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2026 MICHIGAN-ONTARIO TRIALS ASSOCIATION (MOTA) SCHEDULE
ABOUT MOTA:
The Michigan Ontario Trials Association is proud of its rich history in promoting the sport of Observed Motorcycle Trials in the Michigan and Ontario regions.
A Non-Profit organization devoted to promoting observed motorcycle trials activity in the Michigan-Ontario Area.
Composed of a number of member clubs, M.O.T.A. sponsors virtually all trials events held in the area. Each observed trials is organized and conducted by one of the member clubs solely for the enjoyment of other M.O.T.A. club members, and any other riders who wish to participate. Any fees collected are intended only to provide enough funds to perpetuate the sport.
MOTA SERIES SCHEDULE
Apr 25-26
May 16-17
Michiana Trials; New Paris, IN
Mid-Michigan; Vermontville, MI
May 31 Great Lakes; Metamora, MI
Jun 14 Metro; Whitmore Lake, MI
Jun 28 Bent Fenders; Flushing, MI
Aug 8-9 East Side; Marlette, MI
Aug 30 Bent Fenders; Flushing, MI
Sept 13 Great Lakes; Metamora, MI
Sept 20 Metro; Whitmore Lake, MI
Oct 3-4
Mid-Michigan; Vermontville, MI
ALEX MYERS JOINS TRS
Alex Myers recently announced his new ride for 2026. Riding the AMA NATC National Mototrials Championship, Alex went Pro in 2019 aboard Scorpa. Out of the 12-rider roster that year, Alex made an impressive sixth-place finish. And the results have only improved as the class has slimmed to a solid block of talent.
Having been on Scorpa his entire Pro career, this will be an exciting year to help showcase TRS and what the brand is capable of.
ALEX MYERS
"I’m proud to announce my partnership with TRS Motorcycles USA and Daisy Imports TRS for the 2026 season! I’m extremely excited to be joining such a young, talented group of riders on the TRS USA Team and on such a great platform to continue to do my best.
I’m looking forward to seeing what I can do this 2026 season, both in the PA District 6 championship and at least the eastern rounds of the NATC series."
RADFORD CHUGG JOINS RIEJU FOR THE 2026 HARD ENDURO SEASON
RIEJU officially announced the signing of British rider Radford Chugg as a new rider for the brand for the 2026 season. Chugg will compete with RIEJU in the most demanding hard enduro events worldwide, with technical support from Eurotek.
Radford Chugg will face the 2026 season competing in the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship, the ACU British Extreme Enduro Championship, as well as iconic events on the world calendar such as the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo and Red Bull Romaniacs.
The new chapter between Radford Chugg and Rieju will be defined by a clear commitment to hard work, consistency, and progression throughout the season.
RADFORD CHUGG –
“I’m very excited to announce that in 2026 I’ll be racing with RIEJU. Grateful for the trust from the team and really looking forward to starting the season and fighting for the best results.”
Radford also wanted to thank all sponsors and collaborators, both new and existing, who will make this sporting project possible during the 2026 season.
With this announcement, RIEJU strengthens its presence in international hard enduro and begins a new chapter together with Chugg in one of the most extreme off-road disciplines.
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Click or scan to
THE CONVERSATIONS DIRT BIKERS ARE IGNORING
INTERVIEW WITH ALEX MARTIN OF TROLL TRAINING
BRIAN PIERCE COURTESY BRIAN PIERCE WORDS PHOTOS
THE RIDE-MORE MENTALITY
For years I believed the same story a lot of you do: if I just rode more, the results would come. It’s baked into dirt bike culture. Bikes are meant to be ridden, so clearly the solution has to be more seat time. The problem is, that thinking kept me from even looking in the mirror to see what was actually holding me back.
My journey to where I am now has been a very interesting one. I am very thankful that Alex Martin took the time to discuss the philosophy he preaches with Troll Training. After retiring from pro racing, he took eight months off the bike, trained for a marathon, and built a massive aerobic base. When he got back on the bike, he was a little rusty on technique, but his overall fitness was on a completely
different level. It wasn’t the extra motos that unlocked his performance; it was everything he did away from the bike.
That’s the thread of this whole conversation: riding is important, but if we really want to improve, we have to zoom out and look at Bike, Body, and Mind, not just laps.
BIKE, BODY, MIND: WHERE WE GET STUCK
I think about dirt bike and off-road performance in three buckets:
• Bike – setup, equipment, line choice.
• Body – strength, aerobic base, mobility, fueling.
• Mind – honesty, confidence, self-talk, race-day decisions.
Most of us camp out in the Bike bucket. It’s way easier to chase suspension settings, tires, or a new pipe than to admit, “My sprint speed is bad,” or “I’m nervous to see what my technique actually looks like on video.” Alex sees this every day, from six-year-olds to 70-year-olds in Troll Training. No two riders have the same life, schedule, or weaknesses, so there is no cookie-cutter program.
The common denominator isn’t a magical plan; it’s honesty. What are we actually struggling with right now? Starts? One-lap intensity? Leg strength? Nutrition? Once we can say that out loud, it gets a lot easier to point our effort at the thing that matters instead of just logging random motos.
BODY: FIVE IMPORTANT EXERCISES FOR RIDERS
A huge theme in this episode is how simple off-the-bike strength can be if we stop chasing more seat time and focus on movements that build a wider foundation. Alex has boiled his own training down to a few key lifts that keep him durable enough to run serious mileage and still feel good on the bike.
Alex’s Big 5:
• Single-leg deadlifts (with a dumbbell)
• Regular deadlifts (barbell)
• Front squats or goblet squats
• Single-arm bench press (dumbbell)
• Single-arm overhead press (dumbbell)
watch Brian's YouTube video
Alex likes dumbbells and single-limb work because they force all the stabilizer muscles to show up, expose left/right imbalances, and build strength that transfers to hanging onto a dirt bike. Machines do the stabilizing for you, which is the opposite of what we need when the bike is trying to rip itself out of our grip.
I’ve lived the imbalance thing the hard way, wrecked shoulders meant one side was secretly doing 75% of the work with a barbell. Breaking things down into single-arm presses and single-leg work was the only way to work my weak, imbalanced shoulders.
MIND: WE DON’T LOOK LIKE WE THINK WE LOOK
I giggled when Alex said this live and every time after listening back to the episode.
"A lot of riders think they have good technique, and then I will video them. And it’s like, hey, you don’t look like you think you look."
I laugh at that because I know for certain that was me for the longest time (and if we’re being honest, it’s probably still me). I never considered that my body position, leg grip, or sprint work might be the real limiter. I didn’t even know to look in the mirror and ask, “What if I’m part of the problem here, not just the bike or the track?”
Alex sees this in how riders avoid working on weaknesses. We’ll complain about bad starts but never line up and do 10 focused starts in practice. We’ll say we struggle with sprint speed but won’t do one-lap sprints where you go out, go all-in for a lap, stop, and repeat. It’s not that we can’t do it; it’s that those sessions give very direct feedback, and that can be uncomfortable.
