Shan Moore | July 25, 2022
After scoring no points at round three of the Kenda AMA National Enduro Series due to a race-ending injury and finishing second at the previous round in Georgia, Steward Baylor got back on top of the podium with a come-from-behind win at the Rattlesnake Enduro in Cross Fork, Pennsylvania. It was the AmPro Yamaha rider’s first win since the opening round in Sumter, South Carolina.
Series points leader Coastal Racing GasGas’ Ryder Lafferty took control of the race after test two of the six-test, 60-mile event, and led the race until the rocky fifth test when Baylor picked up the pace considerably and moved into the lead, ultimately beating Lafferty by nine seconds at the finish, despite winning only two tests on the day.
Photos by Shan Moore
“We were all really close all day, but that fifth test always stands out for me here,” said Steward. “It’s just one of those tests, and it kind of played into my favor. I knew that test was coming, and I just made sure I rode really good. I actually pushed the front end and lost 10 or 12 seconds, and still I think I put more than 30 seconds on the rest of the guys in that one. That was just the advantage we needed.”
Lafferty looked to have the race well in hand, but Steward’s performance in the fifth test, combined with a crash by Lafferty, gave Steward just the edge he needed to take the win.
“The only one I didn’t feel myself in was the fifth test,” said Lafferty. “I had a crash in that one, but still was pretty good. It was just that Stew crushed it.”
Lafferty won the sixth and final test in an effort to wrestle the lead back from Steward; it was not enough. In the end, Lafferty had three wins on the day compared to Steward’s two, but Steward’s fifth-test flurry was the difference in the race.
Lafferty’s Coastal Racing GasGas teammate Ricky Russell turned in his best performance of the series with a third overall, taking advantage of his rock-riding ability.
“I’m a rock guy,” said Russell. “It’s a little bit sketchy, but sometimes I enjoy that because I like hanging it out a little bit. I just rode good all day and consistent; didn’t overdo it.”
Rev Motorsports GasGas’ Grant Baylor finished fourth overall despite two big crashes and nearly breaking his hand.
“It was kind of dry and dusty today, so it was kind of a treacherous track, to say the least,” said Grant. “The second test I went down, and I thought I broke my hand. It started to swell up. It was throbbing and had some sharp pains, but then the next test I got going, and it got loosened back up. Then I had another big wreck in the fourth test. I just need to keep it on two wheels and I think we could have had a better result.”
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Craig Delong, who won the first test, a grass track, finished seven seconds behind Grant to take fifth, despite a fall that cost him several seconds.
“I had a tip-over and had to pull my bike out from behind a tree, so I lost a couple seconds there,” said DeLong. “I feel like I would have been 10 seconds faster, which would have put me in third. I was just kind of a little bit off, but I was a little bit hesitant, just with the rocks.”
FMF/KTM’s Josh Toth was still recovering from a bought of Covid and didn’t have the energy to finish higher than sixth.
Beta USA’s Evan Smith finished seventh in five of the six tests and finished seventh overall. It was Smith’s first time to race a two-stroke in the rocks.
Magna1 Motorsports Husqvarna’s Brody Johnson won the NE Pro2 class with eighth overall. The win was Johnson’s second in a row.
“Today was actually the first time I started on the front row, since I won the last race,” said Brody. “So, that was a little different. I had them chasing me all day. I don’t think I fell over or anything all day. Just a nice, smooth day.”
Brody’s brother, Beta USA’s Jonathan Johnson, was just over a minute behind in ninth overall and second in the NE Pro2 class.
“I just made some stupid little mistakes and got down a little bit on Brody,” said Jonathan. “The last two tests, I didn’t do so hot. So, back to the drawing board. We’re going to see what we can work on and improve and see if we can’t take it to Brody next weekend.”
Hard Enduro ace Ryder LeBlond rounded out the top 10 overall for third place in the NE Pro2 division.
Enduro Engineering/Fly Racing KTM’s Mackenzie Tricker topped AmPro Yamaha’s Rachael Archer to win the Women’s Elite class. The two riders went back and forth for most the first race.
“In test four, I went down twice, but only lost the test by four seconds,” said Tricker. “Then we went into the last test up five seconds on Rachael, so I knew it was going to be close. It was super rocky, and we went into that first rock garden. There were some lappers stuck in there already from the row ahead. It was a super-demanding test, honestly. I didn’t crash or anything, but I was smoked by the end of it. I don’t normally do great in rocks, so really, to be honest, this is a great day for me. So, I’m stoked.”
Archer finished second with Bonanza Plumbing GasGas’ Rachel Gutish finishing third.
In the overall championship, Lafferty extended his lead over Grant Baylor. They came into the enduro separated by just one point. Now, Lafferty leads Grant by eight points, and Steward is third with 101.
Josh Toth, who was holding down fourth in the championship, did not compete, as he is still recovering from an injury. CN
OVERALL RESULTS
- Steward Baylor (Yam)
- Ryder Lafferty (GG)
- Ricky Russell (GG)
- Grant Baylor (GG)
- Craig DeLong (Hus)
- Josh Toth (KTM)
- Evan Smith (Bet)
- Brody Johnson (Hus)
- Jonathan Johnson (Bet)
- Ryder LeBlond (Hus)
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