AmPro Yamaha’s Liam Draper returned to the top step of the podium as the Red Line Oil American National Enduro Championship (ANEC), presented by MSR Racing, headed to McArthur, Ohio, for the Helmet House Little Raccoon National Enduro, June 21.
Story by Tyler Shepardson | Photos by Art Pepin
Round five of the championship delivered one of the most traditional and demanding events of the season. Nearly 100 miles of racing and transfer sections awaited riders throughout the hills of Southern Ohio, while overnight rain transformed the terrain into a slick and technical challenge that tested riders from the opening test to the final miles of the day.
After surrendering the championship points lead at the previous round in Georgia, Draper responded in impressive fashion. The AmPro Yamaha rider navigated treacherous conditions throughout the day and held off late pressure from Rocky Mountain ATV/MC Red Bear Racing Kawasaki’s Josh Toth to claim the overall victory.
“I definitely got smoked in Georgia [round four], so I had my work cut out to get the points lead back,” Draper said. “It was probably my favorite enduro so far.”
Despite a crash in the final test after getting stuck in a mudhole, Draper held on to win and reclaimed valuable championship momentum heading into the second half of the season.
Toth battled through multiple crashes of his own but remained in contention throughout the day, ultimately finishing second overall.
“It was treacherous out there in spots,” Toth said. “I had a rough day with a lot of crashes but did my best to stay moving forward.”
Rocky Mountain ATV/MC Red Bear Racing Kawasaki’s Steward Baylor Jr rounded out the Pro1 podium in third. Baylor struggled early after making a tire setup change before the race but found improved pace during the second half of the event. Despite a frustrating final test that included multiple mistakes and a crash in a creek crossing, Baylor salvaged another podium finish while praising the Appalachian Dirt Riders Club for producing one of the most traditional events of the year.
The biggest surprise of the day came from the Pro2 ranks, where Liqui Moly Factory Beta’s Jhak Walker delivered one of the strongest rides of his career. Walker not only captured the Pro2 victory but also broke into the overall podium with a third-place finish against the Pro1 field.
The Illinois native adapted perfectly to the slick Ohio conditions and rode his two-stroke to perfection throughout the day.
“The conditions were very similar to home,” Walker said. “A little slick, rooty and off-camber, but I had a lot of fun today.”
Walker dominated the Pro2 division, sweeping all seven tests on the day en route to the class victory.
FMF Red Bull KTM’s Jason Tino battled back from multiple crashes in the opening tests to secure second place in Pro2 and valuable championship points. Tino admitted he may have pushed too hard early in the race, then regrouped and charged back through the field.
Ryan Piper completed the Pro2 podium after a consistent ride that saw him running near the top 10 overall early in the event before settling into a podium position.
In the Pro Women’s division, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Korie Steede remained undefeated in ANEC competition this season. Steede swept all seven tests and overcame a dramatic incident in test five that saw her become trapped between trees after crashing on a hillclimb.
“There was a five-person bottleneck on the hill,” Steede said. “It took four people to get my bike unstuck.”
Despite the setback, Steede regrouped and continued her dominant season with another class victory.
Taylor Johnston finished second in the Pro Women’s division after battling the increasingly slick conditions throughout the afternoon.
“I feel like I needed studded tires out there to get any traction,” Johnston joked after the race. The Helmet House Little Raccoon National Enduro proved to be one of the most challenging rounds of the season, rewarding riders who could balance speed and patience across nearly 100 miles of racing. As the championship enters its second half, both the Pro1 and Pro2 title fights remain firmly in the spotlight heading into the next round.CN
2026 American National Enduro Round 5 Results
OVERALL (Top 10)
- Liam Draper (Yam)
- Josh Toth (Kaw)
- Jhak Walker (Bet)
- Steward Baylor Jr (Kaw)
- Craig DeLong (Hus)
- Grant Baylor (Kaw)
- Ryder Lafferty (Hon)
- Jason Tino (KTM)
- Ryan Piper (KTM)
- James Jenkins (Tri)
Click here to read the 2026 Little Raccoon National Enduro Story in the Cycle News Digital Edition Magazine.
