enduro Champion, Steward Baylor, purchased a new Kawasaki on the Thursday before the Little Raccoon and had about 15 minutes on it when he got down to business Sunday. The South Carolina rider said he had no expectations coming into the event, but managed a solid runner-up finish after battling back and forth with his brother, Grant, on the FactoryONE Sherco.
Steward says his plan is to race all of the major brands before making a decision on a team for 2021.
Grant, who won last week’s enduro, took third overall but still remains atop the 2020 series standings by 12 points over Toth.
Grant finished the race 20 seconds behind his brother.
Ben Kelley was fourth. The FMF KTM rider won the opening round of the season but has finished with three straight fourth-place finishes since then.
Fifth overall was XC Gear/Enduro Engineering Husqvarna’s Ryder Lafferty. Lafferty, the nephew of eight-time champ Mike Lafferty, finished third overall in the opening round of the season and has been working hard to get back on the podium.
Thorn Devlin finished sixth. The Beta USA rider was fourth in test five behind Toth, and the Baylor brothers. In the overall standings, he was just 29 seconds behind Kelley.
Cory Buttrick rode a privateer Husqvarna to seventh overall, just a bit under two minutes behind Devlin. Although he’s been concentrating on GNCC, Buttrick grew up in nearby Logan, Ohio, so this race was a natural for him to ride.
760 Husqvarna’s Ben Nelko was eighth overall and first in the NE Pro2 class.
Beta USA’s Cody Barnes was ninth overall and second in the NE Pro 2 class. “I rode pretty solid, only a couple little mistakes here and there,” said Barnes. “My Beta 250RR was running awesome and was handling great. Overall it was a good day. Just need to limit some mistakes and go a little bit faster and hopefully come out with the win the next one.”
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Craig Delong rounded out the top 10 and finished third in the NE Pro 2 division.
Rachel Gutish raced the day before and won the Battle of the Goats in North Carolina, and then drove all night to compete at the Little Raccoon Enduro, coming away with first in the Women’s Elite class.
Enduro Engineering/ Mepmx/Fly KTM’s Mackenzie Tricker finished second, 49 seconds behind Gutish.
BABB’s Racing’s Becca Sheets rounded out the podium in the Women’s Elite class.
Kole Henslee (KTM) won the AA class ahead of Michael Pillar (Yam), with Will Sievenpiper (KTM) in third. Luke Ross topped the Open A class ahead of fellow KTM riders Eric Douglass and Brad Mohr.
The Kenda AMA National Enduro Series resumes on August 23 for the Grassman National Enduro in Chandlersville, Ohio, for round five of its series. CN
2020 Kenda AMA National Enduro Series
Little Raccoon National Enduro
Wellston, Ohio
RESULTS (August 2, 2020)
OVERALL (Top 10)
1. Josh Toth |
(KTM) |
2. Steward Baylor |
(Kaw) |
3. Grant Baylor |
(She) |
4. Ben Kelley |
(KTM) |
5. Ryder Lafferty |
(Hus) |
6. Thorn Devlin |
(Bet) |
7. Cory Buttrick |
(Hus) |
8. Ben Nelko |
(Hus) |
9. Cody Barnes |
(Bet) |
10. Craig Delong |
(Hus) |