2026 AMA U.S. Sprint Enduro Round 1 Results

Shan Moore | February 2, 2026

After missing half of the 2025 season due to a mild concussion sustained at the Camp Coker GNCC, 2024 AMA U.S. Sprint Enduro Champion and FMF KTM Factory Racing rider Johnny Girroir returned to form in a big way, capturing the overall win at the opening round of the 2026 U.S. Sprint Enduro Series at Climax Motorsports Park in Climax, Georgia.

Johnny Girroir at 2026 Southland Sprint Enduro — **Johnny Girroir wants the number-one plate back and got off to a good start by winning the opening round of the AMA U.S. Sprint Enduro Championship in Georgia.**

By Shan Moore | Photography by Jade Barnes

Girroir was strong from the start, winning three of six tests on Saturday, then matching that performance with three more test wins on Sunday to seal the overall victory of the Southland Sprint Enduro.

While much of the East Coast was dealing with snow, south-central Georgia was spared the white stuff. Aside from cold temperatures, conditions were nearly perfect, setting the stage for a spectacular weekend of racing.

Although Girroir is no stranger to dominating the series, this weekend was anything but easy. A deep field of talented and noticeably improved competition kept the pressure on throughout both days.

“It was a good start to my year,” said Girroir on Sunday. “It was a little tighter yesterday. I had a nasty crash on the Cross test, and then Grant just obliterated me in the last Enduro test. Everyone’s ripping this year. Cody [Barnes] had three good tests to finish out the weekend, and Grant [Davis] was flying, too. He keeps me on my toes, so it should be an interesting season.”

Grant Davis at 2026 Southland Sprint Enduro — **Now competing in the Pro 1 class, 2025 Pro 2-class Champion Grant Davis and runner-up in Georgia made life difficult for the winner, Girroir.**

Davis, one of Girroir’s FMF KTM Factory Racing teammates, showed exactly why he’s considered one of the sport’s rising stars. The Pennsylvania rider finished second overall, just 14 seconds in overall time behind Girroir, and picked up an Enduro test win on Saturday.

“I’m happy with my riding,” said Davis. “But I want to beat Johnny one of these days. He was definitely going fast. I had a pretty good crash today, but other than that, it was a solid weekend.”

AmPro Yamaha’s Liam Draper rounded out the podium in third. While Draper admitted he hoped for more, he also acknowledged that a podium finish at the start of the season is far from a bad result.

Liam Draper at 2026 Southland Sprint Enduro — **Defending champ Liam Draper was third overall.**

“It was a better day yesterday, for sure,” said Draper. “Today the boys smoked me, but we’ll keep working. I guess it’s a good start to the season—at least I’m up here on the box.”

Liqui Moly Beta’s Cody Barnes took fourth overall as he continued adjusting to a new team and a new bike. Barnes made steady changes throughout the weekend and capped off Sunday by winning three of the final four tests.

“It was always going to be a learning curve switching from an aluminum frame to a steel frame,” said Barnes. “I’d been on Honda for four years, so there was definitely some adjusting to do. My mechanic, Denny, and my wife, Jade, kept me steady, and we just kept trying things—changing sag, changing clickers—until it started to feel right. By the end, I knew I could be the fastest guy out there, so it was a very productive weekend.”

Brody Johnson at 2026 Southland Sprint Enduro — **Brody Johnson was the Pro 2 winner and fifth overall.**

Husqvarna’s Brody Johnson topped the Pro 2 division with an impressive fifth overall finish. Johnson won five of six Pro 2 tests on Saturday and followed that up with four more test wins on Sunday.

“Saturday was good,” said Johnson. “I won all but three of the 12 tests this weekend. I still need to work on my sprint speed in the Cross tests, but that’s something I’m looking forward to improving.”

KTM’s Cooper Jones edged out Liqui Moly Beta’s Jhak Walker by just six seconds to claim seventh overall and second in Pro 2, with Walker finishing ninth overall and third in Pro 2.

Colton Shields at 2026 Southland Sprint Enduro — **Colton Shields was the top Pro-Am rider in sixth overall.**

Husqvarna rider Colton Shields went a perfect six for six in test wins on Saturday, setting himself up for a controlled ride on Sunday to secure the Pro-Am class win and sixth overall.

“Sunday was a little tougher,” said Shields. “I won the first test, but I kept losing my brakes in the Enduro test, which set me back. Still, I’m happy with the Pro-Am win.”

Kawasaki’s Will Sievenpiper finished second in Pro-Am and eighth overall, while GasGas rider Cole Whitmer rounded out the Pro-Am podium and was 10th overall.

Danielle McDonald at 2026 Southland Sprint Enduro — **Danielle McDonald (pictured) edged out Brandy Richards by three seconds for the Pro Women victory.**

In the Pro Women division, Danielle McDonald (Yamaha) took the overall win after trading victories with FMF KTM’s Brandy Richards. Richards won Saturday’s event, while McDonald came out on top Sunday, with just three seconds separating the two after 12 tests.

“It was a good weekend for me here in Georgia,” said McDonald. “Brandy and I went back and forth, so she definitely made it hard on me. We had some great racing, and I’m really looking forward to the next round.”

Richards finished second overall in the Pro Women class, with Ellie Winland (Yamaha) taking third. Doc Smith earned top Amateur honors for the weekend with an overall win in the 250 A class.

Barnes recorded the fastest Enduro time of the weekend, while Girroir posted the fastest Cross test time across both days. CN