This week in US Powersports racing.
Craig DeLong and Austin Walton claim U.S. Sprint Enduro and NGPC series podiums
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing riders were out in force in the closing rounds of this year’s AMA U.S. Sprint Enduro Series and National Grand Prix Championship (NGPC) this weekend, headlined by a podium result from Craig DeLong to complete the 2024 Sprint Enduro season. A top-five score in the NGPC final round also placed Austin Walton P3 in the standings.
U.S. Sprint Enduro Series – Round 8
On his way to finishing third position overall in the 2024 U.S. Sprint Enduro Series, Craig DeLong was once again consistent in Round 8 at Rogers Farm in Ninety Six, South Carolina.
The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider positioned himself third at the conclusion of Saturday and then continued to gain speed on Sunday in sealing P3 on the podium for the weekend.
Equipped with the Husqvarna FX 350, DeLong was a constant podium threat throughout the U.S. Sprint Enduro Series in 2024, taking home third place in the title race.
“I had a couple of good times, but have got to find that edge more, hang it out, and see what we can do to chase these guys down in front,” DeLong recalled. “It’s something to work on, so we’ll enjoy the winter and come back next year!”
In addition, although she didn’t compete in the final round, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing teammate Korie Steede was credited second position in the Pro Women championship following a strong campaign throughout the year on her Husqvarna FX 250.
Pro 1 Class Results
1. Johnny Girroir, KTM
2. Liam Draper, Yamaha
3. Craig DeLong, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
National Grand Prix Championship – Round 9
A fifth-place finish in the National Grand Prix Championship (NGPC) at Lake Havasu was enough for Austin Walton to claim third position in the Pro Class standings, following what has been a solid season for the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider.
Walton was buried in seventh at the end of the opening lap following a bad start, but didn’t give up on his way into the top-five in Arizona’s ninth round of the 2024 season. He’s featured toward the front of the pack all year on his Husqvarna FX 450, picking up three podiums over the course of the series.
“It was a very hard track to pass on this weekend, so that added to the challenges,” Walton commented. “I got a horrible start, which did not help, and I knew then that I needed to charge early on. I was able to make a couple of passes and then kept consistent. It was one of those days where I struggled to get into the groove that I needed to get into, but we did our best this weekend and gave it our all.”
In continuing his return from injury, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing teammate Dalton Shirey gained more important race mileage in Lake Havasu for an eighth-place result in the Pro Class. Despite missing the mid-portion of the season, Shirey salvaged 10th position overall.
“I’m still rebuilding my fitness at the moment after our setbacks from this year and I felt okay today,” said Shirey. “It was an improvement on Blythe and this weekend I felt like I could stay with the group, so my training is coming around, but it takes time.”
Pro Class Results
1. Giacomo Redondi, GASGAS
2. Dare Demartile, Beta
3. Ruy Barbosa, Honda
5. Austin Walton, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
6. Mateo Oliveira, KTM
8. Dalton Shirey, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
Colton Haaker and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing finish runner-up at Redmond
A hard-fought runner-up result overall has elevated Colton Haaker to second place in the 2024 AMA EnduroCross Series title race, picking up another moto win at Redmond’s fifth round of the season.
Haaker made it four-straight podiums onboard his Rockstar Energy Husqvarna FX 350 in Oregon, going 1-2-2 for P2 and remaining in title contention with a single round remaining.
The Hot Lap saw Haaker comfortably quickest and he then established his early dominance by winning the opening moto of the evening. He managed runner-up results in the final two races of the night, now 24 points outside of the points lead entering the finale.
“Redmond was good for me,” Haaker said. “In the final race it was really dependant on the start – there wasn’t much else that I could do. I tried to go outside of the main lines, but they were slower than the best line. The best I could do was to be there and look to capitalize on a mistake, but Trystan didn’t make one in the end.”
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing teammate Ryder LeBlond was also competitive within the tight confines of the the First Interstate Bank Center, going 4-7-5 for fifth position overall. As a result, he sits P6 in the standings following Round 5.
“It was a more consistent night, but I was just uncomfortable throughout the day,” LeBlond reflected. “I ended up fifth for the night, so not where I thought I would be, but we’ve got one more round to hopefully finish the season strong!”
EX Pro Class Results – Round 5
1. Trystan Hart, KTM
2. Colton Haaker, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
3. Cody Webb, Sherco
5. Ryder LeBlond, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
GUS RIORDAN AND BRANDY RICHARDS CLINCH U.S. SPRINT ENDURO CLASS TITLES
Two more AMA U.S. Sprint Enduro Series titles were captured by FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers riders this weekend at the eighth and final round, as Gus Riordan and Brandy Richards joined FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Johnny Girroir in delivering number one plates for 2024.