A simple “mirror” process to work on awareness:
• Film ourselves – one moto, a handful of corners, or just a batch of starts.
• Watch once as a fan, then again as a coach: if Alex or any honest friend was breaking this down, what would they circle? Knees all over? Locked hips? Hanging off the back of the bike and pulling ourselves forward with our arms?
• Choose one weakness to warm up with every ride for the next month: starts, one-lap sprints, braking bumps, leg grip, whatever makes our ego squirm the most.
The goal isn’t to fix everything at once. It’s to start seeing reality clearly enough that our practice matches what we actually need.
FUEL: NUTRITION FOR RIDERS
Alex shares simple practical advice that help when he’s talking to normal humans with jobs, families, and limited time.
A few key points:
Carbs matter more than most dirt bikers want to admit. Our bodies are motors, and if we expect them to run at race pace with no fuel in the tank, we’re setting ourselves up to bonk.
We have to train our gut to handle more carbs when it counts.
Timing matters. A big steak the night before a race isn’t bad, but red meat takes longer to digest. Alex would rather see us push that to earlier in the week and keep pre-race fuel easier to process so our stomach isn’t fighting us on race morning.
If you want one low-friction place to start, try this for the next hard ride or race-sim:
Eat something with carbs 60–90 minutes before you ride (rice, potatoes, oats, toast, whatever you actually like).
Use a drink mix or simple carb source during any ride over an hour.
Be intentional with electrolytes on hot days instead of waiting until you’re cramping.
LET’S STOP HOLDING OURSELVES BACK
When you strip this episode down, it isn’t really about marathon training, single-leg deadlifts, or how many grams of carbs you eat. It’s about the conversations we tend to ignore:
With our Bike – “Do I actually know this setup, or is it just easier to point at the motorcycle?”
With our Body – “Am I strong and conditioned enough for how hard I’m trying to ride?”
With our Mind – “Where am I glossing over my technique, sprint speed, or goals?”
We don’t need to chase a professional program. We don’t need to overhaul our entire lives. But we do need to
be honest about what we want from riding and what’s really in the way.
DO THIS THIS WEEK:
Grab a piece of paper and write three columns: Bike / Body / Mind.
Under each, write one weakness you’re curious about improving.
Circle the one that feels most important right now, and commit the next month to gently but consistently working on just that.
If you’re stuck or want help building something around your reality, you can reach out to Alex and the crew at Troll Training, or you can reach out and ask me questions.
What doesn’t change is this: the more honest we get about where we are today, the clearer the path becomes to the rider we’re trying to become.
www.seattime.co
ABOUT ALEX MARTIN
Having spent 15 years of his life as a professional motocross racer, Alex has had the privilege of working with and learning from some of the most renowned individuals and top-tier factory teams in the industry. His consistency, fitness, and determination have led him to over 26 podium finishes and more than 50 top-five finishes, resulting in multiple season finishes in the top three. Alex’s firsthand experiences with a wide range of trainers and training programs, along with his hunger for knowledge and self-education, have fostered a passion for health and wellness that he is eager to share with others.
FEBRUARY FOCUS: TURNING
February is all about turning—the foundation of everything we do on a trials bike. As riders across the country start thawing out and getting back into regular riding, this is the perfect time to slow things down and sharpen the basics.
I’ve heard this from coaches and mentors and believe it to be true, I’ve never ridden a trial without a turn. There have been plenty of trials I’ve ridden where I wasn’t tested on one niche skill or another (ex. Some are all rocks, and some are all logs.) Even if you’ve moved on to hopping, there are just some places where you must be able to turn the bike, or where it would bring a big advantage.
Tight turns, balance turns, off-camber turns, flat turns—however you approach them, focusing on turning builds:
• Better balance and bike control
• Smoother transitions between obstacles
• Confidence that carries into every section
Great riders aren’t just strong on big moves—they’re excellent at the details.
I continue to be completely blown away by this community. We now have more than 100 riders participating in the free 10×12 Challenge community, and it’s not just local or regional—it’s truly global.
In January alone, we mailed 10×12 stickers to riders in the United States, Estonia, Canada, Great Britain, Australia, and Colombia.
Seeing riders from all over the country—
and all over the world—working on the same skills at the same time is incredibly motivating. This challenge has become so much bigger than I ever imagined, and it’s because of you showing up and putting in the work.
JANUARY PRIZE WINNERS
Huge congratulations to our January participants—and especially to the winners of the Six Mile Industries Tall Boy Fork Guards! Thank you to Six Mile Industries for supporting the challenge and helping keep riders protected while they put in the work.
January Winners:
• Jakeb Holden
• Jeff Little
(If you see your name here, keep an eye out—your prize is coming your way!)
FEBRUARY PRIZES
We’re keeping the momentum rolling into February with prizes that just keep coming:
• Two (2) pairs of LRP Levers — smooth feel, top-tier quality, and a favorite in the paddock
• 20% off BluemontCo — awesome casualwear featuring trials-inspired themes, perfect for repping the sport off the bike
Complete the February 10×12 to be eligible. (Turn in a photo of your calendar on the TrialsProgression community app!)
JOIN THE CHALLENGE ON TRIALS PROGRESSION
If you’re not already there, join us on the TrialsProgression app—it’s free and it’s where the challenge really comes alive. Inside the app you can:
• See how other riders are approaching February’s turning focus
• Share your own practice ideas and progress
• Stay motivated through the winter grind
• Win extra entries into the monthly drawing by participating and encouraging your peers
No matter where you’re riding—or what the weather looks like—February is the perfect month to slow it down, turn with intention, and keep building.
Let’s get after it.
Visit www.10x12challenge.com for all the links and information you need.
ABIGAIL BUZZELLI WORDS
JANUARY FINISHERS
Abigail Buzzelli
Arthur Prunty
Carter from Montana
Chris King
Christopher Bankston
Clint Mulligan
Cole Cullins
Crystal Stephens
Darcy Johnson
Don Conrad
Greg Edens
Heidi Brenner
Indrek Kuusk
Jakeb Holden
Jason Robb
Jeff Little
Jim Baird
Juan Villegas
Juan Garcia
Judy Li
Karl Faruzel
Marcus Sysum
Marshal Bird
Melissa Mull
Norman Foley
Paul Johnson
Rachel Campbell
Robert Duggan
Scott from Michigan
Shaun Hunt
Terry Oedwewaldt
Todd West
Tom (user)
Tommy Justice
Toni Roach
Robb Reeves from Kansas
Jim Baird riding in Scotland
Toni Roach from Ohio
2 SECONDS TO GLORY
WORDS PHOTOS
STEPH VETTERLY
EDO BAUER & KIN MARCIN // RED BULL CONTENT POOL
When the final timing screens flickered to life in Yanbu, it almost felt like a glitch. After more than 8,000 kilometers of racing across Saudi Arabia, after two relentless weeks of dunes, rocks, marathon stages, penalties, crashes, and strategy games, the 2026 Dakar Rally was decided by two seconds.
