Cycle News Staff | February 13, 2024
The opening round of the 2024 Red Line Oil AMA National Enduro Series, presented by Beta Motorcycles and MSR, was the FMF Sumter National Enduro. The event was held near the Air Force base in Sumter, South Carolina, where sandy soil and epic conditions met the riders as they began the 2024 series.
After finishing second at the previous two Sumter Enduros, Ryder Lafferty finally came away with the win to start the 2024 championship.
Photography by Mack Faint
Ryder Lafferty came into the season ready to make a statement, and he did just that, winning five out of the six test sections en route to a 43-second margin of victory.
“I got second place here the last two years,” Lafferty said. “I wanted to make sure I came in and take a win away from the Baylors.”
Steward Baylor Jr. was never far behind en route to second overall.
Lafferty is continuing with the Coastal GasGas Factory Racing team and now holds the points lead after the first round.
Second overall was Steward Baylor Jr., onboard his new ride with the newly formed Red Bear Rocky Mountain Kawasaki team.
“I really made sure that we got our team with the right equipment and get the bike dialed in so we can come out swinging in the first round,” Baylor said.
Steward was the only rider who was able to take a test win away from Lafferty, and that happened in test five.
Sprint Enduro specialist Johnny Girroir is now also focusing on the AMA National Enduro Championship and got off to a good start with third overall.
A new face to the National Enduro scene was sprint enduro specialist Johnny Girroir, who took the final spot on the NE Pro1 podium in third overall on his Factory KTM. Girroir had a get-off in the first test of the day to put him in a hole early.
“It was a good day!” said Girroir, who was aboard a KTM 350 XC-F. “I started off a little rough with the first test with a mishap when I hit something at speed, then started flying through the air. From there, I clawed my way back all day and ended up on the podium, so it was a good way to start the series with FMF KTM Factory Racing, and I’m looking forward to the next one now.”
Girroir was able to take the second-fastest time in three of the tests later in the day.
Grant Davis was the Pro2 winner aboard the new Landers KTM Team bike
Fourth overall on the day was AmPro Yamaha rider Ricky Russell.
Fifth overall was Enduro Engineering GasGas rider Josh Toth and sixth overall was Red Bear Rocky Mountain Kawasaki rider Thad Duvall.
Evan Smith was able to take seventh overall on his Max Motorsports Husqvarna. Defending National Enduro Champion Grant Baylor suffered a mechanical problem in test five, knocking him out of contention after running within a shot of the podium.
First place in the NE Pro2 class and eighth overall was Landers KTM rider Grant Davis. Davis, aboard the KTM 250 XC-F, won the first two tests of the day before giving some time back in the middle portion of the day. In the sixth and final test, Grant put in the fastest Pro2 time to take the win by 21 seconds.
“Today was good, a fun day honestly, and it was the tightest enduro I’ve ever raced,” said Davis. “I am pumped to come out with the win. It was a great start for us with FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers, and I’m excited to keep things going!”
Nathaniel “Bubz” Tasha was second in the Pro2 class.
Nathaniel “Bubz” Tasha was ninth overall and second in NE Pro2 aboard his AmPro Yamaha.
“I am really happy with my bike,” Bubz said. “I feel like I can go fast because I am comfortable on it.”
Bubz was able to win the third test on the day.
Another new face on the Pro podium was 10th overall and third in NE Pro2. That rider was Babbitt Kawasaki rider Nicholas Defeo. Defeo rode one other National Enduro in 2021 in the B class. Sumter was his first NE Pro2 race, and he was able to take the final spot on the podium.
A notable non-finisher was Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory rider Trevor Bollinger, who withdrew after just two tests.
“Due to an unfortunate mechanical, my day ultimately ended early,” Bollinger said. “It’s part of racing.”
Kawasaki-mounted Rachael Archer dominated the Women’s Elite class.
Winning the Women’s Elite class at the FMF Sumter round was Red Bear Rocky Mountain Kawasaki rider Rachael Archer. The New Zealander won the final three of five sections. She found her groove in the later part of the day and was able to stretch the margin to over a minute over second place.
Rachel Gutish was second in Women’s Elite class on her new Sherco ride.
Rachel Gutish was second in the Women’s Elite class on her new Sherco ride. Gutish was able to grab the first two test wins.
“I’m happy to be on a real enduro bike with a headlight and kickstand,” she said. “I had a pretty smooth day and was happy with how I rode.”
Fresh off two knee surgeries last year was the Women’s Elite third-place rider Shelby Turner on her new Enduro Engineering GasGas ride. The Canadian rider said she was getting better as the day went on and felt the best at the end of the day.
Top AA rider was Caleb Baltimore on a KTM. The overall A-class winner was Chase Landers on a KTM. Jacob McPherson was the top B-class rider. Brayden Clark, on a Kawasaki, was the fastest C-class rider.
The next stop on the 2024 Red Line Oil AMA National Enduro Series circuit is on April 7 in Forest Hill, Louisiana, for the Beta Motorcycles Cajun Classic National Enduro. CN
OVERALL
- Ryder Lafferty (GG)
- Steward Baylor Jr. (Kaw)
- Johnny Girroir (KTM)
- Ricky Russell (Yam)
- Josh Toth (GG)
- Thad Duvall (Kaw)
- Evan Smith (Hus)
- Grant Davis (KTM)
- Nathaniel Tasha (Yam)
- Nicholas Defeo (Kaw)