U.S. SPRINT ENDURO SERIES – ROUND 8
FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers clinched a pair of championships in the 2024 U.S. Sprint Enduro Series finale, where Gus Riordan (Pro 2) and Brandy Richards (Pro Women) were crowned in their respective classes. FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Johnny Girroir also ended his year on the top step of the podium in Pro 1 to make it a perfect season.
Riordan successfully defended his Pro 2 title with a conservative third-place result on both days in the final round of the season, which was enough to clinch the title comfortably. With five round wins to his credit, it was a dominant performance from the Australian on his KTM 250 XC-F.
Gus Riordan: “I was really focused on the championship this weekend and was happy to wrap it up, a second Pro 2 title in a row for me. That was the main goal, so I’m really excited to get it done.”
FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers teammate Richards was once again the class of the Pro Women field in the final round to seal the championship with a perfect season to her credit, also onboard the KTM 250 XC-F.
Brandy Richards: “It was a good weekend! The dirt was perfect and everything flowed really well. I’m stoked to come out with a couple of wins on each day and to bring home the championship in the end. This was one of my favorite rounds of the season!”
After clinching back-to-back titles with a round to spare last time out, FMF KTM Factory Racing Team rider Girroir continued his winning ways in Round 8 at Rogers Farm in Ninety Six, South Carolina.
Girroir set the pace on Day 1 and then backed that up on the second day with another commanding effort, also managing to make it a perfect season in the U.S. Sprint Enduro Series. Riding the KTM 350 XC-F, Girroir’s advantage in the final standings sits at 148 points.
Johnny Girroir: “The rain came and made it a little slick in the last three tests, but it was a good weekend. It was good, close racing and it’s been fun all year, so I can’t wait until next season! It’s definitely not been easy to win these, so it’s a good feeling to finish the season on top.”
Pro 1 Class Results
1. Johnny Girroir, FMF KTM Factory Racing
2. Liam Draper, Yamaha
3. Craig DeLong, Husqvarna
Pro 2 Class Results
1. Toby Cleveland, Husqvarna
2. Jason Tino, Husqvarna
3. Gus Riordan, FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers
Pro Women Class Results
1. Brandy Richards, FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers
2. Rachael Archer, Kawasaki
NATIONAL GRAND PRIX CHAMPIONSHIP – ROUND 9
With 2024 champion Dante Oliveira absent this weekend, the focus was firmly placed upon FMF KTM Factory Racing teammate Mateo Oliveira at the National Grand Prix Championship (NGPC) final round in Lake Havasu, Arizona.
A holeshot put the KTM 450 XC-F rider in control early and he managed to lead the opening lap, until a number of mistakes bumped him back down the order for an eventual sixth-place result in the Pro Class.
It was another day filled with promise for the younger Oliveira brother, who completed the NGPC series ranked fourth position overall. FMF KTM Factory Racing’s defending champion Dante Oliveira had already clinched this year’s title in the previous round.
Mateo Oliveira: “I was able to rip the holeshot and led the first lap. I tucked the front coming into Lap 2 and picked myself up in fourth, but it was pretty hard to pass this weekend – I ended up going down again later and that was it for today in terms of fighting for the podium. I really liked the track this weekend and had a good time out there.”
Pro Class Results
1. Giacomo Redondi, GASGAS
2. Dare Demartile, Beta
3. Ruy Barbosa, Honda
5. Austin Walton, Husqvarna
6. Mateo Oliveira, FMF KTM Factory Racing
8. Dalton Shirey, Husqvarna
FMF KTM FACTORY RACING’S TRYSTAN HART CHARGES TO REDMOND ENDUROCROSS VICTORY
Defending AMA EnduroCross Champion Trystan Hart captured his third overall victory of the year in Redmond, Oregon, on Saturday night, the FMF KTM Factory Racing rider extending his advantage with a single round remaining in the 2024 season.
Hart qualified in second position for Round 5 and then backed that result up with P2 in the opening EX Pro race of the night program, equipped with the KTM 350 XC-F.
The Canadian then went on to take well-earned victories in the remaining two races and seal the overall, continuing his perfect podium run to date in his EnduroCross title defense.
After winning the opening two rounds, Hart claimed a pair of runner-up results in Idaho last time out, before returning to the top step of the podium this weekend at the First Interstate Bank Center.
As a result, Hart – also the reigning AMA U.S. Hard Enduro Champion – will carry a 24-point advantage into next weekend’s title-deciding final round in Everett, Washington.
Trystan Hart: “I was really nervous coming into tonight, but I didn’t need to be. You start thinking about the points, but you’ve got to shut that out, and it can be tough in these final stages of the series. To win when you don’t really need to, it’s pretty cool to do that. Colton [Haaker] had the pressure on me all night, so to hold him off in that final race as a five-time champ is probably one of the best wins I’ve had. One to go!”
EX Pro Class Results – Round 5
1. Trystan Hart, FMF KTM Factory Racing
2. Colton Haaker, Husqvarna
3. Cody Webb, Sherco
5. Ryder LeBlond, Husqvarna
