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EDITORIAL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF // ADVERTISING MANAGER: Steph Vetterly: stephanie@onthepegsmagazine.com

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Tyler Shepardson

Pep Segales

Art Pepin

Ron Golden

Josh Schucker

Shawn McGinnis

Lorena Walker

Lizz Williams

Sarah Marie Lane

Future7Media Angel Volkart Kylie Kulpa // Eighteen Photos

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MAGAZINE

Issue 08 • August 2026 Product Spotlight

Seat Time: Ken Roczen's Training

On the Pegs Podcast - How Kairos Became an Off-Road Destination

NATC: Casales and Hoover Sweep Turkey Rock

TrialGP: Bou and Rabino Dominate Great Britain

Trials. Life. And MOTA

EnduroGP: Garcia Seals the Crown in France

USHE: River Monster Unleashed

OHE: Mud, Momentum, and Pure DETERMINATION at Down Home Farm

JDay: Cokinos Sweeps Southwick

Jhak Walker Makes National Enduro History

AHRMA's Mid-Atlantic Summer Blockbuster Season

By Brian Pierce

By Steph Vetterly

By Ron Golden

By Steph Vetterly

By Angel Volkart

By Kylie Kulpa // Eighteen Photos

By Tyler Shepardson

By Josh Schucker

ON THE COVER Toni Bou remained untouchable at the TrialGP of Great Britain, sweeping all four races at Anglesey to extend his perfect 2026 run to 16 consecutive victories and build a 90-point championship lead. PEP SEGALES August 2026

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August 2026

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August 2026

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if you’re viewing this as the digital version, click each product to be taken to its website where you can buy direct

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

MOBIUS BRACES X8 Knee Brace - $434.95 Benefits and Features: Knees take a beating in motocross and off-road riding. Between hard landings, dabbing through technical terrain, and the occasional get-off that happens when things go sideways fast, quality knee protection isn’t optional. That’s exactly where the Mobius X8 Knee Brace separates itself from the pack. Built around Mobius’ patented Continuous Cable Routing System (CCRS), the X8 is designed to help support the knee against hyperextension, twisting, and excessive movement while still maintaining allday comfort on the bike. Unlike bulky braces that feel restrictive after a few laps, the X8 uses a lightweight glass-filled nylon shell combined with forged CNC aluminum hinge components for a balance of mobility, protection, and durability. The adjustable cable tensioning system evenly secures the brace around the knee joint for a locked-in feel without uncomfortable pressure points.

The full-coverage design wraps farther around the leg than traditional knee braces, delivering increased impact protection while helping minimize brace movement during aggressive riding. Plush EVA foam liners improve comfort and help absorb impacts, making the X8 a favorite for riders spending long days on the track, in the desert, or deep in technical off-road terrain. • • • • • • •

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August 2026

KEN ROCZEN'S TRAINING, GNCC VS AUSTRALIA, AND THE SPORT SPECIFIC MYTHS WORDS & PHOTOS

or the August episode of the Seat Time Podcast, I asked Ben Greenwood from Race Ready Offroad Coaching to come on the show. He recently posted a reaction reel to Ken Roczen's training that got my attention. He spoke to how traditional the strength training Ken Roczen was doing was, and how all of us riders can learn from what Roczen was showing us. I knew then that a discussion with Ben needed to happen. I hope you enjoy the training, nutrition, and Australian offroad rabbit holes. KEN ROCZEN’S TRAINING REEL

A few weeks ago, Ben posted a reaction reel to a training video Ken Roczen had shared. What stood out to Ben was how traditional the strength training was. No BOSU balls, no bike frames welded to springs, none of the sport specific exercises that usually show up on social media. Ben told me a few of his own clients had sent him the reel too, saying it looked like Kenny was doing the same programming they were. For Ben, that mattered because riders at Roczen's level rarely show what their training actually looks like, and what it showed was years of consistent, unglamorous work rather than anything flashy. THE EIGHT-WEEK MYTH

Ben and I talked through why eight-week and twelve-week training programs fall short for most riders. If you train with a barbell three times a week for twelve weeks, that adds up to 36 sessions. Each session might only include six to ten working sets. That’s not enough repetition to properly learn a squat or a hinge

pattern, let alone build the kind of durability Roczen has built over more than a decade of professional racing. Ben’s view is that strength training isn’t something you complete. It’s maintenance you keep up for as long as you want to keep riding. I’ll amend that to say you should keep it up as long as you want to have a long and happy life. We also compared that to how much time most riders actually spend on a dirt bike. Most of us ride once or twice a week at best. In that same stretch of time, you can get in far more reps with a barbell than laps on a track. If seat time is limited, strength training becomes the next best way to build the capacity to handle the riding you do get. THE UNDER-EATING PROBLEM

Ben shared a story that mirrored something I went through myself. At 67 kilos and lean, with visible abdominal veins, he had blood work done and was told he was pre-diabetic. A qualified nutritionist recommended a keto diet and told him calories didn’t matter, only nutrient quality. His condition got worse. It turned out he was under-eating relative to how much he was training, and the carbohydrates he had cut were what his body actually needed. I went through a similar process after my psoriatic arthritis diagnosis, following nutrition advice that sounded reasonable but didn’t hold up once I applied it. Even qualified professionals can get this wrong, especially when they’re chasing the latest fad being talked about online. Ben still sees under-eating relative to training load as one of the

BRIAN PIERCE

most common mistakes among new clients. GNCC VS AUSTRALIA

Ben and his team traveled to the United States for the first time this year, and the differences in scale were immediate. A single MidEast GNCC round drew more entries than a full national championship round in Australia. The bigger difference, though, was being allowed to walk out and watch the race from the track. In Australia, insurance requirements have kept spectators behind bunting (banner or ribbon for us Americans) for the past couple of years, meaning riders’ teams often wait 25 to 30 minutes between sightings of their rider. At a GNCC, despite the scale and the more relaxed pit rules, Ben found that spectators still respected the track, and he was able to see his rider three or four times per lap.

to Josh Strang, citing his longevity, still competitive near the front of GNCC fields after close to two decades of racing in the United States. THANK YOU BEN GREENWOOD FOR THE FUN CONVERSATION

Strength training works best as ongoing maintenance rather than a short program. Eating enough to match your training and riding load matters more than most people realize. And even though I’ll probably never be allowed at a GNCC again, you should keep showing up and supporting the sport. The full conversation with Ben Greenwood of Race Ready Offroad Coaching is our for your listening pleasure. You can follow Ben on Instagram at @offroadperformancecoach.

We also discussed who the greatest Australian export to American off-road racing has been. Shane Watts was Ben’s childhood idol, known for racing on worn-out equipment and still winning. Ben ultimately gave the edge

Click or scan to watch Brian's YouTube video

August 2026

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How Kairos Became an Off-Road Destination WORDS & PHOTOS

hen Jared Spencer and his partners purchased the property that would become Kairos Wilderness Resort in late 2016, dirt bikes were not part of the plan. The focus was initially on developing the campground, adding lodging, and creating a place where guests could spend time outdoors. Then Spencer began exploring the property. ATV and side-by-side trails followed. Before long, dirt bike riders started showing up and asking a simple question: what about singletrack? That question helped change the direction of Kairos. Today, the more than 1,500acre property straddling Virginia and West Virginia has become a destination for recreational trail riders, hard enduro racers, trials competitors, and off-road training schools. The singletrack network alone stretches an estimated 65 to 75 miles, with everything from beginner-friendly loops to long hill climbs, rock-filled technical trails, and terrain capable of testing accomplished hard enduro riders. Ahead of the 2026 River Monster Hard Enduro, Spencer sat down with the On the Pegs Podcast to talk about how Kairos grew into what it is today—and how much work still happens behind the scenes. 10

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August 2026

STEPH VETTERLY

Spencer did not arrive at Kairos as an experienced dirt bike rider. In fact, the trails helped create the rider. He initially bought a Suzuki DR-Z with the idea that he could ride it to work and still use it on the property. That plan did not last long. As the terrain became more demanding, Spencer moved to a YZ250F and eventually purchased his first 300cc two-stroke Beta in late 2021. The switch opened another level of technical riding and, more importantly, changed the way he looked at the land around him. “As I progress as a rider, I find sections on the property that I totally skipped because five years ago I looked at it and was like, ‘Well, that’s impossible,’” Spencer said. “Now I’m looking at it like, ‘That looks awesome. Let’s build a trail up through there.’” That progression has become one of the defining characteristics of Kairos. New trails are not always part of a master plan. Sometimes Spencer simply finds another hillside, ravine, rock formation, or stretch of woods that suddenly looks rideable.

Virgin Valley, one of the additions used for the 2026 River Monster, is a perfect example. Despite owning the property for nearly a decade, Spencer had never stepped foot in that section. Once he did, he found terrain worth using. For all the scale of Kairos, much of the singletrack development is surprisingly low-tech. Spencer does not rely on heavy equipment to carve many of the trails into the hillsides. Instead, much of the work is done with chainsaws, picks, shovels, and loppers. An old logging bench might be uncovered beneath years of growth. An off-camber hillside may need to be carefully shaped by hand. From there, riders help finish the process simply by using the trail. “The more you ride it, the more it develops,” Spencer explained. “It gets wider and wider until you’ve got a foot, foot-and-a-half bench.” Building trail is only the beginning. Maintaining 65 to 75 miles of singletrack becomes another job entirely.

Regular customers often help by reporting fallen trees or damaged areas. Spencer then loads a chainsaw onto his bike or approaches from the nearest doubletrack and hikes in to clear the problem. Vegetation is another constant battle. “Mother Nature wants its land back,” he said. Kairos’ move into organized racing happened almost by accident. In late 2018, members of a local hare scramble series visited the property and approached Spencer about hosting an event. At first, he was simply the landowner. After that race went well, the promoter invited him to become more directly involved. From there came more hare scrambles, an independent hard enduro, involvement with SEER, and eventually a place on the US Hard Enduro calendar. Each step brought new lessons. Early River Monster layouts took advantage of the sheer size of Kairos. Instead of keeping riders confined to a small area and running repeated laps, Spencer built courses that traveled deep into the property. One version covered roughly 32 miles in a single lap. That allowed riders to experience a wide range of terrain, but feedback from the upper-level racers pushed Spencer toward something different. The best hard enduro riders wanted less transfer and more sustained difficulty. The problem is that what challenges the top few percent of the field can completely stop everyone else. “You can’t have Ryder [LeBlond] and Trystan [Hart] be like, ‘That was the hardest course I’ve ever gone through in my life. I loved it,’ and expect anyone else to be able to get through it,” Spencer said. That balancing act is one of the biggest challenges of hard enduro course design. A lower-level Pro may be only one class removed from A, yet the difference between that rider and an elite international-level racer can be enormous. For the 2026 River Monster, Spencer changed the formula again. Instead of another massive single lap, the race used an approximately eight-and-a-half-mile multi-lap course. That created a different challenge for the leaders. Even if the terrain itself was manageable, the fastest riders would eventually catch traffic and need to negotiate congested technical sections.

At the same time, Spencer adjusted the C-class course after previous editions proved particularly demanding for novice riders. It was still a hard enduro—not an introduction to trail riding—but the intention was to give more competitors a realistic opportunity to make progress. For a novice C rider, Spencer considered completing one lap a success. While River Monster has helped put Kairos on the hard enduro map, the property now reaches well beyond one discipline. Kairos has hosted hare scrambles, dualsport rides, local trials competitions, and rounds of the 2026 AMA NATC National Mototrials Championship. Spencer also welcomes training schools, with riders including Graham Jarvis, Rich Larsen, and Chris Birch holding clinics at the property. The range makes sense when looking at the terrain.

