| April 9, 2024
Camp Claiborne in Forest Hill, Louisiana, was the host of the second round of the 2024 Redline Oil AMA National Enduro Series presented by Beta Motorcycles and MSR. The Acadiana Dirt Riders laid out 60 miles of challenging single track through the old military training grounds.
Josh Toth came on strong to win the Cajun Classic National Enduro.
By Logan Densmore | Photography by Mack Faint
Josh Toth is adding to his impressive resume by riding a schedule of multiple disciplines and proving that he can win at whatever event he is racing on any bike. Riding different brands and sizes of bikes throughout his busy schedule—the AMA National Enduro Championship being his only full-time series—Toth grabbed the win on his 350cc GasGas, sponsored by Enduro Engineering. The win puts him in the points battle for the 2024 season. Having a bit of a rough start with a bent front-brake rotor in the first test, Toth came on strong by test three and won the four final tests of the day en route to a 38-second win.
“I felt great today,” he said. “The trails were awesome all day. I put down a lead after test three and put in a little bit of a buffer and just tried to ride smart from there and finish strong. I am stoked to get this awesome trophy and get it home into the garage.” Toth’s winning prize was a unique, handmade Swamp Buggy trophy.
Babbitt’s Online Monster Energy Kawasaki Rider Grant Baylor finished second overall ahead of his brother Steward Baylor Jr. in the final test, just four-tenths of a second ahead. Grant, the defending champion, is playing catch-up in the points after a DNF in the first round of the season.
Grant Baylor, who DNF’d round one, rebounded with a second at the Cajun after a close battle with his brother, Steward.
“I came in with just the wrong settings and slowly got the settings dialed in for the day and put on a push at the end of the day,” Grant said. “It was a good day to come in and take the second place on the day. It was a rough day out there. I’m glad to gain some points back after a DNF at the first one.”
Rocky Mountain ATV/MC Red Bear Racing Kawasaki rider Steward Baylor Jr. is the only NE Pro1 rider so far to finish on the podium in the first two rounds.
“Man, the track was fun, like a big-turn track,” Steward said. I felt like I was riding good, but I would come in and see I got beat by more. Championship-wise, it was not terrible, but not quite what I wanted. I am looking forward to finishing in the middle of the box next time.”
Steward Baylor Jr. was third overall, finishing just four-tenths of a second behind his brother, Grant.
FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers’ Grant Davis finished fourth overall and first in the NE Pro2 class. Having a few tests inside the top three overall helped him build a more than two-minute lead in the NE Pro2 division.
“Training with the fastest guys all year round has helped me gain some speed, and I am riding well lately,” Davis said. “I have been working hard this year. So, it feels good that it is paying off.”
FMF KTM Factory Racing Team rider Johnny Girroir is still finding his enduro legs since the Sprint Enduro Champion is fairly new to this style of racing. He was able to put on a late charge to move up to the fifth overall position on the day.
Evan Smith, riding a Husqvarna, was able to win the opening test of the day and held on to a fifth-place NE Pro1-class position and sixth overall.
Rockstar Energy Factory Husqvarna rider Trevor Bollinger placed seventh overall, while AmPro Yamaha’s Ricky Russell placed eighth.
Grant Davis took the Pro2-class win in fourth overall.
Ninth overall and second in the NE Pro2 class was AmPro Yamaha’s Nathaniel “Bubz” Tasha. Bubz has finished on the NE Pro2 podium multiple times over the past two seasons.
“I was having a good day,” he said. “I like the fast smooth ones like this was. I’m happy to walk away with a second, and I am ready for Arkansas [the next round].”
Tenth overall and third in NE Pro2 was, once again, Nicholas Defeo on his Babbitt’s Online Monster Energy Kawasaki.
“I know where I need to get better,” he said. “I just need to keep practicing and keep learning. I am still new to the enduros, as this was just my third one ever.”
Nathaniel Tasha was second overall in Pro2.
It was a disappointing day for opening-round winner Ryder Lafferty who retired from the race with an engine issue.
Winning the Women’s Elite division was Rocky Mountain ATV/MC Red Bear Racing Kawasaki rider Rachael Archer. Archer won all five tests on the day to win by two minutes and 21 seconds over Shelby Turner.
Enduro Engineering’s Turner finished second in each test of the day. Brooke Cosner finished on the Women’s Elite podium for the first time in 2024 at the Cajun Classic.
Rachael Archer dominated the Women’s Elite class, winning five of the six tests.
The AA class top three saw Lane Whitmer, on a GasGas, take the win, with Trevor Hulin, on a KTM, in second and Huck Jenkins, on a Yamaha, fill out the podium.
Chase Landers won the Overall A class, Jacob McPherson won the Overall B class, and Reid Hess won the Overall C class.
The series will continue on May 5 in Kingston, Arkansas, for the Black Buffalo National Enduro presented by Redline Oil.CN
OVERALL (Top 10)
- Josh Toth (GG)
- Grant Baylor (Kaw)
- Steward Baylor Jr. (Kaw)
- Grant Davis (KTM)
- Johnny Girroir (KTM)
- Evan Smith (Hus)
- Trevor Bollinger (Hus)
- Ricky Russell (Yam)
- Nathaniel Tasha (Yam)
- Nicholas Defeo (Kaw)