Two seconds.
For Luciano Benavides, that microscopic margin was the difference between heartbreak and history. It delivered his first Dakar Rally victory, secured KTM’s 21st triumph in the event, and cemented his name alongside the greats of rally-raid. It also made this the closest finish the Dakar has ever seen .
“I still can’t believe it. I never stopped dreaming,” Benavides said after sealing the win. “I woke up today full of energy and motivation, just thinking about what I could do and
trusting in myself, and that was the key for this Dakar. I did this for myself, and this feeling is unreal. To win by just two seconds is unbelievable. I even missed the last two corners and nearly crashed, so it was right on the limit, but it paid off. I honestly can’t describe this moment.
This is my ninth Dakar, and it shows that if you never stop dreaming, never stop believing, and keep fighting for your goals, anything is possible. I never gave up. Even today, when I was losing time and I saw Ricky pushing hard, I kept telling myself it wasn’t over until the last kilometer. In the end, he made a small mistake and I got it right. It’s just unreal. Vamos Argentina! Now it’s time to celebrate with my family, my friends, my sponsors, and everyone who has supported me through all these years to achieve this dream.”
That last kilometer defined everything.
The 2026 Dakar opened in Yanbu with youthful fireworks from Edgar Canet, but Benavides was immediately in the mix. Through the opening week, the fight among KTM’s trio — Benavides, Daniel Sanders, and Canet — and Honda’s heavy hitters set the tone for what would become a tactical chess match at 100 mph.
On Stage Five, the first Marathon-Refuge test, Benavides reminded the field he wasn’t just surviving — he was hunting. He rocketed up the standings with a brilliant stage win, even after a highspeed scare.
“I had a high-speed crash on this stage, but luckily nothing was broken! When I lost the front wheel I thought my Dakar was over. I'm super
proud because I was not even sure if I'd be able to race this Dakar,” he admitted .
That stage win did more than move him up the order. It signaled resilience. Coming into the rally after knee and shoulder injuries from a Morocco crash, Benavides was carrying scars — physical and mental. Dakar doesn’t forgive doubt. Yet he was pushing harder each day.
By Stage Seven, he had begun to claw back serious time. After taking a stage victory that trimmed the gap to Daniel Sanders, he reflected on a historic moment shared with his brother Kevin, who won in another category the same day.
“It's the first time in history that two brothers win in two categories on the same day. This is something incredible! I'm starting this second week in super good shape and with lots of motivation. I'm feeling great.”
Momentum had shifted.
Stage Eight — nearly 500 kilometers around Wadi AdDawasir — was one of those classic Dakar days where the desert exposes weakness. Benavides thrived. He backed up his previous win with another stage victory and grabbed the overall lead by 10 seconds.
“I've been feeling good to push. I'm reading the roadbook well and taking good decisions. I want to keep riding like this until the end of the rally.”
In rally-raid, navigation is currency. Speed without precision is useless. Throughout the second week, Benavides combined aggression with restraint. While others gambled on tactics — slowing to secure better starting positions or risking penalties — he insisted on riding what he could control.
“I'm not playing any strategy, I'm just doing what I can control. We’ll go for one big push tomorrow.”
It sounded simple. It wasn’t.
No Dakar is won in isolation. Inside the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing camp, the storyline was layered.
Daniel Sanders, the reigning champion, was mounting a
fierce defense of his 2025 crown. He powered into the lead multiple times and on Stage Nine stretched his advantage to 6m24s.
“Right at the beginning, I checked the roadbook quickly and I could see that there was going to be a bit of chaos. There was one tricky note at 34km. Luciano (Benavides) was lost and I was in his dust. Whatever the results today, we'll just make the best of it for tomorrow.”
Then came the defining crash.
On Stage 10, Sanders went over a dune and nearly landed on rival Tosha Schareina, breaking his collarbone and
sternum. He still finished the stage.
“I'm in a lot of pain. I'll go back to the team to evaluate the injuries. I wouldn't have finished, if I didn't want to continue. Mum and Dad didn't raise no quitter. Unless they drag me out of the race, I'm not stopping.”
The injury reshaped the rally. Sanders slipped from the fight for victory but battled to the finish, eventually placing fifth overall . His perseverance
became part of KTM’s broader story of resilience.
“I’m really happy for the team, and that’s just Dakar – it’s never over until it’s over. Every day is different and anything can happen… Unfortunately, I was unlucky in my own race and out of the fight for the win, but the result is still in the team, and that’s something special.”
Inside the bivouac, the message was clear: fight until the final meter.
By Stage 12, the pendulum had swung again. Honda’s Ricky Brabec seized control and carried a 3m20s advantage into the final day . After two weeks of punishment, Benavides appeared to have lost his grip on the title.
“It was a tough day and I tried my best. It wasn’t an easy stage to open, so we gave away a bit of time. Of course, we keep the hope alive until the last kilometre.”
Three minutes and 20 seconds is a lifetime on a final-day sprint of 105 kilometers.
But Dakar has a way of punishing certainty.
Stage 13 from Yanbu to Yanbu was short by Dakar standards: 33km of liaison and 105km against the clock . A sprint, yes — but a sprint at the end of a war.
Benavides rode like a man with nothing to lose.
The Argentine erased the deficit and then some, capitalizing when Brabec made a small mistake in the closing kilometers. The overall classification told the brutal truth:
1. L. Benavides (ARG) – KTM 49:00:41
2. R. Brabec (USA) – Honda +00:02
Two seconds after nearly 49 hours of racing .
“I cannot believe it! I never stopped dreaming. To win by just two seconds is unreal. I woke up today full of motivation and energy, trusting myself to do what I can. That's the key to success at the Dakar. My brother Kevin won by 43 seconds in 2023 and that was the closest finish ever. Now I've won by two seconds. Two seconds after two weeks and over 8,000km is hard to believe.”
It wasn’t just victory. It was a rewriting of Dakar history.
Benavides’ triumph also deepened one of rally-raid’s most compelling family legacies. His brother Kevin claimed Dakar wins in 2021 and 2023. Now Luciano added his own chapter.
The moment resonated far beyond the podium. It validated nine attempts at the world’s toughest rally. It rewarded years of near misses and relentless preparation. It showcased maturity — knowing when to attack, when
to survive, and when to trust instinct.
For KTM, it marked a 21st Dakar title, reinforcing the dominance of the KTM 450 RALLY platform. Across categories, the Austrian manufacturer filled the desert with orange. But this win belonged to the rider who refused to surrender when Stage 12 seemed to close the door.