For a property where dirt bikes were never part of the original plan, Kairos has come a long way. And somewhere beyond the current trail map, Spencer is probably already looking at another hillside that once seemed impossible and thinking about where the next piece of singletrack could go. Want to hear more about how Kairos Wilderness Resort became an off-road destination? Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other major podcast platforms, or visit on-the-pegs.com/ podcast to hear the full episode.

There are kids’ loops suitable for small motorcycles, flowing singletrack on top of the mountain, difficult rock sections, creeks, and long climbs plunging into and out of the valleys. Yet Spencer estimates that only around half of the property is currently being utilized.

Click or scan to listen now

There is room for much more trail; whether there is enough time to build and maintain it is another question. Asked about a five-year plan for Kairos, Spencer admitted that he thinks more in terms of five days than five years. But the broader goal remains clear: more trails, more events, more riders. “Getting people into off-roading is my goal,” he said, “whether it’s sideby-sides, dirt bikes, trials, whatever— just getting people involved in this hobby that you and I love.” August 2026

ON-THE-PEGS.COM

August 2026

casales and hoover sweep turkey rock HEAT, ALTITUDE, AND UNCONVENTIONAL LINE CHOICES SHAPE A CHALLENGING COLORADO DOUBLEHEADER WORDS & PHOTOS

STEPH VETTERLY

August 2026

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ROUND 5/6 - Turkey Rock LOCATION: Howard, CO

he AMA NATC National Mototrials Championship Series returned to the Turkey Rock Trials Area in Howard, Colorado, on July 11 and 12 for rounds five and six of the 2026 season, bringing the national series back to the high-country venue for the first time since 2019. At roughly 6,800 feet above sea level, the thin mountain air immediately changed the 14

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equation. Motorcycles lost power, riders found themselves breathing harder than usual, and temperatures climbing into the 90s under limited cloud cover turned the exposed terrain into an endurance test all weekend. The loop itself was relatively short—roughly 2.5 miles one day and three miles the other—but there was little opportunity to hide from the heat once riders entered the sections.

August 2026

Jorge Casales arrived in Colorado already carrying momentum from his double victory in New Mexico, but the TRRS rider had not been entirely satisfied with how he felt there. Rather than accept that altitude would be a problem again, he spent the weeks between rounds preparing specifically for Turkey Rock, adding road cycling and training at altitude in Andorra.

The work showed almost immediately. Casales opened Saturday with only two marks across the two loops the Pro riders actually contested, a pair of single dabs separating him from a completely clean ride. GasGas’s Sondre Haga remained close with nine marks through those same two loops, while Trial Store USA’s Josh Roper sat third after a strong opening lap was followed by a more difficult second trip through the sections.

As the day wore on, heat radiated from the rock and the elevation began taking a more obvious toll. Roper, who works outside regularly and was less concerned about the temperature itself, found the lack of oxygen much harder to manage. “My body was struggling to get some oxygen to it,” Roper said. “That made it a little bit more difficult for the second lap.”

Turkey Rock carried additional meaning for Roper. His previous visit came in 2019 during his first Pro season, when he was injured and damaged his motorcycle. Seven years later, he returned with more experience. “The bikes have improved and I’ve also improved,” he said. Haga had his own problem to manage. The GasGas rider had been sick for the week leading into Colorado, dealing with

fever before making the long trip to the event. Even so, he kept himself in the fight.

Aaron and Alex Niederer were moving through the event in relatively close company, and the combination of heat, fatigue, diminished motorcycle power and several highconsequence obstacles became impossible to ignore.

“It was a challenging day, for sure,” Haga said. “It was some big stuff out there, and the altitude is not making it easier.” By the second loop, however, the conversation among the five men’s Pro riders had shifted away from scores. Casales, Haga, Roper, Murphy

PREVIOUS: TRS Hammer Nutrition's Jorge Casales THIS PAGE: Trials Superstore's Maddie Hoover

August 2026

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Niederer had already experienced just how quickly Turkey Rock could punish a mistake. His first loop included several crashes, followed by another hard fall on the loop back toward the pits. After cooling down in his camper, he regrouped and produced a considerably stronger second loop, but his experience reinforced the risk of continuing deep into the afternoon. “We felt we have shown what we can show and we don’t have to risk a minor mistake becoming a major problem,” Niederer said. After speaking with officials, the Pro riders collectively decided not to contest the final loop. Instead, they rode through and accepted maximum scores, effectively freezing the order established over the first two laps. Casales

took the Round 5 victory ahead of Haga and Roper, with Aaron fourth and Niederer fifth. The Women’s Pro field faced the same unforgiving combination of rock, heat and thin air. Trials Superstore’s Madeleine Hoover entered the weekend admitting she had not spent as much time on the bike recently as she would have preferred, but Turkey Rock was familiar ground. That experience mattered when the scale of the obstacles tried to convince riders that the terrain was worse than it really was. “Typical Turkey Rock where you’re like, ‘Oh my God, we’re doing what?’” Hoover said. “It’s like riding on the moon up here.” Hoover settled quickly, improving from her opening loop to the second to take

Saturday’s victory ahead of teammate Kylee Sweeten and Beta USA’s Abigail Buzzelli. Buzzelli’s score did not fully reflect how much she gained from the day. The first-year Women’s Pro rider found herself fighting breathlessness from the elevation, but she also began figuring out how to manage the terrain and her preparation before entering each section. “I made a lot of progress throughout the day in sections,” Buzzelli said. “The breathlessness from the lack of oxygen up here was getting to me a little bit, but I figured out how to ride in this terrain.”

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August 2026

Following the men's Pro class, the Women's Pro riders decided to forego riding the final loop and instead take maximum points for each section. By Sunday morning, Turkey Rock had neither become cooler nor closer to sea level, but the trial itself had changed character. Saturday’s sections had emphasized longer rides, big rock faces and the physical commitment associated with western terrain. Sunday was more technical, with shorter

Left to right: Trial Store USA's Josh Roper, Trials Superstore's Kylee Sweeten, Trials Superstore's Murphy Aaron

The result was a trial in which some sections could look dramatically different depending on who was riding them. Rather than forcing every competitor into one prescribed sequence, the marking occasionally allowed riders to customize their attempt around their individual strengths. sections in some places and fewer outright big hits. Just as importantly, several sections were unintentionally marked in a way that left riders with considerable freedom between the boundaries. Trials riders are trained to look for the easiest legal route from the start cards to the end cards. If the tape allows a line the section setter may not have envisioned, someone will eventually find it. “We’re trials riders,” Haga said. “We’re always going to look for the easiest line, no matter if the organizers want us to do a different line. If there’s an easier line that is allowed, we’re going to do that.”

Roper pointed to Section 8 as a clear example. His preferred approach was to ride up the hill, cross a log and continue in one fluid motion. Other riders stopped at the log before attacking the next portion, while Casales chose another route altogether. “We all took different lines there,” Roper said. “It’s just what suited you the best.” Hoover found the same freedom in Women’s Pro. Some setups allowed her to bypass part of an intended route, while in another case she preferred a longer splatter that looked intimidating but suited her better than trying to squeeze through a tighter alternative.

“There were multiple options on lines, so it wasn’t very straightforward,” Hoover said. “I appreciate always having a couple options. I got to pick what I liked.” For Casales, the format played directly into one of his greatest strengths: reading terrain. On Sunday, with several ways to solve the same problem, the defending champion repeatedly committed to the route that made the most sense to him. “I take different lines than everybody,” Casales said. “My riding style is different to everybody. When I look at a line, normally when I know that it’s clear for me, I go directly there.”

by step, and focused on my own race.” Behind him, the most compelling battle was for second. Roper and Haga spent much of the day separated by almost nothing. Roper opened with five marks, then improved to three before closing with four. Haga also began on five, followed with six and then produced his best loop of the day with only two marks. When the cards were totaled, Roper had 12 and Haga 13. Section 12 proved decisive. With so little separating the pair, every unnecessary dab mattered, and Roper came away with the one-point advantage he needed.

That confidence translated into one of the strongest performances of the season. Casales cleaned all 36 sections, completing Round 6 on zero marks and giving Haga and Roper no opportunity to apply pressure. “Today I had no stress,” he said. “I just went section by section, loop by loop. Just step

“To be able to pull off a second place, especially here at Turkey Rock, it means a lot to me,” Roper said. Haga was disappointed, particularly because his larger goal remained challenging Casales in the championship. Still recovering from illness, he admitted the third loop had been a fight despite being his best score of the day.

August 2026

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“I was fighting every section, even though my last loop was the best one,” he said. Murphy Aaron finished fourth after an encouraging opening loop before his scores climbed later in the day. The changing line options made Sunday feel almost like a new section every time through. “It was like 36 different sections,” Aaron said. “Which was kind of cool, but also it just—it was weird.” Hoover, meanwhile, completed her own sweep in Women’s Pro. She scored 14, 15 and nine across Sunday’s three loops for a total of 38, ahead of Sweeten and Buzzelli. Hoover used her familiarity with Turkey Rock, trusted the lines that suited her and managed the same heat and altitude that had drained the paddock.

Buzzelli continued building despite the points. On Sunday she began making more of the sections each time around, including one of the harder doubles in Section 3 that she successfully rode on all three loops. “This morning I really wasn’t sure how it was going to go,” Buzzelli said. “It turns out we were able to pull together all three loops and even improve the riding within the section.” Outside the premier classes, Colorado produced several strong two-day performances. Beta USA's Cole Cullins swept Expert, winning Saturday before facing a much tighter contest Sunday, when he finished on 40 marks, just one ahead of Max Glueck. Dalton Land controlled Expert Sportsman on both days, scoring 27 on Saturday before dropping to only 12 on Sunday. Junior Expert Sportsman also belonged to Beta USA's Bennett Hubner, though Sunday could hardly have been closer. Hubner and TRS's Thomas Keady each finished on 16 marks, with 18

ON-THE-PEGS.COM

August 2026

Hubner taking the victory on the tiebreaker after recording 28 cleans to Keady’s 27. The Colorado weekend carried significance beyond the two national rounds. Sunday also brought the 2026 Western Regional Championship to its conclusion. Once the final cards were counted and Round 6 was complete, the Western Regional champions were recognized during the awards ceremony, closing that portion of the NATC season. Turkey Rock’s return ultimately produced two distinctly different trials. Saturday was about restraint as much as aggression. The granite demanded commitment, but the heat and elevation demanded judgment, and the Pro field made the collective decision that another scored loop was not worth allowing fatigue to turn a manageable mistake into a dangerous one. Sunday became a different kind of test. With more freedom in the marking, riders had to see possibilities rather than simply follow the

obvious route. Some attacked. Some stopped and reset. Some discovered lines that were never intended but remained legal. The sections became puzzles, and the best solution depended on who was holding the handlebars. Through both versions of Turkey Rock, Casales and Hoover were the constants. Casales left Colorado with two more Pro victories, including a perfect Sunday, while Hoover matched him with a Women’s Pro sweep. Both adapted to the conditions, trusted their own line choices and found ways to make an intimidating piece of Colorado granite work in their favor. The NATC national championship now has one final stop remaining. Rounds seven and eight are scheduled for October 10 and 11 in Toronto, Ohio, where the Eastern Regional Championship will also be decided. After the dry grip, high altitude and sun-baked rock of Turkey Rock, the prospect of slick eastern terrain—and the possibility of Ohio mud—promises an entirely different final exam.

