| May 6, 2024
Consistent rain all week led to a wet and challenging enduro for the third annual Red Line Oil Black Buffalo National Enduro in Kingston, Arkansas. The area received multiple inches of rain during the week, including a quick, harsh storm on Saturday afternoon. The Sunday race also received rain for much of the 55-mile, six-test event.
Josh Toth moved into the series points lead after winning the Black Buffalo National Enduro in Arkansas.
By Logan Densmore | Photography by Mack Faint
Some racers may have just been in survival mode, while others pushed through the day, putting in impressive rides despite the conditions. Enduro racing is not easy, and part of it is tackling the conditions as much as navigating the course.
Josh Toth became the first multi-time winner in the 2024 Red Line Oil AMA National Enduro Series aboard his Enduro Engineering-backed GasGas. Putting in the fastest times in three of the six tests, Toth built a 29-second gap at the close of the race.
“My day was solid; pretty much had a decent tipover in every test of the day, just hitting rocks that I didn’t see,” Toth said. “I tried to minimize mistakes and keep moving forward all day. The track was technical and challenging all day, but it made for a true enduro. It was miserable weather conditions, but that made it much more rewarding to come out on top.”
Grant Baylor won a couple of tests, but was nearly 30 seconds behind Toth at the end of the day for second overall.
After coming into round three tied with Steward Baylor Jr. in points, Toth now has a 12-point lead in the 2024 championship.
Babbitt’s Online /Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Grant Baylor started the day a little off the mark. Baylor was able to find his speed by the third test and went on to win two of the remaining four tests, pushing him up into the second overall position by the end of the day.
Third overall was an impressive ride by NE Pro2 winner Grant Davis. Davis started with the fastest time in test one aboard his FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers 250 XC-F. Davis was building a lead in the NE Pro2 division all day as well as fighting for the overall podium.
Grant Davis led from start to finish in the NE Pro2 division and made the overall podium in third.
“It was a great day coming out, first test, and winning the overall in it,” Davis said. “I just kept a nice smooth speed all day, until test five: I got stuck on a hill for about 45 seconds and lost some time to first and second overall. Other than that, the tests were awesome.”
Fourth overall and third in NE Pro1 was Rocky Mountain ATV/MC Red Bear Kawasaki rider Steward Baylor Jr., who said he started off the day with a big crash about three turns in on the opening test. For a day that didn’t start off great, Steward turned it around to grab a top three finish in the NE Pro1 class.
Fifth overall was Max Motorsports Husqvarna rider Evan Smith, while Coastal GasGas Factory Racing rider Ryder Lafferty was sixth overall.
Davis (center) Hunter Bush (left) and Will Sievenpiper made up the NE Pro2 podium.
Reiner Pump Racing GasGas rider Hunter Bush had an impressive ride in the wet, rocky terrain of Arkansas. Bush is no stranger to rocks and typically does well in the more technical conditions.
“It was a good day for me,” Bush said. “I came to the race wanting some redemption after a mechanical issue that ended my day early in Louisiana [round two]. I stayed pretty smooth all day and only hit the ground once. Somehow, I lost my rear brakes in the transfer to test six, so I had to ride test six with no rear brakes. I really enjoyed the terrain; I always look forward to the more technical rounds.”
Rocky Mountain ATV/MC Red Bear Kawasaki’s Will Sievenpiper grabbed his first podium of the 2024 season with an impressive third-place NE Pro2 finish and eighth overall.
“My day was solid for the most part,” Sievenpiper said. “I was pretty frustrated with myself on the fourth test, as I got stuck on one of the hillclimbs scattered with a ton of guys. I tried to parallel the hill after getting stuck, and midway, I ended up getting stuck in a gnarly rock garden. I had to turn around and go back down to eventually get up. I felt like I could have put it in the top five overall for that not happening.”
Coastal GasGas Racing Jordan Ashburn made a rare appearance in the National Enduro Series and finished ninth overall, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider Trevor Bollinger completed the top 10.
Rachael Archer won the Women’s Elite class to extend her points lead.
Rocky Mountain ATV/MC Red Bear Racing Kawasaki’s Rachael Archer won the Women’s Elite class and extended her points lead. Archer won four of the five tests in the Women’s Elite class.
“I had a great day,” she said. “I crashed hard in test three and broke a handguard off. That hurt my finger, but, other than that, I had a lot of fun in the rain.”
Returning to the National Enduro Series after missing round two, Rachel Gutish put her Sherco in the second overall position in the Women’s Elite class.
“The track was awesome, and I had a blast,” Gutish said. “I struggled a bit early on. Once the rain hit, it shook me out of it and put a smile on my face. I was able to get it together and come away with one test win. Thanks to the NEPG and the Buffalo Trail Riders Club for another great event.”
Chase Landers was the top A-class rider and was 13th overall.
The Red Line Oil AMA National Enduro Series will return to racing at the historic Rocky Mountain ATV/MC Cherokee National Enduro in Greensboro, Georgia, on June 9.CN
2024 AMA National Enduro Round 3 Results
OVERALL
- Josh Toth (GG)
- Grant Baylor (Kaw)
- Grant Davis (KTM)
- Steward Baylor Jr. (Kaw)
- Evan Smith (Hus)
- Ryder Lafferty (GG)
- Hunter Bush (GG)
- Will Sievenpiper (Kaw)
- Jordan Ashburn (GG)
- Trevor Bollinger (Hus)
