US Sprint Enduro: Girroir wins again as US Sprint Enduro wraps-up at Harleywood
FMF KTM’s Johnny Girroir claims his seventh overall victory in eight rounds at the 2023 Harleywood US Sprint Enduro in Bristol, Virginia, the eighth and final round of the series.
Father’s Day weekend never seems to mean a day away from racing (the opposite for most of us!) and the final US Sprint Enduro Championship Presented by Moose Racing round of 2023 was no exception.
Already crowned champion, Johnny Girroir has been in a class of one all season since stepping into the FMF KTM team and duly delivered his seventh win of the eight round series.
But it wasn’t without a battle at Harleywood with Pro 2 rider Angus Riordan pushing all the way. In the end Girroir beat the RPM Racing KTM rider by 22.4 seconds after two days of racing, taking seven of the 12 tests, with Riordan winning the remaining five.
“I felt like I had the woods figured out yesterday and Gus from Pro 2 was getting me out in the Cross test,” said Girroir. “Then day two kind of started off opposite. I got him in the Cross test and he caught me in the woods. It was just good battling all weekend long. Within 10 seconds or so at the end of today. So, it’s awesome.”
Rev-limiter beating…
Fight to the finish for the Pro 2 championship
Not only was Riordan in contention for the overall for the weekend but he was also in a do or die battle with Phoenix Honda Racing’s Cody Barnes for the Pro 2 championship. Riordan needed to win both days in class to take the Pro 2 championship, and he did just that.
“It feels unreal. It feels good,” said Aussie Riordan. “A bit of a comeback from the start of the season, but it feels unreal. First half of the season was pretty rough, and then second half I was slowly getting back in the championship points, so it was worth it. I needed to win both days to win the title, plain and simple. I tried not to think about the championship. I just wanted to win. Just day by day. I had one crash yesterday which got me a bit worried. Test one in the woods. But other than that, it was pretty good.”
Barnes, the defending Pro 2 champion, came up just 25.755 seconds short of the title by finishing third overall behind Riordan. “I started out strong this year and won the first two rounds.” said Barnes. “Then those guys just started going fast. We were all pushing the limit. I had days where I won but Angus was just on it at the end of the season. I was maybe pushing a little bit too hard and made a couple mistakes out there, both in the enduro test. Kind of tucked the front in one of the slick spots. Then in the final test, just hit a loose rock with the rear and slid the rear out over a berm. Even with that not happening, I wouldn’t have beat Angus in the overall with the time for the day.”
Harleywood Sprint Enduro results:
Class round-up
Magna1 Racing Husqvarna’s Jason Tino won the Pro-Am class with a fourth overall, topping Precision Husqvarna’s Dominick Morse by three seconds after two days of racing. “My weekend went really well,” said Tino. “I left day one with a day win. I was riding really well, and then day two I got the first cross test win. Then Dominic (Morse) started closing in on all the rest of the tests. I had a big cushion going into day two and I used it. You only got to win by a second. We rode hard up there with the pro two guys. It was a good weekend.”
Morse was second overall in the Pro-Am class and fifth overall, but he wrapped up the Pro-Am championship with the finish.“It feels really good to win the Pro-Am title,” said Morse. “It’s definitely a surreal feeling. Definitely all the hard work paid off. The weekend was rough at first. I started off super slow. Not really sure why, but I picked it up a lot near the end of the weekend. I was able to run some Pro 2 times for most of today.”
Sixth overall went to Trail Jesters Racing KTM’s Mason Semmens, who also finished second in the Pro 1 class. “Second in Pro 1 probably looks good, but my riding wasn’t really too flash, to be honest,” said Semmens. “I just struggled a little bit with the track. Just trying to get used to racing again. It feels good to get back. It’s been a long time since I’ve done a US sprint. Last time I left with a broken collarbone, so it’s good to get back.”
Henry Symanski came in seventh, which rounded out the Pro 1 podium. Eighth overall and top amateur was Levi Elliott on a GasGas, while former top Pro Jason Thomas (Hon) was top Vet A rider and ninth overall.
Peyton Feather (KTM) rounded out the top 10 overall and took first in the 250A division.
Archer dominatres Women’s Pro class
Am Pro Yamaha’s Rachel Archer totally dominated the Women’s Pro division, winning all 12 tests and topping Over and Out KTM’s Rachel Gutish by nearly four minutes.
“It was really good,” said Archer. “I went 12 for 12, so first time I’ve done that all year so it was cool. Loved the track. It was really cool to wrap up the championship. Good weekend.”
Canadian Motocrosser, sponsored by FXR, Brittany Gagne (Yam), was third overall.
The US Sprint Enduro Series next event is a three-day ISDE Qualifier at High Voltage Raceway in Dilliner, Pennsylvania on September 2-4.
More information: www.ussprintenduro.com
Words and Photo Credit: Shan Moore