Clockwise from top left: Beta USA's Abigail Buzzelli, Trials Superstore GasGas's Sondre Haga, Men's Pro podium, Trial Store USA's Alex Niederer

NEXT UP :

Round 7/8: October 10/11 Location: Toronto, OH

EVENT RESULTS SATURDAY - PRO

SUNDAY - PRO

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Jorge Casales - 62 pts Sondre Haga - 69 pts Josh Roper - 90 pts Murphy Aaron - 92 pts Alex Niederer - 122 pts

Jorge Casales - 0 pts Josh Roper - 12 pts Sondre Haga - 13 pts Murphy Aaron - 52 pts Alex Niederer - 78 pts

SATURDAY - WOMEN'S PRO

SUNDAY - WOMEN'S PRO

1. 2. 3.

Maddie Hoover - 79 pts Kylee Sweeten - 96 pts Abigail Buzzelli - 152 pts

Maddie Hoover - 38 pts Kylee Sweeten - 76 pts Abigail Buzzelli - 145 pts

August 2026

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August 2026

BOU AND

RABINO SWEEP GREAT BRITAIN ROUND 4 - Great Britain LOCATION: Trac Môn Anglesey Circuit, United Kingdom

WORDS PHOTOS

STEPH VETTERLY PEP SEGALES

he 2026 Hertz FIM Trial World Championship crossed its halfway point with a new venue, unpredictable coastal weather and two very different kinds of domination. At the TrialGP of Great Britain, Toni Bou continued a season that has bordered on untouchable, while Andrea Sofia Rabino delivered the weekend she needed to turn the TrialGP Women championship fight back into a genuine showdown. Round four brought the championship to the Trac Mon Circuit Anglesey in Wales for the first time, placing the world’s best riders on a course that mixed purposebuilt hazards with the jagged shoreline rock surrounding the motorsport facility. It was also only the second—and final— event of 2026 where all five championship classes would LEFT : Toni Bou RIGHT: Andrea Sofia Rabino August 2026

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LEFT: Alex Canales Martos BELOW: Ryon Land RIGHT TOP: Jaime Busto RIGHT BOTTOM: Harison Skelton

compete together, bringing TrialGP, TrialGP Women, Trial2, Trial2 Women and Trial3 Junior onto the same program. For Bou, the change of venue made little difference. The defending champion arrived in Great Britain unbeaten through the first three rounds and already holding a 66-point advantage over Repsol Honda teammate Gabriel Marcelli. By Sunday evening, Bou had stretched his perfect record to 16 consecutive race victories and his championship lead to 90 points. Behind him, however, Anglesey produced close battles, breakout performances from the British contingent and a major swing in the women’s title chase. A recent spell of hot weather disappeared before Saturday’s competition, replaced by wet, windy conditions that transformed the exposed Anglesey coastline. The grip changed dramatically as the day progressed. Some of the sharp coastal rock offered almost too much traction early on, while other surfaces became increasingly slick as the field cycled through the sections. Harry Turner summed it up after taking Saturday’s opening Trial2 race. “The conditions today were really difficult,” Turner said. “The first lap was almost too grippy and the second lap was incredibly slippery and it was hard to stay on the right lines.” Bou had already provided an indication of what was coming by topping Friday’s Super Test. When Saturday’s first TrialGP race began, Jaime Busto proved to be his strongest early challenger. 22

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August 2026

The pair remained tied on six marks through Section 8, with both having taken a single dab in Section 2 before the entire TrialGP field failed Section 4. That stalemate finally broke when Bou cleaned Section 8 while Busto surrendered two.

Bou again controlled the second contest. After winning Super Pole, he moved into the lead and, despite time penalties affecting the entire field, avoided a single five through the Final and Super Final. He finished on 12 marks, exactly half Busto’s total of 24, while Grattarola also finished on 24 and took third on the tie-break.

Even two later maximums could not undo the advantage Bou had built.

“It has been an amazing start to the championship,” Bou said. “We have been working hard to get these results and I am super-happy to win on day one here at Anglesey.”

He completed the opening race on 18 marks before time penalties and earned the win by 11 over Busto. The official classification showed Bou on 18, Busto on 29 and British rookie Harry Hemingway also on 29, with Busto taking second on the tie-break.

If Bou’s TrialGP advantage continued to grow, the TrialGP Women standings moved firmly in the opposite direction.

For Hemingway, third was still a landmark result. Riding his first season in TrialGP, the Beta rider used the home support to record his best premier-class finish to date. Marcelli, meanwhile, was dealing with a fractured finger. He fought through the injury to finish fourth in race one ahead of Matteo Grattarola, while fellow Brit Jack Peace completed the top six.

Berta Abellan had entered Great Britain with momentum after a double victory in Italy restored the advantage she had lost when Rabino swept Andorra. The defending champion carried a 23-point lead into Anglesey, but Rabino immediately began cutting into it.

August 2026

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Despite taking a five in Friday’s Super Test, the 20-year-old Italian was composed once Saturday’s scoring began. Rabino lost only four marks in the opening race. Abellan had led early, but a three in Section 8 tied the pair before another three late in the lap left Rabino clear for the win. Alice Minta gave the home crowd another reason to celebrate with third on eight marks. Race two followed the same pattern. Abellan initially held the advantage before a maximum at Section 7 dropped her behind both Rabino and Minta. Rabino controlled the remainder of the race to win on 13, two ahead of Abellan, while Minta’s late five left her third on 19. Sunday was even more decisive. With the weather brighter and the scores dropping, Rabino produced a two-mark opening race to defeat Abellan by

four. Alessia Bacchetta took third on eight, while Kaytlyn Adshead was the highestplaced British rider in fourth. Then Rabino delivered the ride of the weekend. Across all 12 sections of Sunday’s second TrialGP Women race, she did not lose a single mark. Twelve sections, twelve cleans, zero on the scorecard. At world championship level, perfection is rare. With the title pressure building and Abellan still leading the series, Rabino found it when it mattered most. Abellan finished second on seven marks following a tiebreak with Bacchetta. Minta bounced back from seventh in the first race to take fourth on eight. “It has been a perfect weekend for me,” Rabino said. “I won yesterday and again today and it is an amazing feeling so I will keep pushing at the final round in Spain.” Four race wins in Wales cut Abellan’s championship advantage from 23 points to just 11, setting up a final-round confrontation in Spain. Sunday’s TrialGP sections were framed by large manmade boulder hazards, but most of the route continued across the jagged shoreline. Section 4 remained the major separator. Almost the entire field took a maximum there in the first race. The lone exception was Grattarola, who somehow escaped for one mark, although an earlier five in Section 2 prevented the Italian from taking full advantage. Bou stayed clean until Section 10, where he needed two. Even a maximum in the final section could not stop him from taking another victory, this time on 13 marks. Marcelli, still riding with his injured finger, produced one of his strongest performances

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of the weekend to finish second on 15, with Busto third on 19. Hemingway was fifth on the raw opening-race classification behind Grattarola and remained firmly in the mix among the home favorites.

He added just one mark in the closing sections and finished on six. Busto scored eight and Marcelli 10, giving Bou his fourth race win of the weekend and his 16th from 16 starts in 2026.

The final race was closer.

“This weekend has been perfect for me and I have had the best feeling,” Bou said.

Busto gained the early advantage when he escaped the troublesome Section 4 for one while Bou and the rest of the field took five. By the Super Final, Bou and Busto were tied on five, with Marcelli only two marks behind. That was as close as Bou would allow it to remain.

Hemingway completed another strong home performance with fourth in the final race, while Miquel Gelabert finished fifth aboard the only electric motorcycle in the TrialGP field. Four rounds into the season, Bou’s statistics tell the story:

OPPOSITE TOP: Francesco Titli

ABOVE LEFT: Marco Laure

OPPOSITE BOTTOM: Harry Hemingway

ABOVE RIGHT: Jin Kuroyama

every race entered, every race won.

race results still gave Turner the Saturday overall ahead of Hemingway.

Trial2 delivered considerably more variety. Harry Turner entered his home round carrying momentum from his double victory on the second day in Italy and immediately added another win. He completed Saturday’s first race on just three marks, matching Arnau Farré but winning the tie-break. George Hemingway then kept the British run alive in race two. His 12-mark score was six better than Jack Dance, with Turner third after a difficult closing run that included consecutive fives in Sections 10 and 11. The two

Sunday began even better for Turner. He lost only one mark—at Section 10—to win the opening race ahead of Francesco Titli on four. Farré and Hemingway each finished on five, with Farré taking third. But Titli turned the tables in race two. The Italian produced an almost perfect one-mark ride to win the race and Sunday overall. Jack Dance was second on three, with Benoit Bincaz taking third in the race on a three-way tie-break.

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For championship leader Alex Canales, Sunday was his toughest outing of the season. Two seventh-place race finishes left him eighth overall, opening the door in the standings. Turner left Great Britain only two points behind Canales, with Farré another two points back. American Ryon Land also enjoyed a significant step forward. The reigning Trial3 Junior champion had finished 15th on Saturday, but Sunday showed how quickly he is adapting to Trial2. Land placed fifth in the opening race on seven marks and finished ninth overall for the day, scoring 17 championship points across the two races.

responded in race two, scoring 16 to defeat Daniela Hernando by one. Lonycz’s third in the second race was enough to give the Polish rider the Saturday overall, while Arbon moved into the championship lead. Hernando had her turn on Sunday. A victory in race one followed by third in race two gave the Spaniard her first overall win of the season. Arbon recovered from fourth in the opener to win the second race and finish third overall, leaving Wales with a five-point championship lead over Abril Montserrat Junque. Trial3 Junior also belonged to the home riders.

The Trial2 Women championship was wide open before Anglesey after injured series leader Queralt Fontdevila was forced to miss the round.

Harison Skelton won both races Saturday, first defeating championship leader Fabio Mazzola on a tie-break after both scored two, then winning race two on six marks.

Justyna Lonycz took advantage first, winning Saturday’s opening race on 11 marks. Matilda Arbon

Skelton added another victory Sunday before Max Dance took the final race of the weekend. A first and second gave Skelton his second overall victory in as many days and, more

Benoit Bincaz

importantly, returned him to the championship lead by two points over Mazzola. “This weekend has been unreal,” Skelton said. “You just can’t beat the feeling of getting two overall wins at your home round.” Anglesey may have been a new stop on the TrialGP calendar, but Round 4 produced several storylines that could define the closing stages of 2026. Bou remains perfect and now carries a 90-point TrialGP lead. Rabino transformed the TrialGP Women championship with four victories and a flawless final race, reducing Abellan’s advantage to 11. Turner turned the Trial2

standings into a three-rider fight, Arbon left with control of Trial2 Women, and Skelton used his home round to regain the Trial3 Junior lead. The championship now moves to Cahors for the TrialGP of France on August 29-30, where TrialGP, Trial2 and Trial3 Junior will face a single day of points-scoring action. At the halfway point of the season, one question remains stubbornly unanswered: who can stop Toni Bou? In Great Britain, no one came particularly close.

