US Sprint Enduro: Girroir continues near-perfect season with High Voltage Rnd 7 win
Johnny Girroir continued his 2023 winning streak with victory at round seven, the High Voltage US Sprint Enduro in Pennsylvania – one round remains between the FMF KTM rider and a perfect season.
FMF KTM’s Johnny Girroir dominated the High Voltage US Sprint Enduro in Dilliner, Pennsylvania, round seven of the US Sprint Enduro Series Championship Presented by Moose Racing. Winning 11 of 12 tests, Girroir topped RPM Racing’s Angus Riordan by 51.5 seconds to get the win.
“Definitely the Pro 2 guys were ripping,” said Girroir. “I made a little bonehead suspension adjustment today and went backwards. That was my bad. That’s why I’m a rider and not a mechanic. But we straightened it out and ended the day good. I crushed the last cross test and crushed the last woods test. Good weekend. Wish I could have gone 12 for 12, but that’s racing.”
Phoenix Racing Honda’s Ruy Barbosa was the lone rider to take a test win away from Girroir but finished the weekend in fourth overall and third in the Pro 2 division after having an off day on Saturday. The Chilean came back and finished second on Sunday behind Girroir and first Pro 2 rider.
RPM Racing’s Angus Riordan took advantage of Barbosa’s and his teammate Cody Barnes’ mistakes to take second overall for the weekend and win the Pro 2 class. He stole the class victory when Barnes threw away Sunday in the final test. Barnes ended up third overall and second Pro 2 rider.
“I was able to win yesterday and then I got second today by 0.9 to Ruy,” said Riordan. “It would have been good to get the win just for the championship points, but it is what it is. I crashed today in the enduro test in the woods. That threw it away for me. That hurt me. Didn’t even see it coming. Just washed the front.”
The Pro 2 class as a real dog fight and there was a lot of back and forth between the top three riders. So close that a simple slip of the front wheel in the final test cost Barnes enough time to lose runner-up slot.
“Day one I struggled with the cross test,” said Barnes. “Angus and Ruy were going really good out there. I just tried to learn kind of what to do. I was able to make up some time in the enduro test, but Angus got me on day one. Then was looking good going into the final enduro test today [day two]. I had a two-second gap and threw it away like an idiot when I tucked the front. Today would have been a good points day if I would have been able to hang onto that, but no one’s fault but my own. We’ll take it into the last round.”
Waking up with a different head on
After a tough day on Saturday, Barbosa was back on his game on Sunday: “The weekend was difficult,” said Barbosa. “Yesterday I had two small crashes, one in the cross test and another one in the enduro test. So, I lost a lot of seconds and I finished third. Today I woke up with a different mentality. I rode a little bit better, especially in the enduro test because yesterday I was really struggling with the enduro test. Today my times in the cross test were really good. Today I get the win. Overall, I finished third in Pro 2, which is not the result that I want for sure because I always want to win, but today I win. So, I am happy about that.”
Top Pro-Am rider, Precision Offroad Racing’s Dominik Morse, beat out Magna1 Racing Husqvarna’s Jason Tino to win the class and finish fifth overall, while Tino was sixth overall. “I was going really fast, just made a few mistakes. Dropped the bike. Had a fuel line come unplugged, but it was overall a really good day, good weekend,” said Morse.
Phoenix Honda Racing’s Mike Witkowski made a rare visit to the Sprint series since he was staying nearby and wanted to get used to the local dirt to prep for a race next weekend. “It was slick and made me push my limits, which I haven’t done. It’s a way different form than I’ve raced in a while,” said Witkowski. Top Amateur Levi Elliott was first in the 250A division and eighth overall.
Good day for Phoenix Honda
To say that Honda had a good day might be an understatement as Phoenix Honda Racing team manager, Heath Harrison, finished ninth overall, while local Payton Feather, also on a Honda, was 10th, giving Honda five of the top 10 positions. Phoenix Honda Racing also has a Supercross team so the off-road team benefits from those resources.
Tyler Braniff (Yam) was the top Amateur, winning the 250A division.
Archer matches Girroir with 11 from 12
Pro Women’s division, Am Pro Yamaha’s Rachel Archer topped Over and Out GasGas-backed Rachel Gutish and her teammate Anna McKelvey, winning 11 of 12 tests. Gutish edged Archer by one second in the final test on Sunday when Archer ran off course and got tangled up in vines.
“It was a really good weekend out at the High Voltage US Sprint,” said Archer. “I ended up going 11 for 12 test wins. I almost got 12, but crashed in the last test and lost one second. So, that was a little bit gutting, but I felt like I rode good. I was in 17th overall today, so I’m pretty stoked for that.”
Gutish was second with McKelvey in third.
2023 US Sprint Enduro results, day 1:
2023 US Sprint Enduro results, day 2:
Just one round remains on of the 2023 June 17-18, The Harleywood Sprint Enduro in Bristol, VA.
More information: www.ussprintenduro.com
Words and Images: Shan Moore
