US Sprint Enduro: Liam Draper Crowned 2025 Champion at Harleywood
AM Pro Yamaha’s Liam Draper crowned 2025 US Sprint Enduro Champion at final round seven, Harleywood Sprint Enduro – Grant Davis wins the overall for the weekend in Bristol, Virginia.
Am Pro Yamaha’s Liam Draper put a bowtie on the 2025 US Sprint Enduro Series by claiming the series championship with a third overall finish at this weekend’s seventh and final round of the series in Virginia, a double points-paying event.
A variety of conditions, with Saturday being hot and steamy, while Sunday featured rain and slippery terrain, saw FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers’ Grant Davis win the overall with the Pro 2 class win on Saturday (third for the day behind Draper and Barnes), and then graduating to a 350F and the Pro 1 class on Sunday.
Phoenix Honda Racing’s Cody Barnes was second overall on the weekend, while Draper finished third, another minute back behind Davis. Draper’s earlier finishes in the series were more than enough to secure the championship.
In the series standings the final order was Draper taking the championship with Barnes in second and Davis in third but with that the Pro 2 title for 2025.
Saturday sets up series title
Barnes jumped out to the early lead ahead of Draper on Saturday, beating the Yamaha rider in three of the first four tests. Draper tightened up his lines and got faster as the day progressed to move within striking distance of overtaking Barnes for Saturday’s win. When Barnes took a header in the final test, the die was cast and Draper came home with Saturday’s win, 12 seconds ahead of Barnes, followed closely by Davis.
“Cody nailed the first Cross Test so I knew I would have some work to do,” said Draper. “I was hoping to make up some time so I went into test two just seconds behind him and he ended up going down in the last test which gave me Saturday’s win.”
Barnes meanwhile says a bonehead crash cost him: “That last Enduro Test I had a bonehead fall and lost a bunch of time and me and Liam both gave up a bunch of time to Grant. He kind of had had the day win wrapped up at that point, so he kind of made sure he didn’t crash and make any big mistakes.”
Draper closes the season on a 350 in Pro 1
Sunday was Davis’ day as he made the move to the Pro 1 class and graduated to a 350F with a very positive outcome and the extra beans proved all he needed. The Landers KTM rider won three of the six tests, topping Barnes by 11 seconds, who also won three tests. Draper finished third another 59 seconds back – although Draper, needed only a top five finish to cruise to the title.
“I was struggling on the 250 a little bit on Saturday,” said Grant. “But today I got on the 350, my first race on it, and I’m pumped with how I did. Me and Cody were going back and forth all day long for the overall and I’m happy to come out with the overall. I barely edged him out in the last test for the weekend so it’s pretty sick to get my first day win and then and win the overall.”
Liam Draper did what he needed to do to get the job done but was disappointed in missing out on a win at the final round: “I put myself in kind of a deficit in test 1,” said Draper. “Cody really put it to me by eight seconds but I slowly just chipped away at it. We’re matching each other and I knew it was going to be tough to make it up.”
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Craig DeLong finished fourth, while the top Pro Am rider Phoenix Honda Racing’s JoJo Cunningham finished fifth.
Gavin Simon led the Pro 2 division with a sixth overall, with fellow Husqvarna rider Toby Cleveland in seventh overall and second in the Pro 2 class.
JoJo Cunningham was first Amateur rider for the weekend in the Pro Am class, followed by Henry Symanski and Cole Martinez.
Steede dominates for the Women’s Pro title
In the Women’s Pro Division Rockstar Energy Factory Racing’s Korie Steede dominated both days of competition, beating Danielle McDonald (Yam) and Ellie Wineland.
“I knew I had to be on top of things and I knew Danielle was gonna be fast so I just tried to be smart and really hit my marks,” said Steede. “I’m pretty sure I won every test today so that’s a really cool day. Honestly for me I usually struggle in the beginnings of the day start pretty slow and this weekend I kind of was on all weekend so I’m super pumped with it and pumped to grab the championship.”
US Sprint Enduro Rnd7 overall results:
Final Championship points:
Words Credit: Shan Moore
Photo Credit: Art Pepin