EVENT RESULTS*

Final positions determined by championship points per loop

ROUND 4 - GREAT BRITAIN (TOTAL DABS)

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SATURDAY - TRIALGP

SUNDAY - TRIALGP

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Toni Bou - 18 Jaime Busto - 49 Matteo Grattarola - 56 Harry Hemingway - 66 Gabriel Marcelli - 64 Miquel Gelabert - 65 Jack Peace - 66 Hugo Dufrese - 88

Toni Bou - 19 Gabriel Marcelli - 25 Jaime Busto - 26 Harry Hemingway - 51 Matteo Grattarola - 52 Miquel Gelabert - 52 Jack Peace - 60 Hugo Dufrese - 76

SATURDAY - TRIALGP WOMEN

SUNDAY - TRIALGP WOMEN

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

Andrea Sofia Rabino - 17 Berta Abellan - 21 Alice Minta - 27 Alessia Bacchetta - 38 Alycia Soyer - 47 Kaytlyn Adshead - 44 Denisa Pechackova - 56 Alicia Robinson - 60 Nikita Smith - 61 Sophie Bailey - 73

Andrea Sofia Rabino - 2 Berta Abellan - 13 Alessia Bacchetta - 15 Kaytlyn Adshead - 30 Alice Minta - 34 Alycia Soyer - 34 Alicia Robinson - 46 Nikita Smith - 53 Sophie Bailey - 80

Gear: helmets, jerseys, pants & protectors Parts: Jitsie, OEM plus various aftermarket parts Bikes: Beta, Electric Motion, Vertigo & TRS August 2026 ON-THE-PEGS.COM 27

Trials. Life. And...

You’ve probably heard it all before. “You should ride trials to improve your technical skills” which will turn you into the next Graham Jarvis! Well lots of that (except for the Jarvis part) it’s quite true. But there’s much more to trials than that. Trials, more than any other motorcycle sport is in fact a metaphor for life itself. As you journey through life you inevitably face obstacles and challenges which require intellect, skill, cooperation and willpower to conquer. If you’re going to be successful, you need to analyze these situations, formulate a plan and then properly execute it. It’s more important how you navigate through them than how quickly you do it.

WORDS PHOTOS

RON GOLDEN SHAWN MCGINNIS, RON GOLDEN, LIZZ WILLIAMS

Trials is no different. You travel a scenic and varied loop which periodically delivers you to a specific section which will challenge your abilities. You have the opportunity to study this challenge, decide which route, or “line” you believe will give you the best chance of success. You may linger at the section for a while to see how and why other riders succeed and fail and use this information to modify or solidify your initial line selection. But trials is more than clinical analyses of obstacles and execution of one’s skills. Like life, it is also a social event; and not just in terms of “hobnobbing” with fellow riders. It is inevitable that riders will congregate in sections, debating the pros and cons of specific lines and techniques. It is customary that this collaborative atmosphere exists between even the most fierce of trials competitors. Because the reality is, that in trials and life, you truly have only one competitor and one limiting factor to success. And that factor is you. Trials will test your physical, mental and emotional boundaries. Many highly competent motorcycle riders have been humbled, frustrated, even demoralized when they discover that it isn’t as “easy”

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August 2026

as it looks. When you look at that log to cross, or that ledge to climb, what will be going through your mind? Fear? Or an opportunity to test yourself? As you progress through life you’ll face bigger challenges with bigger consequences. This is no different then progressing in trials. Thankfully, your “growth” from Beginner to Expert level rider can be at whatever pace suits you. Very few riders will ever become Experts, just as very few workers will become (or even aspire to be) a corporate CEO. And that’s perfectly OK. There are many who are devoted, avid and fulfilled riders that never venture further than Novice class. It could be argued that they are in fact the “backbone” of trials. It makes perfect sense that trials is often a “family affair.” What better way to teach lessons that are fully transferable to handling life’s

challenges? An Expert level rider can enter an event with their Beginner level spouse, or child and be together all day. This is not a sport where you deposit someone on the start line, run over to the sidelines and scream encouragement when they occasionally race past. Together you can ride the loop, walk sections, plan strategies, coach, encourage and pick them back up if they fall. More than all of that, it strengthens relationships, respect and bonds among family members sharing in a common interest. Depending on where you live there is most likely an established group of riders and clubs who host trials events. If you are in the mid-west, or southwestern Ontario, the MOTA (Michigan Ontario Trials Association) is a great place to start. They’ve been around since 1969; when formed by neighbouring clubs in the Detroit, MI and Windsor, Ontario region.

OPPOSITE: Dylan and Layla Kerr THIS PAGE: Ron Golden (L), Travis Juif and Oriol Canales (R)

Today the MOTA has member clubs spanning an area from northern Indiana through to northeastern Michigan. They have a full slate of classes to suit any skill level and they definitely know how to put on very well organized events. But, as it always seems in trials, it’s the people you meet and ride with that will make your events so memorable and enjoyable. Whether it’s your first event, or you’re a seasoned “lifer,” you’ll feel right at home. Many out of state riders will find MOTA events to be technically demanding. This area isn’t exactly the Scottish Highlands, yet event organizers always manage

to “eek the most” out of the terrain they’re dealt with to produce safe and challenging sections for everyone. Numerous MOTA riders have competed in NATC nationals and the group has a history of producing national champions and contenders across several different classes. Check them out at motatrials. com and look for them on Facebook as well. There’s nothing better than expanding your horizons in life and riding by exploring new areas and gaining new experiences. Life is a trials and (for the “faithful” among us) trials is a life.

August 2026

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Garcia Seals the Crown in France

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August 2026

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ROUND 6 LOCATION: Saint-Agrève, France

he penultimate round of the 2026 Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship arrived in Saint-Agrève, France, with two very different storylines waiting to collide. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia had the mathematics on his side and a chance to close out both the EnduroGP and Enduro1 titles one round early. TM MOTO Boano 32

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WORDS PHOTOS

STEPH VETTERLY FUTURE7MEDIA AND COURTESY SHERCO AND BETA

By Sunday afternoon, both riders had delivered.

third consecutive EnduroGP crown and fourth straight Enduro1 title. But before the Spaniard could celebrate, he had to survive one of the sharpest challenges of his season as Pichon turned his home Grand Prix into a showcase of speed.

Garcia left France as a ninetime FIM Enduro World Champion after securing his

Saint-Agrève, set on a plateau between the Ardèche and Haute-Loire regions, provided

Factory Enduro Team’s Zach Pichon had the home crowd, recent winning form, and every reason to make Garcia’s path to the championship as difficult as possible.

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a fitting stage for the sixth and penultimate round. MotoClub Les Razmottes laid out a 79-kilometer course, completed three times each day, with the EXPOTRADE Cross Test, GMOTO Enduro Test, and POLISPORT Extreme Test forming the competitive backbone of the weekend. Add in a packed French crowd and the pressure of a championship nearing

its conclusion, and the GP of France carried weight from the moment the first rider entered Friday’s AKRAPOVIC Super Test. Pichon made sure the weekend began with a roar. The Frenchman had already proven this season that he could win at the highest level, including an EnduroGP victory

in Portugal, but Saint-Agrève offered something different. This was his crowd, his home race, and his chance to strike before the long days in the tests even began. Sherco Racing Factory’s Julien Roussaly briefly gave the fans reason to celebrate when he climbed to the top of the Super Test leaderboard, but the attention quickly

shifted to Pichon. His lap was controlled, precise, and fast enough to withstand the final attacks from Andrea Verona and Garcia. Garcia came closest, but Pichon held on by 0.41 seconds. Steve Holcombe finished third, 3.32 seconds behind the winner. The result was more than a Friday-night footnote. It set the tone for Saturday.

When racing resumed, Pichon was untouchable. He won the opening Cross Test, backed it up with the fastest time in the Enduro Test, and then completed a clean sweep of the first lap by taking

PREVIOUS: Josep Garcia (26) THIS PAGE: Zach Pichon (101) August 2026

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the Extreme Test as well. After one trip through all three tests, he already held an 11-second advantage over Holcombe, while Garcia sat another 1.46 seconds behind in third. Pichon did not ease off. He swept all three tests again on lap two, then added two more wins on the final lap. Of the nine daytime special tests, Pichon was fastest in eight. Even when he finally gave up the top test time in the closing Extreme Test, the damage had been done. His total time of 54:11.34 gave him the EnduroGP win by 32.83 seconds over Garcia. Behind him, the fight for the remaining podium positions stayed active throughout the day. Holcombe held second at the midpoint, but a mistake in the GMOTO Enduro Test opened the door for Garcia. The Spaniard moved into second and stayed there. Verona then capitalized on another Holcombe mistake in

the final Cross Test and, with his own pace improving late in the day, secured third overall. The official results put Verona seven seconds behind Garcia and 39.83 seconds behind Pichon, while Holcombe finished fourth. Roussaly added another strong homecountry result in fifth, his best finish of the season, with Sherco teammate Hamish Macdonald sixth. That gave Sherco a 4-5-6 sweep immediately behind the podium. While Pichon owned the overall, several class battles carried championship significance of their own. Garcia’s runner-up finish came with his 11th consecutive Enduro1 victory of the season, keeping his class record perfect and moving him closer to wrapping up the title. Jeremy Sydow was second in E1, with Morgan Lesiardo third.

Pichon also claimed the Enduro2 win, beating Verona by 40 seconds, while Macdonald completed the class podium. In Enduro3, Holcombe continued his midseason charge by taking a fourth consecutive class victory. Roussaly finished second for a Sherco 1-2, and Beta Factory Team’s Brad Freeman was third. France also had plenty to celebrate in Junior. Fantic Factory Racing’s Thibault Giraudon delivered his first Tsubaki Junior Enduro victory of the season after a tight battle with fellow French riders Leo Joyon and 34

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August 2026

Romain Dagna. Giraudon held his nerve through the final Extreme Test to take the win, with Joyon second and championship leader Alberto Elgari recovering to third. In Youth, Simone Cagnoni earned his first victory of the season after a close fight with championship leader Pietro Scardina. Cagnoni won by 13 seconds, while Yago Dominguez finished only six seconds behind Scardina in third.

Left to right: Andrea Verona (99), Thibault Giraudon (105), Hamish Macdonald (76)

Pichon reclaimed time in both the Cross and Enduro tests, moving back into the lead. Then came the moment that changed the race. In the second POLISPORT Extreme Test, Pichon made a major mistake. The official classification shows the cost clearly: he posted the 16thfastest time in that test while Garcia was quickest. In a battle where tenths of a second mattered, the error handed control back to the defending champion. Still, Pichon refused to let the fight disappear.

Saturday belonged to Pichon, but Sunday belonged to the championship. Garcia began the final day knowing he was in position to secure both titles. Pichon, however, had no intention of handing him an easy route to the crown. The Frenchman started exactly where he had left off, taking the fastest times in the opening Cross and Enduro tests. Garcia responded in the first Extreme Test and ended the opening lap 1.64 seconds ahead. The difference between the two was tiny, and the pattern continued on lap two.

On the final lap, he attacked again, winning both the Cross and Enduro tests and reducing Garcia’s advantage to 1.31 seconds with only the last Extreme Test remaining. At that point, Garcia’s championship position was secure enough that second place would have been sufficient. But the Spaniard chose not to back into the title. He attacked. Garcia set the fastest time in the final test, Pichon was second, and the championship was decided with a victory rather than a calculation. The official margin at the end of the day was just 1.86 seconds: Garcia first in 53:48.52, Pichon second in 53:50.38.