What defined Benavides’ 2026 Dakar wasn’t just speed. He claimed three stage victories, including a critical performance during the first marathon stage. He survived crashes. He avoided catastrophic errors in the rocks. He maintained composure when tactical games unfolded around him.
Most of all, he believed.
From Stage Five’s crash scare to Stage Eight’s surge, from the crushing setback on Stage 12 to the final sprint redemption, Benavides never
spoke in absolutes. He spoke of control, belief, and pushing until the end.
That mindset separated him in the final kilometers.
Dakar is often described as a race against the desert. In 2026, it was a race against doubt — and time itself.
When the dust settled in Yanbu, the timing screens confirmed what few could have imagined at the start of Stage 13: after 13 stages, 8,000-plus kilometers, and nearly 49 hours of racing, the Dakar Rally had been decided by two seconds.
Luciano Benavides had done what every rally rider dreams of. He had conquered Dakar not with dominance alone, but with resilience. Not with comfort, but with courage.
And in the closest finish the event has ever seen, he proved that the rally truly is never over until the final kilometer.
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3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
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10.
EVENT RESULTS
49H 00' 41"
49H 00' 43"
49H 25' 53"
49H 57' 22"
50H 03' 56"
50H 05' 27"
Cornejo 50H 40' 31"
Branch 51H 49' 56"
51H 57' 59"
(HON) 52H 02' 36"
Luciano Benavides (KTM)
Ricky Brabec (HON)
Tosha Schareina (HON)
Skyler Howes (HON)
Daniel Sanders (KTM)
Adrien van Beveren (HON)
Ignacio "Nacho"
Ross
Toni Mulec
Preston Campbell
Hemingway Breaks Through as Bou Extends His Reign
WORDS PHOTOS
STEPH VETTERLY & X-TRIAL PEP SEGALÉS & COURTESY X-TRIAL
The 2026 FIM X-Trial World Championship resumed from its winter pause with two dramatically different nights that nonetheless delivered the same headline: Toni Bou remains the benchmark. In Leeds, the sport returned to the United Kingdom and produced one of the closest finishes of the season. One week later, inside the cauldron of Barcelona’s Palau Sant Jordi, Bou turned a pressure-cooker atmosphere into a masterclass, extending his advantage as the championship charge gathered momentum.
Round 6 in Leeds marked a historic return for British fans, and the level of riding reflected the occasion. From the outset, the sections were punishing. From the start, the sections presented a very high level of difficulty, with no room for error, a tone that defined the entire evening.
Bou approached Qualifying 1 with calculated composure.
He finished the first lap with 12 penalty points, placing him second behind Jaime Busto and securing a direct berth in the final alongside teammate Gabriel Marcelli. In Superpole, he was second fastest, earning a favorable starting position for the decisive run. It was classic Bou: manage the damage early, position strategically, strike when it matters.
The final would become one of the season’s most intense confrontations. Bou admitted afterward, “I’m very happy with the result, especially considering how it affects the championship. It was a very close race, particularly in the final, where I think I made a bad decision that affected my feeling. I know I’m not at 100% physically right now, and I took a risk on the first zone, which is ultimately what gave me the victory, so I’m
happy with my position in the overall standings. This win is important, and the next challenge is Barcelona.”
Bou’s own summary underscored how tight it truly was: “It was a very difficult Final and win. In the first
section I was aiming for a clean because I wanted to start by making a difference, and in the end I dropped a point. Then in the second section I made a bad move and my injured shoulder bothered me a lot. Fortunately, the physical issue improved
ABOVE : Gabriel Marcelli was off to a rocky start in round 7 where he just couldn't find rhythm on the bike. BELOW : Jaime Busto admited he's always struggled in Barcelona, but found the connection with the crowd helpful during the difficult sections.
and I started to feel better. I want to congratulate Harry Hemingway because he rode in an extraordinary way.”
While Bou executed his familiar formula, the emotional heartbeat of the night belonged to Beta’s Harry Hemingway. The Beta Trial Factory Team described it as a “memorable night” at the First Direct Arena, with Hemingway delivering an outstanding second place, securing the first World Indoor podium of his career in front of the home fans.
After finishing Q1 in fourth despite early difficulties, the Brit found another gear, winning Q2 to book his place in the final. A decisive ride in the fifth section reignited his fight for victory. It was also a special weekend for Harry’s brother, George Hemingway, who made his debut in the Championship. He delivered a solid Q1 performance,
finishing sixth and qualifying for Q2.
For Harry, the night was transformative. “It’s incredible. This season I had already reached three Finals and missed out on the podiums in the tie-breaks. Today, back at home, on my 20th birthday, in Leeds, I achieved second place. I pushed Toni Bou all the way to the last section and lost by one point. I can’t complain. I hope to keep this up for the rest of the season.”
While Bou expanded his championship cushion to 115 points, Gabriel Marcelli endured a rare stumble. A mistake in Zone 2 of the final derailed his podium hopes.
“I’m not very happy with today’s race. I didn’t ride particularly well in the final, and my feeling wasn’t the best. On the positive side, I didn’t lose many points in the overall standings compared to Jaime.
Now we have to analyze our mistakes, improve, and try to get back to the top in Barcelona.”
If Leeds was tense and fragile, Round 7 in Barcelona was emphatic. The Palau Sant Jordi has long been Bou’s fortress, and the 2026 edition only reinforced that reputation. The Repsol Honda HRC release described “a magical night” as Bou claimed his nineteenth victory at the venue.
From the first lap, Bou imposed himself. He completed the opening six sections with just one penalty point to secure his place in the final. In Superpole, he set the fastest time at 1:24.8, once again controlling the grid order and dictating the tempo.
The final featured seven sections, adding another layer of difficulty. Bou, however, was relentless. He had already created a decisive gap by the fourth section; escaping with only a single point, the rest of the field were unable to complete the section, taking max points. He wrapped up the victory with a section to spare, finishing on 12 points.
Afterward, Bou reflected on the significance of the moment. “I’m incredibly happy and very proud of how the night went. This race is very special for me, and winning again at home is something you can’t take for
A big congratulations goes out to Harry Hemingway, who not only secured his first indoor podium of his career, but also pushed to an outstanding second-place finish in Leeds, only 1 point behind Bou.
granted, let alone doing it for the 19th time. I want to thank the team for all their hard work, because they gave their best performance at the Palau Sant Jordi tonight. We won the first lap and in the ‘Super Pole’ we managed to qualify in the best spot for the final, so I’m very satisfied with the result and the level we showed. It’s also a very important victory in terms of the title, as I’ll have my first chance to win it at the next race in Chalon-surSaône.”
Behind him, the battle for second was fierce. Jaime Busto and Marcelli fought to the final section, separated by a single point. Busto acknowledged the difficulty of the task: “This second place is a good result considering how difficult the final sections were and how well Toni rode. I’ve always struggled in the final here in Barcelona, and today it was different despite the challenges. The connection with the crowd was very important.”
