FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Trystan Hart wins the 2025 Monster Energy King of the Motos US Hard Enduro round one – broken finger doesn’t stop the Canadian pipping Sherco USA’s Will Riordan.

Kicking off the 2025 US Hard Enduro season, the multi-week King of the Hammers in Johnson Valley, California, the King of the Motos is one of the longest running hard enduro races in the United States.

A record number of racers entered the opening round of the Bullet Proof Designs US Hard Enduro Series, Presented by IRC Tire, which consists of 10 race events across the country.

There was no shortage of buzz over the weekend, between Cody Webb’s new team partnership with Yamaha and a much quieter, but no less high-profile in terms of results, switch to Sherco power for Australian Will Riordan.

The King of the Hammers, claiming to be the world’s largest off-road event, started the King of the Motos in 2012 and saw a certain Graham Jarvis take the inaugural win. Race Director Justin Leineweber adjusted the format to a four lap GPS-based race, totalling about 40 miles with a new finish line for the spectators at Chocolate Thunder hill.

171 racers lined up for Race 1 on Saturday, a faster pace two-lap race to seed row positions for Sunday’s main event. Riordan signalled his intent on his new Sherco USA SE 300 with the win, setting a benchmark followed by Trystan Hart and rockstar Husqvarna’s Ryder LeBlond.

Adding to the jeopardy among the top riders was the fact US Hard Enduro and reigning KOTM champion, Trystan Hart, was racing with a broken clutch finger, an injury he confessed was self-inflicted at the gym.

Red Bull brought their full activation rig in the Pro pits where Cody Webb’s three custom-built Yamaha YZ250X’s made popular viewing. With less than two months testing and developing the YZ for hard enduro with his mechanic Adam Sams, the set-up is still a work in progress. That included racing a kickstart YZ at this round so his other bike with the e-start (he only has one) could be shipped to round two in Hawaii.  

Oggle Kickstart Cody’s new bike here: Hard Enduro Yamaha YZ250X Pro Bike – closer look with Cody Webb

Sunday’s main race started across the lakebed at Chocolate Thunder, in a bomb (mass) start up into the rocks and onto the Hammer trails. It was a dusty and chaotic start for the mass rnaks and file (all visible on the live tracking and TV feed if you were watching) but Riordan came down the sand dune first on the Sherco, with Hart and LeBlond seconds behind and swapping positions between themselves.

Webb had a crash early on, which set him back, and sat fourth place battling against IRC Beta’s James Flynn. Each lap of this race was different from the other, which prevented bottlenecking and gave the many Amateurs an awesome race.

In lap two Riordan and Hart swapped positions a couple times before Hart ended up out front on the last laps, in part thanks to passing the Aussie who while he refuelled, giving him minutes advantage in one swoop.

The final hill was straight up the side of Chocolate Mountain, giving the athletes an additional challenge at the end of the race and also the spectators an example of how talented these racers are. Hart sped up the very technical hill in under four minutes, and rode his way into the finish line first.

Say what? Riders explain their race...

Riordan was the second rider up that section with LeBlond only a minute behind, and ended up in second place on his debut ride with Sherco. Third for LeBlond made it his third in a row third place finish at KOTM.

Kickstart Cody Webb came in a couple minutes behind the podium boys in fourth with James Flynn riding a strong race and finished fifth.

Katie Hall-Leah Pro Women win

In the Pro Women’s class, TM Racing Get Dirty Dirt Bikes’ Katie Hall-Leah took the class win after reaching 12 checkpoints in about six hours of racing.

In the Amateur ranks, Brandon Byrd won the A Class with an exciting final climb move, passing two riders at the top for the win.

“Best King of the Motos yet?” It sure seems to get better each year as the course director, Justin, refines and improves each successful year.

2025 US Hard Enduro Rnd1 King of the Motos Results (19 checks finishers):

For full results: http://www.moto-tally.com/USHE/Results.aspx

The next USHE Premier Championship race will be the Ultimate Hawaiian Hard Enduro on February 21-22 in Omao, Kauai.

More information: www.ushardenduro.com

Photo Credit: US Hard Enduro