Holcombe finished third, 45.75 seconds behind Garcia, with Freeman fourth and Macdonald fifth. Verona endured a more difficult Sunday and slipped to sixth overall after mistakes during the opening two laps. For Garcia, the result completed another remarkable campaign before the season had even reached its final stop. Through 12 race days, he had finished on the EnduroGP podium every time, with eight victories, three runner-up finishes, and one third-place result. In Enduro1, he was perfect: 12 wins from 12 starts. The French victory secured Garcia’s third consecutive EnduroGP World Championship and fourth consecutive Enduro1 crown. Together, the two titles brought his career total to nine FIM Enduro World Championships. “It’s an incredible feeling to leave France as both the 2026 EnduroGP and Enduro1 World Champion,” Garcia said after the race. “Winning both titles with one round still to go is something I’m really proud of, and taking the overall victory today made it even more special.” Pichon, meanwhile, may not have completed the weekend sweep, but his performance

was one of the defining rides of the round. He won the Super Test, dominated Saturday, pushed Garcia to the final seconds on Sunday, and collected both Enduro2 victories. On home soil, he was the rider most capable of disrupting Garcia’s championship celebration. Holcombe also left France with momentum. His Sunday Enduro3 win completed a double class victory for the weekend and moved him into the championship lead heading to Wales. Freeman finished second in E3 on Sunday, with Roussaly third. Elgari rebounded from his Saturday third-place result to win Sunday’s Junior contest by 11 seconds. Behind him, the podium battle was almost impossibly tight: Joyon took second by just 0.01 seconds over Giraudon, while Manuel Verzeroli finished only two seconds farther back in fourth. The GP of France ultimately delivered exactly what a penultimate round should. There was home-country speed, title pressure, changing leads, costly mistakes, and a championship fight that stayed alive until the final test of the weekend. Pichon gave Saint-Agrève the home victory it wanted

August 2026

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on Saturday. Garcia gave the championship its defining moment on Sunday. With the EnduroGP and Enduro1 titles already secured, Garcia will arrive at the final round in Wales free from championship pressure. Behind him, however, plenty remains unresolved. Verona still leads the Enduro2 title fight, Holcombe now carries the Enduro3 advantage, and the Junior and Youth battles will continue into the finale. Round six may have crowned the season’s biggest champion, but it did not bring the 2026 story to a close.

EVENT RESULTS

Steve Holcombe (70) Josep Garcia's well-deserved celebration

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August 2026

STAGE 1

STAGE 2

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Zachary Pichon - 54:11.34 Josep Garcia - 54:44.17 Andrea Verona - 54:51.17 Steve Holcombe - 55:10.00 Julien Roussaly - 55:37.38 Hamish Macdonald - 55:42.06 Brad Freeman - 55:42.95 Jeremy Sydow - 55:48.64 Max Ahlin - 56:11.02 Nathan Watson - 56:11.06

Josep Garcia - 53:48.52 Zachary Pichon - 53:50.38 Steve Holcombe - 54:34.27 Brad Freeman - 54:45.28 Hamish Macdonald - 54:51.46 Andrea Verona - 54:57.44 Julien Roussaly - 55:04.42 Max Ahlin - 55:07.92 Jeremy Sydow - 55:16.96 Theo Espinasse - 55:18.56

TRIALS TRAINING CENTER www.trialstrainingcenter.com 423-942-8688 • Train With A Pro! Expert instruction by top national riders • Riding Park Train on our 650 acre Mountain Resort Beautiful trails, streams and vistas • Lodging, Cabin Rentals, RV sites and Tent sites • Full Service Motorcycle Headquarters We sell Gas Gas, Sherco, Beta, Montesa & Scorpa

2026 SCHEDULE Mar 6-8: Downhill Southeast Mtn Bike Race

Ryan Young Trials Schools at TTC:

Mar 28-29: Trials Training Days

February 7-8

May 16-17: Spring Splash Trial (STRA)

May 23-24

Jun 15-18: Family Camp

October 3-4

Jun 19-21: AMA/NextGen Mototrials Youth & Women's Eastern Regional Championship Jun 22-25: Invitiational Teen Camp

November 14-15 www.ryanyoungtrialsschools.com

Aug 28-30: 16th Annual Red Bull Tennessee Knock Out Extreme Enduro Oct 24-25: 34th Annual 58K Fall Trial (STRA) Dec 5: 20th Annual Xmas Toy Trial Fun Gate Trial

* All dates are subject to change August 2026

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RIVER MONSTER UNLEASHED R

ieju USA’s Quinn Wentzel entered the 2026 River Monster Hard Enduro having won three of the event’s four previous editions. Only Ryder LeBlond, winner of the 2025 race, had managed to interrupt Wentzel’s run at Kairos Wilderness Resort. If Wentzel wanted to add a fourth River Monster victory to his record, however, this year’s race was going to demand much more than outright speed. By Sunday afternoon, speed was almost irrelevant. Round three of the AMA East Hard Enduro Series returned to Glen Lyn, Virginia, where promoter Jared Spencer introduced a substantially revised course for 2026. Building on feedback from previous editions, Spencer added more technical terrain, challenging splits for the 38

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WORDS & PHOTOS STEPH VETTERLY Pro and A divisions, and a By the end of it, Hawaiian completely new loose-rock rider Makana Barger had climb through a brand-new claimed the Pro/A overall, area known as Virgin Valley. Wentzel had returned to the top of the Pro results, Familiar Kairos landmarks and Maverik Thaxton had remained. White Whale was completed the overall podium. still there. So were Powerline Hill and Send It. But the routes It was a dramatic change from connecting those recognizable the River Monster of just one features had changed year earlier. considerably, creating a course In 2025, pre-event rain had that was effectively new to the given way to favorable riders. conditions by race time. The Then the rain arrived. course remained technical, but the leading Pro riders were What followed was the able to attack it at a pace that toughest River Monster yet, made the race as much a sprint a race in which the opening as a hard enduro. Will Riordan miles became a traffic jam led much of the opening lap of spinning tires, steaming before LeBlond moved ahead, motorcycles and exhausted while Trystan Hart remained riders searching desperately close enough to keep the for traction. Less than onepressure on. At the finish, Hart third of the Pro/A field would and Riordan were separated by complete a single lap. only 14 seconds.

August 2026

Riordan even commented afterward that rain would have made the course exponentially more difficult. A year later, the mountain proved his point. Saturday’s Amateur race gave little indication of the chaos waiting around the corner. The approximately eight-mile course was dry, and riders faced a mix of rocks, creeks, singletrack and hill climbs. It was still River Monster, and Kairos rarely offers an easy day, but the conditions allowed riders to find rhythm and use speed where the terrain opened up. Karsen Fulton made that combination work better than anyone.

Fulton grabbed the holeshot and immediately put his harescramble experience to use on the transfer trails and faster singletrack. Rather than simply surviving the spaces between the technical obstacles, he attacked them and used that speed to establish an early advantage. “My background in hare scrambles really helped in a lot of the transfer trails and singletrack,” Fulton said. “I just pulled away from everybody. I got a good little lead after I got the holeshot and took off from there.” His opening lap was not completely clean. Fulton dropped into a hole and became stuck long enough for second place to close the gap, but he quickly recovered and pulled away again. The rocks provided another challenge. Mud carried onto otherwise dry stone created several surprisingly slick spots, but Fulton’s Dunlop EN91 EX rear tire gave him enough traction to keep momentum on the climbs. He went on to take the Amateur victory ahead of Cory King and Graham Kobak. For King, second place was the result of managing both the race and his own physical condition. Still dealing with a fatigued groin muscle from his previous event, he knew charging every obstacle was unlikely to produce the result he wanted. Instead, he settled into a more deliberate approach. “You’ve got to think before you do something,” King explained. “Your first hard obstacle, do it right the first time and don’t get in a rush. That’s the biggest thing I can say.” It is advice that applies particularly well to hard enduro. A five-second pause to assess an obstacle can save

minutes of wheelspin, lifting and dragging a motorcycle after a poor first attempt. King also experimented with his setup, installing a gummy front tire because rain was in the forecast. The softer tire offered plenty of grip in the rocks, but its movement at speed made it more difficult to attack the faster portions of the course. The terrain itself changed as the race progressed. Moss and vegetation made the first lap difficult to read, but repeated traffic began cleaning the rocks and exposing better lines. By laps two and three, King found more traction and a clearer course. Graham Kobak completed the podium after what he described as a clean, controlled race. Kobak had prepared for the summer conditions by running in temperatures approaching 100 degrees, building the fitness necessary to keep working when the race became physically demanding. That preparation paid off. He finished with energy remaining and avoided the cramping that can quickly end a hard-enduro effort.

King, however, looked at the early climbs and understood exactly what would happen if the forecast became reality. If rain came, he predicted, the first couple of hills could stop nearly everyone. By Sunday morning, his prediction had become the story of the race. Rain pounded Kairos for roughly an hour early Sunday morning, saturating the hillsides before the Pro and A

riders ever reached the starting line. The race was scheduled for three laps within a five-hour limit, with the Pro/A loop measuring approximately 10 miles and incorporating separate splits for the two divisions. Just after the start, the sky opened again. Barger had already grabbed the holeshot and charged into the opening rock section

“The course was awesome,” Kobak said. “It was a good balance. Half of it was rocks and creeks, and then the other half was hill climbs.” Kobak’s appearance on the podium also continued his progression at River Monster. In 2025, he had been among the leading Youth riders and finished well inside the overall Amateur top 10. One year later, he was standing on the outright Amateur podium. The weather remained cooperative throughout Saturday.

OPPOSITE : Quinn Wentzel in Virgin Valley THIS PAGE : top: Karsen Fulton (1479) bottom: Jacob Bowden (2007) with Mackinlay Locklear helping push August 2026

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when the second burst of rain arrived.

downhills became every bit as challenging as the climbs.

“I got to the top and all of a sudden it just started pouring,” he said. “I was like, okay, let’s see how it goes.”

Most of the field was in trouble less than a quarter-mile into the course.

The answer came almost immediately: traction disappeared. The already technical Virginia terrain became a collection of slick rocks, greasy roots and steep hills coated with wet leaves and churned soil. Sideways logs demanded precise positioning, while the

Powerline Hill emerged as the race’s first major filter. Riders searched across the hillside for anything that might offer grip. Established lines quickly became polished and useless, forcing racers farther toward untouched dirt, leaves and vegetation. Some climbed. Others pushed.

Many went nowhere. Thaxton was among those trying to solve the puzzle. He had briefly taken the lead before Wentzel moved past, and early in the race the two were close enough to work through the terrain within sight of one another. Then they reached Powerline. “It was just unreal,” Thaxton said. “I wasn’t even sure how to get up.” While Wentzel and Thaxton studied the hill, Max Beaupre

arrived on the electric Bonnell and charged through. Beaupre went on to set the fastest times to the second and third checkpoints, reaching checkpoint three in 1:43:16. But River Monster was far from finished with him. Beaupre would not reach checkpoint four. Mud unfortunately got into the bike’s primary drive and snapped a belt, calling his race early. Getting through one impossible-looking obstacle simply delivered the rider to another. Barger, meanwhile, was thriving. The Champion Brick Racing rider escaped much of the early congestion after his holeshot and built enough separation that he spent much of the race alone. There were still moments when the course forced him to reconsider what was possible. At one particularly difficult climb, Barger looked at the terrain ahead and questioned whether he could make it. Rather than attack blindly, he picked his way upward, finding grip a few feet at a time. Then he kept moving. The conditions that were overwhelming much of the field were also strangely familiar. Back home in Hawaii, wet valleys, steep hills and slick rocks are simply part of riding. “I’m right back at home in the rain and mud,” Barger said. “Every day we ride, even if it’s not raining, the valleys always have water in them.” He compared River Monster to the terrain he had faced at the Ultimate Hawaiian Hard Enduro on Kauai—only shorter. THIS PAGE : Maverik Thaxton (125) making his way through Virgin Valley OPPOSITE : Makana Barger (400) leading the charge

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That comfort showed in the results. Barger reached checkpoint one in 10:13 and never surrendered the lead in the A standings. By checkpoint two he had opened an enormous advantage, arriving in 35:57 while Ayden Marinchek reached the same point at 1:17:25. Barger’s gap only grew from there. He completed the single scored lap in 2:54:47, taking the A-class victory and the fastest overall time across the combined Pro/A field. “I was making everything,” Barger said, “and I felt like I rode the best I possibly could have.” Marinchek persevered to second in A with a 3:25:35 finish, while Leiber Ponce completed the podium at 3:53:01. Quinn Dickey and Kai Morgan rounded out the top five in the A standings.