Marcelli, third on the night, was candid in his assessment. “I’m not entirely happy with how the day went; it could have been better. I never quite found my rhythm on any of the laps, and it showed, especially in the final. We managed a third-place finish, which isn’t bad for the championship, but honestly, I would have liked a bit more, so I’m left with a bittersweet feeling.”
Two rounds, two different storylines — but the same championship trajectory. In Leeds, Bou survived a one-point thriller against a surging young Brit. In Barcelona, he reasserted his dominance with clinical authority. His advantage ballooned to 135 points after Round 7, 42 clear of Marcelli, positioning him on the brink of yet another indoor crown.
For the rest of the field, the margin for error continues to shrink. Hemingway’s breakthrough in the UK signaled the emergence of new pressure from below. Busto remains a constant threat when momentum swings his way. Marcelli’s consistency keeps him in mathematical contention. Yet as the series heads toward its final stretch, the pattern is unmistakable.
The winter break may have paused the calendar, but it did nothing to cool Bou’s resolve. Whether clawing out a one-point win in hostile territory or dominating at home before an adoring crowd, he has demonstrated every dimension required of a champion: calculation, courage, and the capacity to elevate when the stakes are highest.
In Barcelona, Berta Abellán (Scorpa) claimed her third victory in Barcelona, finishing one point ahead of Andrea Sofia Rabino (Beta) and two points clear of Denisa Pechackova (TRRS).
Grattarola currently sits in fifth place in the championship standings after a fifth-place finish in Leeds and a sixth place in Barcelona.
CURRENT STANDINGS
1. Toni Bou (MON) - 135 points
2. Gabriel Marcelli (MON) - 93 points
3. Jaime Busto (GG) - 89 points
4. Harry Hemingway (BET) - 59 points
5. Matteo Grattarola (BET) - 31 points
6. Jack Peace (SHR) - 19 points
7. Arnau Farré (SHR) - 15 points
8. Francesco Titli (TRS) - 14 points
9. Benoît Bincaz (EMOT) - 11 points
10. Hugo Dufrese (BET) - 10 points
ROUND 1
KING OF MOTOS - JOHNSON VALLEY, CA
ELECTRIC START TO 2026
WORDS PHOTOS
KYOSHI MCKIZZIE OF KYOSHIPHOTOGRAPHY
The AMA US Hard Enduro Championship kicks off the 2026 season with grit, at the world-famous Motorcycles and Coffee King Of The Motos. Rocky canyons, loamy sand sections, and extreme downhill runs tested the racecraft of Pros and the endurance of amateurs. Race Director Justin Leineweber designed parts of the course in reverse of 2025, creating new features from familiar obstacles. From the rock gardens of the “Outer Limits” to the harrowing downhill at “Drop of Jack”, King Of
CALAFIA CONCEPTS // RYAN MCCASLAND
The Motos is where new competitors get baptised in dust, and experienced racers cultivate their skill.
The weather was brisk, but dry Saturday. Racing commenced early, with the Pro Women and Amateur classes storming up “Chocolate Thunder”. Louise Forsley led the pack up the mountain as chaos formed behind her. “I'm usually ahead of the girls and so I set my sights on class A (men's) riders.” she stated. The IRC Tire Beta rider wasn't far off her goal, with only four
A-class riders to finish ahead of her. The first to the checkers was A-class rider Makana Barger. After holeshotting the second row start, he would battle fellow Hawaiian Boogie Rivera, all the way to the finish, edging him out by merely three seconds. Boogie, excited for Sunday stated “The lap was just straight grind, no rest, just wide open, sketchy, and yeah, just trying to keep it on two wheels”
The Pros had a different challenge awaiting them. Instead of a loop on the main
route, a trial of quick reflexes and stacked obstacles awaited them at “Super Fun Canyon”. PCI Race Radios put $1000 on the line and a single fewminute run doesn’t forgive mistakes. Cody Webb came short by 8/10ths of a second. The winner, 2025 Champion Trystan Hart stated “I think I wanted the $1000 more because I walked the whole track and he walked half of it. He was faster but I had a
couple of sneaky lines on the part he didn’t walk and that made the difference”.
By the time the gate dropped Sunday, the sun melted the morning chill. The smaller gates kept “Chocolate Thunder” from bottlenecking.
FMF Factory KTM’s Trystan Hart flew through the holeshot to a dominant first lap. “Once the gate dropped, I sprinted as fast as I could. It is hard to
get away with the navigation and they caught me a couple of times but I kept going”. Trystan emerged victorious, but the track bit back as his shifter broke mid-course.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Ryder LeBlond second place was more hard fought. Fourth off the gate, Leblond made quick work of third place rider Braxton Hintze on the first hill. Cody Webb (second place)
pulled ahead but a broken footpeg gave Leblond the edge to reel him back in. He recalled “I broke into second halfway through the first lap. I think I gained a little bit on Trystan and maintained that gap for like a lap or two, going into the last three laps. I had a four or five minute gap the whole time. If I was there maybe I could have made something happen but it was too big of a gap but I kept
pushing”. LeBlond was still happy with his performance exclaiming “Race was cool. It was a little easier than normal but it was fast, dusty, definitely more dry than it has been in the past. No snow. Pretty good”
Makana Barger emerged victorious once again in the A-class, using strategy to get the edge. “I started off pretty good but I took a wrong turn. I turned my back and saw Boogie just blow right by me. I turned around, caught up to him but we ran into some traffic. I took a straight line and gave him a little block pass and got by him” Makana stated, satisfied with his race.
King Of The Motos also debuts two new Pro classes.
Racer Aidan Manger broke the champagne as the sole rider in the “E-Moto” class. Also newly minted in the “ProFour Stroke” class. Six time champion Cody Webb led the class with fellow teammate Riley Bender in tow. A primer for the new, and a battleground for the experienced, King Of The Motos is the arena of legends. Epic downhills, rocky washes, and monumental climbs set the tone for the AMA US Hard Enduro season and the memories of this weekend will be the fuel to push harder in the next round.
The AMA National Hard Enduro season moves across
the Pacific Ocean for the Ultimate Hawaiian Hard Enduro on February 20, 2026. The Garden Island Motorcycle Club on the island of Kauai
will host US Hard Enduro for the third consecutive year, bringing a completely opposite change of scenery between Round 1 and 2.
EVENT RESULTS
PRO
1. Trystan Hart (KTM)
Ryder LeBlond (HSQ)
James Flynn (BET) 4. Matthew Green (KTM) 5. Branden Petrie (BET) 6. Cody Webb (YAM)
The Xtrainer is the number one selling entry-level enduro bike in many countries. The bike’s overall smaller chassis, low seat height, & overall weight makes the bike perfect for not only entry-level enduro riding, but also as a perfect model for those wanting a second bike for play. It’s seamless power delivery has just the right amount of power & torque. Simply put, The Xtrainer is a purpose built model, designed from the ground up to deliver an easier and more predictable ride.
