2024 US Sprint Enduro: Girroir Undefeated After ISDE East Qualifier Rnd 4
2024 US Sprint Enduro Series presented by Moose Racing landed in Charlotte, Maryland for the ISDE East Coast Qualifier round and round four and it was that man again Johnny Girroir claiming the victory after a close call with Liam Draper.
Defending series champ Johnny Girroir had his closest call of the 2024 season so far at round four in Maryland. Coming from behind to take Saturday’s win after topping the final test, the FMF KTM rider beat AmPro Yamaha’s Liam Draper by two seconds.
Picking up the pace o n Sunday, Girroir won all but three of the eight tests to take the day win plus the overall by 16 seconds over Draper to remain undefeated for the season.
“I was getting a little nervous there on Saturday, especially going into that last test,” said Girroir. “Liam was on it all day. He was flying all weekend in the woods and especially in the cross-test. I started seven seconds behind him going into Saturday’s last test and I knew it was do or die. I could see him near the end, so I knew I made up a lot of time. I just went out there and tried to hit my marks and I think he made a few mistakes.”
Girroir had an easier time of it on Sunday, winning six of the eight tests: “Today was much better,” said Girroir. “I held my lines and hit my marks and didn’t have any problems.”
Close but no top step yet for Draper
Liam Draper won the first seven of eight tests to start the event on Saturday and nearly claimed his first-ever day win, but Girroir poured it on in the final test to remain undefeated by just two seconds.
“I was tight going into the last test on Saturday, I had won all seven tests up until that last one,” said Draper. “I could hear Johnny behind me and I made a few mistakes and he made up five seconds on me and that was then difference. He ended up beating, we were virtually tied going into that last test, so that was a bummer. I was pleased to win two more tests on Sunday and I think I’m finally getting used to the 450.”
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Craig DeLong overcame a slow start, which saw him 11th in test one, to finish an eventual third in Saturday’s event. Another third on Sunday left him third overall for the weekend.
“I was a lot more cautious than I should have been in the first cross-test on Saturday and I finished 11th, so I started slow, but I was able to move up the standings near the end,” said DeLong. “I got into third there on Saturday about the third or fourth test. After that, I was trying to get close to Johnny and Liam, but I could never really hook up with them; they were putting about 10 seconds a test on me; they were rippin’. Sunday was better, but I’m still off pace.”
Phoenix Honda’s Cody Barnes battled back and forth on Saturday with DeLong, topping him in three of the eight tests on Saturday for a stronger result than recent rounds.
“I ran competitively for third pretty much both days,” said Barnes. “I had a tip-over on day one in the cross test and that cost me a lot of time. But I was able to rebound today and run some competitive test times, pushing for that third overall spot, so I just need to clean up a few things and I’ll get good.”
Babbitt’s Online Team Green Monster Energy Kawasaki teammates Grant Baylor and Lyndon Snodgrass battled it out for fourth overall. Snodgrass beat out Baylor in all but one test on Saturday, but Baylor knocked off the rust on Sunday and came back to claim it by one second over Snodgrass for fifth, after having not raced a sprint event in four years.
“I started out a little reserved, trying to get used to racing the sprint format again,” said Baylor. “I was a little bit rusty there in the beginning and I’m also one of those guys who gets better as the day goes on, especially after the track gets rougher. The enduro test got sketchy near the end of Saturday, but I was able to nail it on Sunday.”
Enduro Engineering’s Josh Toth had a rough weekend going 8-7 for seventh overall and FMF KTM Factory Lander’s Racing KTM’s Angus Riordan had what he called an inconsistent day on Saturday. Another ninth on Sunday left him in ninth overall.
Husqvarna rider Jason Tino won the Pro2 division with an eight overall, finishing five seconds ahead of FMF/KTM Landers Factory Racing Gus Riordan.
Babbitts Off-road Monster Energy Kawasaki’s JoJo Cunningham was the first Pro-Am rider with a 10th overall. “I’m super happy,” said Cunningham. “I do a local race a few miles from my house and it has fast grass track like this so I was familiar with the cross test style. My home track is fast and so was this cross test so I felt at home. I just struggle in a couple of places in the enduro test, I think it’s a bike set-up, but overall I’m pleased.”
Richards rules Pro Women’s class
FMF/KTM Factory Racing’s Brandy Richards dominated the Pro Women’s division, winning all but three of the 16 tests for the weekend. “It was a great weekend.” Said Richards. “I was a big fan of both tests. They were quite different, but I had a good time and tried to stay consistent – Korie [Steede] was definitely keeping me on my toes! It was a fun race and I'm really excited to win this one.”
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Korie Steede was second, winning the remaining three tests ahead of FactoryONE Sherco’s Rachel Gutish finishing third, having just returned from an EnduroGP in Europe.
Trevor Jones returned to win the Pro Electric class on his Stark Varg.
2024 US Sprint Enduro Rnd4 results:
New for 2024! FMF Fastest Cross Test and Enduro Test Awards – These Specialty Awards will be given to the racer of the fastest Cross Test and fastest Enduro Test on the weekend in the Youth/Amateur and Pro divisions.
YOUTH DIVISION
Supermini, Cross – Levi Wilkens
Supermini, Enduro – Levi Wilkens
AMATEUR DIVISION
250 A Racer, Enduro Test – Colton Shield
Open A Racer, Cross Test- Tyler DiBartola
PRO DIVISION
Johnny Girroir, Cross Test – Johnny Girroir
Johnny Girroir, Enduro Test – Johnny Girroir
Words Credit: Shan Moore
Photo Credit: Art Pepin