Only six A riders reached the fifth checkpoint. That number speaks volumes about what the field faced. Wentzel’s battle unfolded much differently. After reaching Powerline Hill, the three-time River Monster winner spent roughly 30 minutes fighting his way to the top. Once there, he believed he had survived the day’s biggest obstacle. Then he stepped on the rear brake... nothing happened. On a course filled with steep, slick descents, continuing without a rear brake was simply not realistic. Wentzel knew his way back toward the pit area and diverted from the racecourse to begin repairs. He first attempted to bleed the brake system, including trying to reverse bleed it with a syringe. Nothing worked.

Nearly 20 minutes disappeared before he remembered a spare assembly sitting in his parts tote. Inside was exactly what he needed: a complete pre-bled rear-brake system. Almost. The replacement brake pin did not fit. Wentzel pulled out his tools, drilled the mounting hole and improvised a cotterpin solution. While the bike was in the pits, he topped off the fuel and coolant before heading back toward the course. Under normal circumstances, that kind of delay would have ended his chances of winning, but River Monster was anything but normal. The other riders were still stuck. Wentzel returned to the race and began catching them. From there, his trials background became one of his greatest assets. Wentzel has repeatedly credited trials with developing the balance, clutch control, throttle precision and body

positioning that translate so effectively into hard enduro. On a day when carrying maximum speed was often impossible, those technical skills mattered far more. “Today wasn’t about going fast at all,” Wentzel said. “It was about your technical ability and who had the best technical skills.” His motorcycle was taking punishment as well. The Rieju repeatedly ran hot and pushed coolant, leaving Wentzel unsure whether it would survive the lap. It did. He reached the finish in 3:27:25, giving him the Pro victory. It was Wentzel’s fourth River Monster win in five editions, reestablishing him on the top step after LeBlond’s victory one year earlier. Behind Wentzel, Thaxton found his advantage on the hills.

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Traction was the problem everywhere, but Thaxton began looking beyond the obvious lines. Rather than following the polished main rut, he moved two or three feet to either side, searching for fresh leaves or undisturbed soil. Even then, grip was scarce. His solution was momentum. Thaxton shifted into taller gears, kept the rear tire spinning and attacked when the terrain gave him an opening. Send It took him a couple attempts, but once through, he began building confidence. He stopped at the bottom rather than immediately charging upward. He studied the line, recovered physically, and then committed. “I sat at the bottom for a while, just thinking and studying and trying to catch my breath,” Thaxton said. “Then I came up out of the creek and just really tried to pump with my legs.”

Pro podium: Quinn Wentzel (1), Maverik Thaxton (2), Creed Kisling (3)

Thaxton completed the lap in 4:02:44, earning second in Pro.

This time, River Monster became a survival race.

Creed Kisling was the final Pro rider to reach the finish, completing the course in 4:28:53 for third in class.

Although there’s no official overall due to the Pro and A riders having different splits throughout the course, Barger left Kairos knowing he crossed the finish line first after turning the conditions to his advantage, while Wentzel added a fourth River Monster Pro win to his record following a day that included bottlenecks, brake failure, pit repairs and an overheating motorcycle. Thaxton’s patience and hill-climbing ability carried him onto the Pro podium.

Jarrett Mohn reached checkpoint three in 4:47:44 but progressed no farther. The numbers told the rest of the story. The event had been planned as a three-lap race. The leaders completed one. Less than one-third of the combined Pro/A field finished a lap. Riders who are accustomed to measuring races in hours sometimes spent enormous portions of their day fighting a single hillside. And yet, that is what made the 2026 River Monster memorable. A year earlier, the Virginia mountains had produced a high-speed fight among some 42

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of America’s best hard-enduro racers. In 2026, a redesigned course and perfectly-timed rain revealed an entirely different personality.

Behind them, simply reaching the next checkpoint became an accomplishment. Spencer had given River Monster a new technical edge for 2026. The weather took that foundation and magnified every rock, hill, and root. The result was a race that stopped most of the field,

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tested the machines as much as the riders and made a single completed lap feel like a victory in its own right.

River Monster had earned its name.

EVENT RESULTS OVERALL - PRO

OVERALL - A

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Quinn Wentzel (RJU) Maverik Thaxton (KTM) Creed Kisling (HSQ) Max Beaupre (BON) Jarrett Mohn (KTM)

OVERALL - B 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Karsen Fulton (HSQ) Cory King (SHR) Graham Kobak (SHR) Kevin Soltys (SHR) Gustavo Garcia (KTM) Joel Rockwell (SHR) Noah Howard (HSQ) Kyle Margosian (KTM) Henrique Ribeiro (KTM) Andres Turriago (GG)

Makana Barger (KTM) Ayden Marinchek (KTM) Leiber Ponce (KTM) Quinn Dickey (KTM) Kai Morgan (KTM) Russell Phlegar (KTM) Stephen Edmondson (KTM) Tucker Edmondson (KTM) Scott Martin (HSQ) Joshua Vitalie (KTM)

OVERALL - C 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Savio Henrique (KTM) Travis Jones (STK) Jacob Bowden (GG) Patrick Rexing (BET) Raison Lopts (HSQ) Abdiel Lopez (HSQ) James Swan (KTM) Lucian Whitener (KTM) Samuel Anderson (HSQ) Cyrus Wheeler (STK)

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Mud, Momentum, and Pure

DETERMINATION

at Down Home Farm WORDS & PHOTOS ANGEL VOLKART ROUND 4: DOWN HOME FARM LOCATION: Cutler, OH

riday night, I rolled into Ohio and immediately knew we were in for an interesting weekend. It had been raining on and off the entire drive from Pennsylvania, and the air felt heavy with moisture. The grass was soaked before I even unloaded my bike, and I had a feeling the conditions were going to make Saturday's race one to remember. Saturday morning, I headed out with the media team to preview a few sections of the course. The very first hill humbled me. I couldn't even make it to the top because it was so unbelievably slick. Coming from the West Coast, I don't have much experience riding in Ohio's clay, and this was my first time riding in the state. I knew the mud was going to play a huge role 44

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in the race, but I don't think I fully appreciated just how challenging it would be until I was in it. When the amateur race kicked off, the woods came alive. I heard that Dawson Alcala grabbed the holeshot in his class. Soon after the start, Amateur Hill sounded like a swarm of angry bumblebees echoing through the trees. One by one, the leaders burst around the corner and charged the hill. Cory King, Emmett Covington, and Bentlee Bredekamp made it look effortless. Bentlee clipped a small rock and launched into the air heading up the hill, but it barely seemed to faze him. Cory sailed up the hill with the kind of confidence that reminds you why these riders are at the front. For the next several minutes, the action didn’t stop. Riders

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poured through, engines screaming, roost flying, and, in a few cases, bikes flying too. It was incredible to watch everyone tackle the same obstacle in completely different ways.

jumped in to help riders who got stuck on the slick climb. He lent a hand to multiple competitors—including several women in the amateur class—as they fought to get their bikes up the hill.

What stood out most, though, wasn't just the fastest riders. It was watching people sit at the bottom of the hill, staring up at it, trying to decide if they had what it took. You could see the hesitation, the nerves, and then the decision to go for it anyway. That's what hard enduro is really about— finding traction where there seems to be none, pushing past fear, and giving it everything you've got.

To me, that's what hard enduro is all about. We've seen riders at every level stop to help one another, and after the rain turned the hill into a clay-covered skating rink, that sportsmanship was on full display. It was especially meaningful knowing the promoter had debated removing the hill altogether because of the conditions. Instead, it became a place where determination, perseverance, and community all came together. The constantly-changing conditions challenged even experienced riders and rewarded those that could adapt lap after lap.

One moment summed up the spirit of the sport perfectly. Travis Hill made it up with no issue and stopped to wait for his daughter, Abigail, who was racing in the Amateur Women class, but instead of simply watching from the sidelines, he

The amateur race itself was anything but slow. Bentlee

Bredekamp was absolutely flying. He was just one second behind Emmett Covington at Check 1 before taking over the lead by Check 2 and never looking back. Bentlee claimed second place overall in the amateur race following Cory King in first and Cory Jones in third. Bentlee’s progression has been hard to miss. He has consistently been running at the front of the B class, showing steady improvement with every round and proving he can battle with some of the fastest riders in the field. If he continues developing at this pace, he'll be a rider to watch in the coming years. His determination and drive are evident every time he lines up at the start. Cory King, meanwhile, reminded everyone why he's one of the riders to beat in Ohio. Known for both his personality and his riding ability, Cory made the challenging conditions look almost effortless. His riding style stayed smooth and controlled as he climbed the slick hills, finding traction where many others struggled and carrying speed through sections that had riders fighting just to stay upright. Another section delivered some of the most dramatic action of the day. Riders had to negotiate a narrow strip of singletrack with a steep drop-off to the right, then climb over a root on terrain that was both sharply angled and incredibly slick. There was almost no room for error, and rider after rider came dangerously close to disappearing over the edge. A few competitors resorted to sending their bikes up the obstacle, hoping they would catch against a tree or land high enough to allow them to climb up and continue. Sometimes it worked. Jose Cintron experienced one of the most memorable battles of the section. On one attempt, he

launched his bike toward the top, only to watch it tumble all the way back down to the exact spot where he had been sitting roughly a minute earlier. His frustration was immediate and understandable, but in true hard enduro fashion, he regrouped. Jose climbed back down, retrieved his bike, adjusted his bark busters enough to keep riding, and went straight back to work. He took tumble after tumble and made several more attempts before finally getting the bike to stay at the top. He then climbed up after it and rode out of the section. It may not have been the cleanest or fastest passage of the day, but it was one of the strongest displays of determination. Jose struggled, adapted, and refused to quit. That persistence is the heart of hard enduro, and it is exactly what the Ohio Hard Enduro Championship puts on display. Not every rider can travel across the country to compete in every round of the U.S. Hard Enduro Series, but regional events give them the opportunity to experience the same kind of technical challenge, camaraderie, and satisfaction closer to home. The terrain may be local, but the difficulty—and the determination required to overcome it—is every bit as real. One of the biggest highlights of the weekend was the crowd. Family members, fellow racers, and spectators lined the sections and cheered for every rider who came through. People shouted encouragement, suggested alternate lines, and reminded struggling competitors, “You’ve got this.” For a championship that might be described as “only” a state series, there was nothing small about the energy surrounding the course. There were plenty of spectators, and they made plenty of noise for every rider