Behind the Scenes of Honda RTL ELECTRIC Development (Part 2)
WORDS & PHOTOS
COURTESY HRC HONDA RACING & PEP SEGALÉS
As its name suggests, the Honda RTL ELECTRIC is the electric vehicle (EV) version of Honda’s legendary RTL series of competition trial bikes. In 2024, the Honda RTL ELECTRIC competed in three rounds of the All Japan Trial Championship (JTR) as a real-world test. In 2025, the RTL ELECTRIC competed in all rounds of the Trial2 class in the Trial World Championship (TrialGP).
Part 1 traced the journey from the RTL ELECTRIC’s three consecutive wins in JTR to the unexpected setback of zero points in the Trial2 2025 season opener, followed by a major shift in strategy and
transition to ‘a deep-reach’ setting, ultimately leading to victory in Round 2, Portugal.
Part 2 continues with valuable development insights shared by Hiroyuki Akiyoshi and Yusuke Fukao from Honda’s Electrification Development Division, Motorcycle and Power Products Eletrification Business Unit.
Under Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) rules, which the All Japan Trial Championship (JTR) also follows, EV trial bikes are classified as Type A if operating at 60V or below, and Type B for higher
voltages. While highervoltage Type B bikes can achieve greater power output, they require stricter safety measures. Consequently, some European manufacturers produce Type A bikes for the commercial market and Type B bikes exclusively for World Championship competition.
The Honda RTL ELECTRIC is a Type A bike operating at 60V or below. While higher voltage offers certain advantages, Honda sought the optimal balance for a trial bike. Through extensive consultation and calculations with the manufacturer regarding motor and battery selection, Honda determined
the best feasible combination.
AKIYOSHI: We basically perform simulations on PCs, enabling high-precision verification. This is another area where development differs from engine-powered bikes. Honda has extensive experience developing enginepowered motorcycles, so we can determine many aspects to a significantly accurate degree, but without that experience, it’s difficult. On the other hand, with EVs, most things can be simulated.
A trial bike demands a balance of output, range, size, and weight. Especially in EV trials, the [skid plate] hits
rocks violently, potentially causing internal battery cells to malfunction from the impact. Being light is not enough: durability is crucial. Designing the battery case to protect the cells from this impact was a major challenge.
FUKAO: Our supplier worked very hard on the battery shape. We held meetings very frequently with their engineer, starting from the very basics— such as where to place a bolt. Even a slight difference in the position of one bolt, or removing just one bolt, could significantly change the entire structure.
Although the season opener was a setback, Gelabert subsequently showed strong form, steadily closing in on the top of the standings. However, several races without points late in the season made the fight extremely difficult.
AKIYOSHI: We encountered issues and stopped mid-race. While it’s not a simple matter, I believe it highlights areas that weren’t fully refined during the prototype stage. In 2024, we only competed in three JTR races, and that span was less than half a year. But in 2025, we took a full year, significantly increased track time, and raced in a wide variety of locations. It might be an overstatement to say it was bound to happen, but our weaknesses inevitably surfaced. I believe those weaknesses became apparent towards the end.
In Race 1 on the first day of Round 6 in the USA, Gelabert was disqualified. This too stemmed from an issue with the bike. Once the race started, the development staff had no choice but to leave everything to the rider and crew. Also, being the first year with electric trial bikes, the operations staff undoubtedly had insufficient time to gain experience with the bike.
AKIYOSHI: It feels like we misjudged the troubleshooting approach. We broke down in Race 1 and couldn’t continue without changing the
battery. The rules specify where battery changes must occur, but we changed it in a different location. That’s what led to the disqualification.
Battery issues in EVs are akin to an intake system failure in an internal combustion engine. Or perhaps it is like a hole in the fuel tank, or even a defect in the gasoline itself. Either way, it is quite devastating.
AKIYOSHI: To be precise, it wasn’t a failure of the battery, but rather a state where it couldn’t supply power due to the impact of other issues. I suppose it just didn’t go smoothly.
EVs have restrictions on battery swaps, just as enginepowered cars are prohibited from refueling during competition. In that sense, it is fair for EVs to race with engine-powered bikes. However, while a gasoline leak can be temporarily patched up in the paddock with duct tape
or repair compounds, an EV battery cannot be handled that way. This might be a current weakness of EVs.
FUKAO: Zero points really hurt. We had another zeropoints finish later due to an issue, and I feel truly sorry for what we put Gelabert through.
AKIYOSHI: Honestly, if we’d achieved decent results in these races, the outcome could have been different. It’s a truly regrettable result, but
I think race organizers were also dealing with this kind of bike for the first time. We had problems, but the race organizers also had significant personnel issues. Team members got injured or caught colds, and the race manager even stepped in as an assistant. Honda Montesa team manager Carlos Barneda had a long history with Fujinami as rider and minder, having also served as his assistant during Fujinami’s JTR days. While
PREVIOUS: Yusuke Fukao (left) and Hiroyuki Akiyoshi (right) from the Electrification Development Division, Motorcycle and Power Products Eletrification Business Unit
ABOVE: Honda RTL ELECTRIC battery
BELOW: problems for Gelabert in round 11 - Rhode Island, USA
they shared a battle-hardened, reliable bond, perhaps more experience with the Honda RTL ELECTRIC was still needed.
After completing the first year in Trial2, the focus for the RTL ELECTRIC now shifts to future plans, particularly the strategy for the 2026 season.
AKIYOSHI: We haven’t been told activities will continue [in 2026]. However, we don’t believe we’ll stop after just one year. I expect an announcement about the 2026 season will come at some point. Various manufacturers have already launched EVs, and Honda should be aiming for the top in all categories. I don’t think it will end without us securing a championship.
While next season is still unknown, if Honda does not stop until they become champions, the battleground will likely remain the Trial2 class, as in 2025.
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF, HYPOTHETICALLY, GELABERT RIDING THE CURRENT RTL ELECTRIC AS-IS MOVED UP FROM THE TRIAL2 CLASS TO THE GP CLASS?
AKIYOSHI: When it comes to actual competition, it’s not straightforward because many factors beyond just rider skill and machine performance come into play. But watching him practice with GP riders this year, I’ve seen him perform on par with them in certain sections. Since Gelabert originally rode in the GP class, I don’t think his results would be too far off. I wouldn’t say he’d be on par with Repsol Honda HRC’s rising star Gabriel Marcelli (ranked 3rd in 2025), but I expect Gelabert would ride well enough to hold his own against his younger brother.
The younger brother, Aniol Gelabert, entered TrialGP several years after his older brother Miquel’s debut, and is
currently competing in the GP class.
FUKAO: Gelabert has ridden the RTL ELECTRIC quite a bit even after the season ended, and seems to keep getting better. He really is an exceptionally skilled rider.
