Enduro21 catches five with Jonny Walker talking 2025 Endurocross battles with Trystan Hart, what it’s like stepping up to race the Triumph TF 450-E indoors this season and why tyres might be making the difference.

Four rounds into the 2025 AMA EnduroCross season and things couldn’t’ be closer between points leader and reigning champion, FMF KTM’s Trystan Hart and Triumph Racing’s Jonny Walker.

Stepping up to the big 450 Triumph after a season on the 250 in EX and SuperEnduro, former champion Walker looks faster and hungrier for the win than ever. The trouble is that guy on the KTM is in the way. But the ball is rolling on the 450 which Jonny tells us is helping him be faster on track, a fact backed-up by a strong of Superpole fastest times.

The problem, as Jonny points out, is his race starts and maybe the difference in tyres his team are using compared to his US rivals which might be the fine line between them.

Enduro21 catches five with Jonny ahead of round five this weekend in Reno where the British rider aims to turn that around and home in on the points lead.

One win and then three narrow P2s so far, it looks like things have been very close between you and Trystan?

Jonny Walker: “Yeah, one win and a bunch of P2s as everyone can see but we’ve been very close all season and that’s the main thing, it shows we’re fast.”

Is it small margins or bigger things making the difference?

“The main thing is the starts and I don’t really know why. Obviously I’m on the 450 this year and I feel like traditionally I’m quite good off the gate. We’re getting a good jump but I’m not getting off the gate as fast.

“I don’t know if it is the tyre – we’re using an FIM tyre and because this isn’t an FIM series, they’re using whatever they want and they’re using a soft motocross tyre and I think it is giving them that extra little bit of drive out the gate compared to what we’ve got.

“Apart from that my speed has been really good and the bike is working really well, I’m riding well and I’m obviously winning the Superpole by quite big margins each round, by a second or more but in the races it is different when you have tracks with less opportunities to make passes.”

You look like you’re riding really well, the best you’ve ever ridden in Endurocross?

“Yeah, I am riding good and to be honest I think I probably am riding better than I ever have. I’m loving the 450, I can ride it how I want.

“Leading up to the series I crashed and hurt my wrist and I’ve been riding with a wrist brace these first few rounds. Wearing that is causing me to get serious arm pump within something like one lap.”

“I managed to have a week off between the first couple of rounds and last week, and that helped it heal a little bit but it’s still not right. It’s good enough to ride without a wrist brace now which is good but I just have to make sure I don’t over jump anything or stuff like that. That’s been the only niggling issue I’ve had.”

And how is life on the 450? How has it been stepping up this season?

“Like last year with the 250, it is pretty close to the stock bike and we have just changed suspension and a little bit of engine work, a bit of mapping and stuff like that but nothing major.

“The thing is, as soon as I got on the bike, and this would be back earlier in the year when triumph did the model presentation in Spain, I immediately loved it. I’m not an aggressive rider so having the extra power and hardly any weight difference really suits me and I’m comfortable on it.”

Did you start the season with the 450 ready to go or have you been developing set-up with each round?

“We started preparations for the season pretty early and came over here to America to the new test facility. But I didn’t actually get as much riding in as we wanted to do as far as testing goes. So we have been learning a bit again on the way through the championship again but we are there and we’re at the point now where we aren’t changing anything between rounds and I can just focus on the track.”

Does it help on the track to have the extra zip from the 450 motor?

“It really does help in Endurocross. It’s a sport where you don’t really need to be riding high up in the revs, but you need to be smooth and use the torque power so that helps. The 450 also has really good roll speed so in places likes the rocks it is easier, I feel like I’m really good in the rocks. I basically feel like I can carry that little bit more speed everywhere.

“I’ve struggled a little bit on the really tight tracks but not massively and we learned a lot about the mapping for that so when we come back to do SuperEnduro, where the tracks are usually smaller than they are out here, we should be pretty good from the off for that.

“It’s not really any more physical for me because I don’t have to be so aggressive to carry speed. Obviously you’ve got to be a little bit stronger because you’ve got more power coming out the corners but that’s pretty much it.

“I actually find the 250 more physical to ride because you have to be more aggressive to get the best from it, whereas the 450 lets me back off a little bit in some places and let the bike do the work and still have the speed.”

What’s the plan in Reno this weekend?

“The pan for Reno is obviously to win. I definitely can and my speed is very good and this is a big track here so it should work more in my favour. The main thing is I’ve got to get out the gate, and, yeah, I’ve got to win. Simple as that.”

Round five of the 2025 EnduroCross season is on Saturday November 15. You can watch it live, more details here: www.endurocross.com/tv/

Check out Jonny’s vlog from the previous round in Redmond

Photo Credit: Jack Jaxson