THIS PAGE: Quinn Dickey (655) August 2026

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calculated style, conserving as much energy as possible while maintaining an impressive pace. On a day where many riders were fighting the terrain at every turn, his ability to stay composed stood out. Mark Fortner also delivered a strong performance aboard his 3 Seas Recreation Beta. Like Thaxton, Fortner approached the technical sections with a smooth, controlled riding style that allowed him to maintain momentum despite the increasingly slick conditions. As the rain continued to reshape the course, riders who could stay relaxed and let the bike work beneath them were rewarded.

fighting through the mud. Even from behind the camera, I could feel the energy. I am sure the riders felt it too, especially during the moments when the slick Ohio clay was testing every ounce of their patience, strength, and determination.

never looked back, riding with remarkable composure through sections that had challenged riders all day. Watching Maverik work through the course was a lesson in efficiency. He glided through obstacles with a smooth,

The energy from the crowd carried straight into the pro race. Between the end of the amateur race and the start of the pros, the skies opened up. Rain poured down in sheets, soaking the course in a matter of minutes. Before long, there was nearly an inch of water sloshing around in my boots. Despite the downpour, the event stayed on schedule, and the pro riders lined up ready to tackle an even slicker course. When the race got underway, Maverik Thaxton put together an impressive ride. After running behind Nick Fahringer early in the race, the lead changed hands when Fahringer was forced to retire after Check 4. From there, Thaxton 46

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Georgia Eversole was the only woman to line up for the afternoon pro race, and she tackled the course with the same determination she brings to every event. Racing with a smile on her face, she pushed through brutally slick conditions and reached Check 1 before her day came to an end. One of her biggest challenges came on a hill that deteriorated so quickly it was ultimately removed from the course. Georgia had already committed to the climb and was partway up when officials made the decision to bypass the section. She then had to make her way back down the hill and rejoin the course to catch up with the new route.

While the results sheet only tells part of the story, Georgia's ride reflected the perseverance that defines hard enduro. She continued to push through the difficult conditions without giving up, showing the grit and determination that have become hallmarks of her racing. Another rider worth mentioning is Dylan Ewing, who hails from Arizona. While he's currently spending time on the East Coast, Ohio's slick clay is a far cry from the terrain he's accustomed to riding in the Southwest. Despite being a talented rider, Dylan found himself battling for traction throughout the day. The steep, muddy hills demanded a completely different approach, and you could see the frustration as he searched for grip in conditions that were unfamiliar to him. At the same time, it was clear he understood the challenge in front of him. Sometimes hard enduro isn't about outright speed—it's about adapting to whatever the terrain throws at you. It was great to see a rider from across the country lining up at a local Ohio Hard Enduro Championship round. That's not something you see every weekend, and it's a testament to the quality of the series

challenged every rider, regardless of experience. that it continues to attract riders from outside the region. Hopefully, more out-of-state riders will make the trip in the future to experience firsthand the challenge, camaraderie, and unique terrain that the Ohio Hard Enduro Championship has to offer. Stephen Thaxton provided one of the most memorable moments of the day. Similar to Jose Cintron's battle with the section, Stephen made a determined attempt at the slick climb before sliding off the edge and taking a tumble down the hill. As soon as he bounced back to his feet, the crowd erupted.

While getting himself together for another attempt, he laughed and told those around him that he was just two weeks away from turning 62 and was feeling good. That only fueled the cheers from everyone watching. Stephen is an experienced rider and has even competed at Red Bull Erzbergrodeo. Seeing a rider with that level of experience battling the same obstacles as everyone else spoke volumes about the difficulty of the course. The Ohio Hard Enduro Championship didn't hand out easy lines or easy finishes. The slick clay, steep hills, and constantly changing conditions

LEFT: Jose Cintron (2900), Dawson Alcala (1519) THIS PAGE : Clayton Costello (249), Leiber Ponce (22)

Moments like Stephen's are a reminder that "state series" doesn't mean "easy." The Ohio Hard Enduro Championship delivers genuine hard enduro, with terrain that demands skill, determination, and the willingness to get back up after every setback.

NEXT UP : BLACK ROCK 2.0

Round 5: September 5 Location: Chesterhill, OH

EVENT RESULTS OVERALL PRO/A

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Maverik Thaxton (KTM) Mark Fortner (BET) Robert Cornwell (KTM) Drew Fortner (BET) Leiber Ponce (KTM) Justin Remley (KTM) Quinn Dickey (KTM) Tim Burwick (HSQ) Jared Fortner (BET) Nick Fahringer (SHR)

OVERALL AMATEUR

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Cory King (SHR) Bentlee Bredekamp (HSQ) Cory Jones (KTM) Emmett Covington (KTM) Graham Kobak (SHR) Chase Delong (GG) Joel Rockwell (SHR) Patrick Rexing (BET) Justin Farley (HSQ) Dawson Alcala (KTM)

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Cokinos

Sweeps

Southwick WORDS & KYLIE KULPA // PHOTOS EIGHTEEN PHOTOS

ROUND 6 - Southwick LOCATION: Southwick, MA

day Offroad is back at its New England stomping grounds for Round 6 of the Regional AMA championship series at the infamous Southwick 338 GP motocross track. Round 6 has Fox Racing as their presenting sponsor. Another great race filled with the best of the best , head to head in the sand and woods of Massacusetts.

by the end of Lap 1, Justin Cokinos was leading, with Robby Marshall five seconds behind and Ricky Russell eight seconds back. Justin continued to gain time on second place until he crashed in the woods on Lap 4. Although Cokinos made what could have been a costly mistake, he recovered to finish the moto in first, leading all 14 laps across both motos to secure the Pro AA overall. Ricky Russell finished second in Moto 2, and Jiggs Fustini joined the battle to finish third.

Justin Cokinos has claimed this track as his over the years and he showed everyone how it's done finishing the day placing 1-1 in Pro 125 and 1-1 in the Pro AA class.

On the podium stood Justin Cokinos (1-1) for first overall, Ricky Russell (2-2) for second overall, and Jiggs Fustini (4-3) for third overall.

PRO AA CLASS

With a few course changes, the racing hasn't been better. The Pro AA class started on the motocross track with a dead-engine start, racing up the first sweeping hill. Robby Marshall led the lineup of 25 of the fastest woods riders into the woods section of the course. By the end of Lap 1, Plaistow Powersports rider Justin Cokinos was leading the pack. 48

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PRO 125

Cokinos continued to lead for the remaining seven laps, gaining time on second place and finishing first, 24 seconds ahead of Ricky Russell, who started Moto 1 in 12th and charged his way to second by Lap 5. Thorn Devlin, who

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finished third in Moto 1, battled it out with fourth-place finisher Jiggs Fustini and fifthplace finisher Robby Marshall. In Moto 2, Kyle Hangos was out front, grabbing the Fox Racing Holeshot. Once again,

The Pro 125 class sponsored by Moto Tassinari was won by Plaistow Powersports rider Justin Cokinos who went 1-1 and lead every lap of each moto. Cokinos was on a roll this weekend dominating both Pro classes on the top step. Seven riders took on the 2-stroke race aboard their

LEFT: Justin Cokinos, Pro AA and Pro 125 winner ABOVE: Moto 1 of Pro AA holeshot RIGHT: Amateur Overall winner Colton McQuarrie clearing the pipe jump in the FMF extreme section (34), Tala Jones Women's Pro winner surfing the Southwick sand (713)

Yamaha rides. Van Gosselin came in second place after having a Moto 1 finish of fourth and second place finish Moto 2. Robert Weiss JR finished in third after having moto scores of 5-3 to round out the podium. AMATEUR CLASSES

In the Amateur divisions, Blu Cru rider Colton McQuarrie received the Amature Overall award finishing first in A250 and eighth OA in the A class.

EVENT RESULTS

WOMEN’S PRO CLASS

Pheonix Honda Rider Tayla Jones knows just how to dominate every course she rides, coming back from a leg injury and missing round 5 & 6 she is back going 1-1 in the Womens Pro class. Jones started both motos out front leading, she finished Moto 1 with over a minute lead and Moto 2 with almost a 2-minute lead. Carly Lee finished the day second overall battling with third place finisher Mallory Pickard.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

OVERALL PRO

Justin Cokinos (YAM) Van Gosselin (YAM) Robert Weiss Jr (HSQ) Colton McQuarrie (YAM) Alex PHaneuf (YAM) Kyle Gaetani (YAM) Matt Webb (YAM) Ryan Amancio (KTM) Nate Smith (HSQ) Taylor Beckwith (YAM)

OVERALL - WOMEN'S PRO 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Tayla Jones (HON) Carly Lee (KTM) Mallory Pickard (HSQ) Kayla Oneill (YAM) Addison Harris (KTM) Destiny Artegian (KAW)

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Photo: S. Romero

LiGHTWEIGHT.

2027 KTM XC-W RANGE When Enduro turns brutal, the 2027 KTM XC-W range comes alive. Compact, agile, and relentlessly responsive, these machines are designed to excel in the tightest, steepest, and most demanding environments imaginable.

KTM.COM 50 ON-THE-PEGS.COM

August 2026

Always wear protective safety gear and ride in a responsible manner. Production model specifications and options may vary from the displayed vehicles.

August 2026

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August 2026

JHAK WALKER MAKES NATIONAL ENDURO HISTORY WORDS PHOTOS

TYLER SHEPARDSON ART PEPIN

ROUND 6 - MSR Barbed Wire

National Enduro LOCATION: Pine City, NY

ound 6 of the Redline Oil American National Enduro Championship presented by MSR delivered one of the biggest moments in series history as Liqui Moly Beta's Jhak Walker became the first Pro 2 rider to claim an Overall Victory! The Southern Tier Trail Riders laid out the MSR Barbed Wire National Enduro offering dry, rocky, and technical conditions that challenged riders all day as the championship winds down to the final three rounds. Walker continued the momentum from his first career Overall Podium at the previous round by putting together a smart, consistent ride that earned both the Pro 2 victory and the Overall win.

The Illinois rider kept mistakes to a minimum throughout the day and even overcame a transfer crash late in the event to make history.

Enduro competition in impressive fashion, taking the Pro 1 victory and finishing second Overall in his first enduro in two years.

"I got third overall last round and figured I needed to go up," Walker said. "I just rode smooth all day, let the bike do what it needed to do, and tried not to let the track bite me."

Racing on familiar terrain, Davis quickly found his rhythm and admitted the performance may have convinced him to race a few more rounds this season.

Although the accomplishment hadn't fully sunk in after the race, Walker admitted the significance would likely hit him later.

"I was really happy with it all day. I haven't raced an enduro in two years, so I'm pretty pumped with my riding," Davis said. "If I ride like this, I might as well keep coming back."