WITH 2026 FAST APPROACHING, WHAT ARE THE DEVELOPERS’ OUTLOOKS FOR THE FUTURE?
AKIYOSHI: Personally, I think it’s becoming clear that EVs have advantages in trial competition. Especially for smaller bikes for children, the weight can be adjusted by changing the battery size. They’re also easier to load into transporters. Beyond just the shape and performance, there are various benefits such as avoiding gasoline fumes lingering inside the transporter.
HONDA’S RACING SPIRIT WILL NOT BE SATISFIED UNTIL IT REACHES THE TOP. WHILE REPSOL HONDA HRC’S TONI BOU CONTINUES DOMINATING TRIALGP ON AN ENGINEPOWERED BIKE, WILL HONDA MOVE TO A DUAL-TRACKED APPROACH, AIMING FOR SUPREMACY IN EVS AS WELL?
AKIYOSHI: Personally, I think Toni will be riding an EV in the near future. I really hope that happens. Of course, it’s still far from decided, but as our own wish, we hope that future arrives soon.
The EV challenge has just begun. The dream will continue to grow bigger and bigger into the future.
Gelabert claimed his first win on the Honda RTL ELECTRIC at round 2 in Portugal, and ended the season in second place overall.
PRESSURE? WHAT PRESSURE?
BOLT RULES SPAIN &
By the time the 2026 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship rolled into Bilbao for round three, the tone of the season had already been established. Billy Bolt had opened his title defense with authority in Poland and followed it with a flawless performance in Germany. Two rounds, two overall wins, and a growing points advantage over Jonny Walker.
But if rounds one and two suggested control, rounds three and four confirmed something more decisive: this was becoming Bolt’s championship to lose.
BILBAO –A TECHNICAL TEST IN SPAIN
The SuperEnduro GP of Spain inside the Bizkaia Arena delivered one of the tightest and most technical tracks of the year. Narrow lines, awkward rock sections, and little room to improvise meant riders had to be exact. It was less about outright aggression and more about patience, positioning, and minimizing mistakes.
Bolt adapted immediately. He topped timed practice and then delivered in SuperPole, banking three more championship points and securing prime gate selection .
Race one began with Walker launching into the lead, determined to dictate terms. For several laps he held firm, fending off Bolt’s relentless pressure. Then came the turning point. A mid-race error opened the door, and Bolt stepped through. Once clear, he extended the gap and took the win .
Race two required more work. Starting from the reverse grid, Bolt methodically carved through the pack. The track offered few clean passing opportunities, yet he found them. By the closing stages he was once again at the front, delivering another controlled victory .
Race three felt familiar. Walker grabbed the holeshot again, and again Bolt hovered in range. The decisive moment came in the rocks when Walker faltered under pressure. Bolt capitalized and stormed to his third win of the evening, completing another perfect night .
“It was a really good night and I’m very happy with how things turned out,” Bolt said. “The track was extremely difficult and quite different to what we’re used to, which
made it a challenging evening for everyone. Even when things didn’t feel perfect out on track, I knew the pace was there, so I stayed calm, focused on my strengths, and trusted the process. We had to make a few adjustments as the night went on, but the team did a great job, and we worked through everything well. Overall, I’m pleased with my riding and how everything is coming together. The support has been incredible once again, and the atmosphere here in Bilbao was amazing.”
Walker once again secured second overall, marking his third consecutive runner-up finish.
“Round three in Bilbao was challenging, but I’m happy to finish second again,” Walker said. “The track was tough, and I had to work hard, but
we had some strong starts and good battles throughout the night. We’re a long way from third, which is a positive, and I feel like with a bit more fitness and fine-tuning, we can close the gap to the lead. I’m confident for the next round and looking forward to battling for the win. Thanks to everyone for the support, and see you in Budapest!”
Behind them, Mitch Brightmore delivered one of the grittiest rides of the season. Competing with a dislocated shoulder suffered during training, he fought through pain to secure third overall.
“I was running on adrenaline tonight with the shoulder injury. In a positive way it forced me to slow down and ride without pressure. That paid off with a podium result.”
Spain’s Josep Garcia concluded his SuperEnduro wildcard appearances with fifth overall. The technical, trial-like layout did not suit his flowing outdoor style.
“It wasn’t the best day for me here in Spain. The track was so technical in a trial kind of way, so I struggled to get comfortable out there. I gave my best as always and tried to push in every race, but I made a lot of mistakes as well. I got a good start in the last race, but then I crashed on the third lap and broke my gear lever, so I was stuck in third gear, and unfortunately, the track was more suited to second.
From there, I just aimed to get to the finish. I was able to take P5 overall, which I’m still pleased with in only my third SuperEnduro race. The crowd has been great, so I hope to be back here again next year.”
Three rounds down, Bolt’s championship lead had stretched to 40 points . The gap was significant. But Budapest would prove that even dominant riders have to fight.
BUDAPEST –CHAOS IN THE ROCK GARDEN
The SuperEnduro GP of Hungary at the MVM Dome was brutal. The rock garden
PREVIOUS: Husqvarna Factory Racing's Billy Bolt (57)
ABOVE: Billy Bolt (57), Josep Garcia (26), Jonny Walker (22), Eddie Karlsson (42)
RIGHT (top to bottom): Eddie Karlsson (42), Josep Garcia (26), Jonny Walker (22), Dominik Olszowy (501), Toby Martyn (212)
became the defining feature of the night—huge blocks, awkward angles, and constant bottlenecks. Nearly 15,000 spectators packed the arena, witnessing one of the most chaotic rounds of the season .
Bolt again started with SuperPole dominance, claiming the top time and three more points .
Race one erupted immediately. Walker took the holeshot, but contact in the rocks shuffled the order. Stark’s Toby Martyn briefly found himself leading after chaos ahead. Bolt, buried in the pack early, launched a calculated recovery. With two laps remaining, Martyn crashed in the rock garden while leading, and Bolt inherited the top spot to secure the win .
Race two saw Bolt start from the second row. Calm through the opening traffic, he surged forward and took control by lap two, extending his advantage to a comfortable margin .
Race three delivered the closest fight of the night. Brightmore grabbed the holeshot and pushed hard, determined to convert speed into victory. Mid-race, Bolt made a mistake in the rocks that allowed Brightmore to edge ahead. But with two laps remaining, Bolt closed the gap. As Brightmore left the door open exiting the rock section, Bolt executed a textbook block pass to reclaim the lead and seal his third win of the evening .
“It’s been a great night here in Budapest, and as always, the fans have been amazing,” Bolt said. “The track had a nice flow to it, but honestly, I didn’t feel like I was the fastest guy out there today. So, to still come away with the overall win in those circumstances feels really good. I managed to put myself in the right positions and kept the mistakes to a minimum. On a track like this, just having a clean night is a win in itself. Mitch was riding well, especially in that last race – he’s had
great speed all day, so the battle was on. What can I say? Three wins, another perfect night, I’m definitely not complaining.”