"I don't think it's set in yet. I'm happy about it, but I think tomorrow it'll all hit me." FMF/Red Bull KTM's Grant Davis returned to National

AmPro Yamaha's Liam Draper continued his consistent championship campaign with second in Pro 1 and third Overall. While the New

Jhak Walker (19) August 2026

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York terrain kept everyone on edge, Draper stayed in contention throughout the day and extended another valuable points finish as the series heads into the final stretch. Rocky Mountain ATV/MC Red Bear Kawasaki's Steward Baylor rounded out the Pro 1 podium after overcoming mechanical issues that threatened to end his day early. Baylor was forced to manage problems from the opening test and even suffered a crash while trying to make up time, but he and his team persevered to salvage a podium finish and important championship

points. "We really didn't know if we were going to make it across the finish line after the first test," Baylor said. "The whole team worked together to keep the bike running, and on a day like today, finishing is a win." The Pro 2 podium was completed by FMF/Red Bull KTM's Jason Tino and Solid Performance KTM's Thorn Devlin. Tino recovered from a slow start with a strong final test to secure second in class, while Devlin opened the day by setting the fastest overall time in Test 1 before

ultimately finishing third. "I had a slow start, but we cleaned it up by the end and had a really good last test," Tino said. "It was probably my favorite enduro of the year so far." Devlin, making one of his limited National Enduro appearances this season, was pleased with his return despite giving up ground late in the day. "I knew I did really good in

the first section and kind of got nervous because that's not usual for me," Devlin joked. "I ended up paying for it in the last test, but it was an awesome day and I'm happy to be back." In the Women's Pro division, Rockstar Husqvarna's Korie Steede remained undefeated in 2026 by earning her sixth consecutive victory. Despite admitting the rocky New York terrain wasn't her strongest, Steede won the final five tests of the day to extend her perfect season. "Rachel got me fired up after that first test," Steede said. "The rocks definitely aren't my favorite terrain, but all in all it was a really solid day." Rieju Factory Racing's Rachel Gutish claimed second after making significant bike setup changes leading into the weekend, while Enduro Engineering Triumph's Shelby Turner returned to ANEC competition following international racing duties to complete the podium. Gutish praised the progress made with her motorcycle Gavin Myers (18F, Enduro Futures), Grant Davis (2), Korie Steede (444), overall podium

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August 2026

throughout the week, saying, "We've made a lot of positive changes to the bike, and I'm really happy with where it's at." Turner continued to build speed as the day progressed and enjoyed her first experience racing in New York. "It took me a little while to get warmed up today, but I got going at the end," Turner said. "It was a really fun day and they put on an awesome course for us." With another successful event in the books and a historic Overall victory now part of the record books, the American National Enduro Championship turns its attention to Round 7 in Rhode Island as the championship battles enter the final three races of the season.

EVENT RESULTS

OVERALL - PRO 1

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Grant Davis (KTM) Liam Draper (YAM) Steward Baylor Jr (KAW) Craig Delong (HSQ) Ryder Lafferty (HON) Grant Baylor (KAW) Josh Toth (KAW)

OVERALL - PRO 2

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

Jhak Walker (BET) Jason Tino (KTM) Thorn Devlin (BET) Ryan Piper (KTM) James Jenkins (TRI) Cooper Jones (KTM) Michael Delosa (YAM) Trevor Hulin (HON) Dominick Morse (HSQ)

OVERALL - PRO WOMEN

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Korie Steede (HSQ) Rachel Gutish (BET) Shelby Turner (TRI) Brooke Cosner (KAW) Jocelyn Barnes (HSQ) Taylor Johnston (TRI)

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ABOVE: Jim Laird (87J), Rich Stephens (33R) RIGHT: Billy Burns (3), Dan Horengic (H7) 56

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MID-ATLANTIC SUMMER BLOCKBUSTER SEASON WORDS PHOTOS

JOSH SCHUCKER LORENA WALKER AND SARAH MARIE LANE

MX / CC ROUNDS -

Candytown MC (Elizabethtown, PA) Ashcraft Farm (Bellefonte, PA) Quiet Oaks Campground (Cross Fork, PA)

chool is out. Days are growing longer. The temperature is rising. Blockbusters are hitting the big screen. And AHRMA’s Mid-Atlantic (MA) region is joining the hit parade with a flurry of early summer instant classics. THE CANDYTOWN COMEBACK

You know the plot here, the once popular but all too soon

forgotten something-or-other gets a shot at redemption and knocks it outta the park. A well worn but always popular trope in storytelling. Candytown Motorcycle Club (CMC) sits just a few miles from the popular tourist town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, hence the confectionary themed moniker. The club’s vintage hare scramble event was once a mainstay on the AHRMA MA schedule until

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it wasn’t. The world changed in 2020, and like many things, the Candytown event was just another casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, some of the things that made the venue so great ultimately led to its exclusion in recent years. CMC sits on a lovely intimate parcel of woodland with shaded parking, a well-sized club house with kitchen facilities, a motocross track, a trials area, and a several mile cross country course. Sounds like a great place to be a member, right? But, at less than thirty acres total, parking can be at a premium. MA region rider counts had already been rising organically due to the quality of the series, its competition, and its venues, Candytown rightfully included in that praise, before the pandemic hit. Outdoor recreation, including vintage motorcycle racing, gained a large influx of participants when COVID came knocking, and parking at CMC was now an insurmountable constraint and the series had to move elsewhere. Always hoping for a breakthrough to get this “cult classic” back in the mix, series coordinator Dave Kutskel would often touch base with the club on its parking situation. Then in preparation for the 2026 season, a breakthrough! A neighboring property would grant permission to use an adjacent field for parking! Candytown is back! The club has always been gracious and accommodating and also agreed to tame its motocross track for vintage use to allow the event to become the first joint motocross and crosscountry race at the property. Club members invested significant time and resources into converting doubles to tabletops and generally configuring the track to suit the target participant. The

LEFT: Chloe Sawyer (67C), Tim Spigelmeyer (512), Bob Grimes (272), Scott Kappus (53) RIGHT: John Foster (48) August 2026

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compact layout punches above it weight and made for great racing. One unique aspect is the wide sweeping turn into the woods at the edge of the track that harkens back to the club’s early days as a flat track “scrambles” venue in the 70’s. The cross-country loop utilized the majority of the MX track before dipping into the woods where the course doubles back on itself numerous times in order to claw out as much mileage as possible in the confined acreage. And just like in the past, the loop is a ton of fun. The club hosts popular trials events, and you can see why as you pass through the large rocks that speckle the property. The club has done a great job keeping the course challenging, but approachable, without encountering too many of those rocky areas. CMC provided a nice surprise for those taking part in the third race of the day. The disc brake equipped bikes were treated to a new section of trail which was cut through a neighbor’s property. Everyone got to experience the trademark “pinwheel”, a CMC tradition, where the riders ride in a continuous turn one direction, spiraling inward 60

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until executing a one-eighty and spiraling back out of the pinwheel in the opposite direction. It is so good to be back with the awesome crew at Candytown! ALWAYS ASHCRAFT

The annual trek to the Ashcraft family’s farm just north of State College is the MidAtlantic region’s Avengers, Fast and Furious, or Harry Potter style franchise. No matter what, you can count on it to bring the crowds. Heck, some of those films didn’t even need a solid plot and still cashed in. Ashcraft Farms, however, has a great plot. Each year this joint venture with AHRMA’s Northeast region follows the same outline. It begins with rolling into the expansive picturesque farmland at the base of the mountain, where a quilt of campers, tents, trucks, bikes, and all other manner of dirt bike race related equipment is stitched across the horizon. Then comes friends, camaraderie, food, and fun before a full day of awesome grass track motocross and yet another day of equally

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excellent cross-country racing. That is the formula, and it works very well. Of course, each edition of the Ashcraft weekend has a few tweaks and revisions to the formula to keep things fresh and interesting.

This year, Brian and Lisa and the crew made a big change in the motocross program. The course was again laid out in the familiar and well-suited field below the family home, but this year the direction of travel was reversed from the

last several iterations. The alternate flow was a unique experience with the approach to some of the characteristic elements of the course completely different, such as the two down and up chutes on opposite corners of the track and a new short uphill start with a left hand turn into an off camber straightaway rather than the usual right hander. The cross-country course utilized some very familiar turf from recent years with a few welcome additions and alterations. The biggest plot twist for 2026 was the weather. Based on the history of the event, which interestingly took Candytown’s place on the schedule in 2020, a betting fellow would lay some money down on very hot and humid. Often times it seems that Ashcraft’s late June date is written on Mother Nature’s calendar as the date to crank the thermostat up for the summer season. But, for 2026 she dialed up rain… and plenty of it. Saturday morning’s motocross practice sessions were decent, the rain hadn’t really impacted the course yet, and the forecast was suggesting that any rain

would be short-lived. By the time racing started, so did the rain, and despite the hope for a reprieve, that “short-lived” thing must have been a joke. It didn’t take long before the normally hardpacked cow pasture was churned up into a pure mudder. The up/down sections were removed from the action quickly as they become nearly impossible to navigate, and while the rest of the course was slick, it was

still a fun time and made for some incredible spectating watching the top riders still pinning it and finding traction where mere mortals were spinning and sliding. Sunday’s weather was significantly better, but with the majority of the loop lying on the base of the mountain, runoff from the previous day’s deluge ensured that day two riders would get their share of slimy stuff as well. The course was, as always, fun and flowing, and it is always a blast to dip into the sinkhole section near the end of the lap in front of a large crowd of spectators. The slippery-ness seemed to change as the ground went through several phases. The first few laps of the morning’s Vintage race were better than expected, then after getting torn up a bit, it got worse. Some drying occurred during the early Post Vintage race and conditions improved slightly before the ruts started to act as channels draining the terrain above. Once the mountain’s moisture found these paths, the slick increased and the slop factor jumped an order of magnitude. And those roots! A challenge for sure, but still a good time. Thanks Ashcraft’s…on top of your game yet again! THE UP-AND-COMER

With only a few years on the MA schedule, and again

paired up with the Northeast gang, the Cross Fork Classic has all the elements to someday rival the Ashcraft Farm blockbuster franchise. Quiet Oaks Campground, sitting atop a mountain in the Pennsylvania Wilds area, is an extremely attractive and accommodating host. They love having the vintage motorcycle racing family and you’ll love the full-service campground, natural beauty, stargazing, Elk spotting, belly busting breakfast, and fantastic racing. This year’s rider count was well improved from the Classic’s first couple of years, so it feels like the word is getting out and this event is starting to hit its stride. The grass track MX layout is a highlight of the weekend. The large open field that Quiet Oaks provides for this purpose holds a plethora of natural terrain features that serve as a perfect representation of what motocross was in the era that AHRMA seeks to celebrate. Wide sweeping turns, WFO straights, chop, bumps, jumps, chicanes, and plenty of passing opportunities. When Dave K staked out the 1.2 mile course, he followed up by mowing the field but leaving the race surface uncut LEFT: Josh Folmar (840), Kelly Ashcraft (335) RIGHT: John Pinning (56X), Mike Blackwell (241)

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for a real nostalgic feel. The initial practice laps had riders running through thigh high grass that was quickly knocked down in the hot lines and remained in less used areas throughout the motos. One of the best tracks on the schedule. And, if you didn’t get enough of that sweet grass track, the Sunday cross-country racing uses nearly the entire thing along with a three-mile jaunt through some of the greenest forest you’ve seen. A luscious emerald carpet of ferns surrounds the ribbon of singletrack that makes full use of the available acreage on the Quiet Oaks property. A variety of terrain and obstacles await. While you will encounter a modest amount of rocks and roots, there is plenty of great dirt and fun flow to compensate for the occasional challenges. There was a portion of the property that underwent some logging activity since last year’s event, so there was a bit of a challenge to clear the trails in preparation for this year. Several AHRMA regulars

stepped up to help tackle that challenge, so many thanks go out to them. Three blockbusters down and they were all worthy summertime spectaculars! More to come through the rest of the year in the Mid-Atlantic region, so stay tuned…and we’ll see you there!

John Caccavale (17C), Josh Schucker (627), Josh Stewart (172) 62

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August 2026 On the Pegs Magazine