Brightmore’s persistence paid off with second overall—his best result of the season.
Walker secured third overall, maintaining his podium streak despite a challenging night.
“Just finished up here in Budapest with third overall. The first couple of races were tough and didn’t really go to plan, but in the final race I found a better rhythm and managed to bring it home third, which gave us third overall on the night. That’s racing sometimes, and I’m pleased we were able to turn things around. The bike felt good throughout, which is a big positive. I’ve been feeling a bit under the weather this week, so the focus now is on resting up and recovering properly, then coming back stronger for Serbia.”
THE MID-SEASON PICTURE
Four rounds in, Bolt remains unbeaten in overall victories.
He has swept SuperPole multiple times and delivered 12 race wins from 12 finals across rounds three and four alone. His championship lead has swelled to 61 points with three rounds remaining .
Walker continues to deliver consistency, rarely missing the podium and keeping pressure on second place in the standings. Brightmore’s Budapest performance signals that he is capable
ABOVE: Alfredo Gomez Cantero (#89) BELOW : Prestige class start with a strong front line.
of challenging when circumstances align. Karlsson and others remain within striking distance for podium finishes but have yet to consistently disrupt Bolt’s dominance.
What separates Bolt in 2026 is not just raw pace. It is race
intelligence. In Bilbao, he waited for errors. In Budapest, he survived chaos and struck when it mattered. He has combined aggression with patience—a rare balance indoors.
As the series heads toward its final three rounds, the
championship fight appears tilted heavily in Bolt’s favor. Yet SuperEnduro has a habit of rewarding resilience and punishing complacency.
For now, however, the story of rounds three and four is simple: when the rocks get bigger and the margins get smaller, Billy Bolt still finds a way.
024 US Sprint Enduro Champion Johnny Girroir returned to form, the FMF KTM Factory Racing rider capturing the overall win at the opening round of the 2026 US Sprint Enduro Series in Climax, Georgia.
Girroir was strong from the start, winning three of six tests on Saturday, then matching that performance with three more test wins on Sunday to seal the overall victory at Southland Spirit Raceway.
While much of the East Coast was dealing with snow, south central Georgia was spared the white stuff. Aside from cold temperatures, conditions were nearly perfect, setting the stage for a spectacular weekend of racing.
Although Girroir is no stranger to dominating the series, this weekend was anything but easy. A deep field of talented— and noticeably improved— competition kept the pressure on throughout both days.
“It was a good start to my year,” said Girroir. “It was a
little tighter yesterday. I had a nasty crash on the Cross test, and then Grant just obliterated me in the last Enduro test. Everyone’s ripping this year. Cody (Barnes) had three really good tests to finish out the weekend, and Grant (Davis) was flying too. He keeps me on my toes, so it should be an interesting season.”
Davis, one of Girroir’s FMF KTM Factory Racing teammates, showed exactly why he’s considered one of the sport’s rising stars. The Pennsylvania rider finished second overall, just 14 seconds behind Girroir, and picked up an Enduro test win on Saturday.
“I’m happy with my riding,” said Davis. “But I want to beat Johnny one of these days. He was definitely going fast. I had a pretty good crash today, but other than that it was a solid weekend.”
AmPro Yamaha’s Liam Draper rounded out the podium in third. While Draper admitted he was hoping for more, he also acknowledged that
starting the season with a podium finish is far from a bad result.
“It was a better day yesterday, for sure,” said Draper. “Today the boys smoked me, but we’ll keep working. I guess it’s a good start to the season—at least I’m up here on the box.”
Liqui Moly Beta’s Cody Barnes took fourth overall as he continued adjusting to a new team and a new bike. Barnes made steady changes throughout the weekend and capped off Sunday by winning three of the final four tests.
“It was always going to be a learning curve switching from an aluminum frame to a steel frame,” said Barnes. “I’d been on Honda for four years, so there was definitely some adjusting to do. My mechanic Denny and my wife Jade kept me steady, and we just kept trying things—changing sag, changing clickers—until it started to feel right. By the end, I knew I could be the fastest guy out there, so it was a really productive weekend.”
SHAN MOORE JADE BARNES
WORDS PHOTOS
LEFT : Johnny Girroir (80)
Husqvarna’s Brody Johnson topped the Pro 2 division with an impressive fifth overall finish. Johnson won five of six Pro 2 tests on Saturday and followed that up with four more test wins on Sunday.
“Saturday was really good,” said Johnson. “I won all but three of the twelve tests this weekend. I still need to work on my sprint speed in the Cross tests, but that’s something I’m looking forward to improving.”
KTM’s Cooper Jones edged out Liqui Moly Beta’s Jhak Walker by just six seconds to claim sixth overall, with Walker finishing seventh overall and second in Pro 2.
Husqvarna rider Colton Shields went a perfect six for six in test wins on Saturday, setting himself up for a controlled ride on Sunday to
secure the Pro Am class win and eighth overall.
“Sunday was a little tougher,” said Shields. “I won the first test, but I kept losing my brakes in the Enduro test, which set me back. Still, I’m happy with the Pro Am win.”
Kawasaki’s Will Sievenpiper finished ninth overall, while GasGas rider Cole Whitmer rounded out the top ten.
In the Women’s Pro division, Danielle McDonald (Yamaha) took the overall win after trading victories with FMF KTM’s Brandy Richards. Richards won Saturday’s event, while McDonald came out on top Sunday, with just three seconds separating the two after twelve tests.
“It was a good weekend for me here in Georgia,” said McDonald. “Brandy and I
went back and forth, so she definitely made it hard on me. We had some great racing, and I’m really looking forward to the next round.”
Richards finished second overall in the Women’s Pro class, with Ellie Winland (Yamaha) taking third. Doc Smith earned top Amateur honors for the weekend with an overall win in the 250 A class.
Barnes recorded the fastest Enduro time of the weekend, while Girroir posted the fastest Cross test time across both days.
Round two of the 2026 US Sprint Enduro Series continues with the MacDaddy Sprint Enduro—also serving as an AMA ISDE East Qualifier—on February 21–22 in Hephzibah, Georgia.
OVERALL - PRO 1
Johnny Girroir (KTM)
Grant Davis (KTM)
Liam Draper (YAM)
Cody Barnes (BET)
OVERALL - PRO 2
Brody Johnson (HSQ)
Cooper Jones (KTM)
Jhak Walker (BET)
Collier Martinez (KAW)
JoJo Cunningham (HSQ)
OVERALL - PRO WOMEN
Danielle McDonald (YAM)
Brandy Richards (KTM)
Winland (YAM)
Lilley Sheetz (YAM)
Carly Lee (KTM)
Addison Harris (KTM)
Emma Smith (GG)
Brody Johnson (235), Danielle McDonald (261W), Cody Barnes (99)
