OFF-ROAD
KENDA AMA NATIONAL ENDURO CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUND 1 / FEBRUARY 3, 2019
WEDGEFIELD, SOUTH CAROLINA
P70
the Pro division, came away with eighth overall, just 23 second
behind Hayes.
New Zealand's Liam Draper (Tely Energy KTM) was ninth over-
all, which was good enough for second in the NEPro2 division.
Tegan Temple (KTM) was 10th overall and third in NEPro2.
Mackenzie Tricker (KTM) got the season off to a good start
with a big win in the Women's Elite class, topping defending
champion Tayla Jones (Husqvarna) by over a minute. These
two battled back and forth all last year and it looks like 2019 will
be more of the same. Brooke Cosner rounded out the podium
on a KTM after posting some impressive rides.
Mike Witkowski turned in
a career-best ride with fourth
overall. The Beta USA rider also
finished second in test four,
which is another first for him.
"I started the day out strong
with a solid top three overall re-
sult," said Witkowski. "I kept con-
sistent throughout the day and
even had a personal best test
with a second overall and only
seven seconds off of first. In the
end, my Beta 300 RR worked
really well, and I felt comfortable
all day and was just having fun. I
ran third overall up until test five
of six. I was bummed to fall off
the podium spot the last couple
tests, but my goal was to get
a solid top five overall and we
exceeded that goal finishing in
fourth. I know I'm capable of a
podium ride now and I'm excited
to see what we can do the rest of
the year."
GasGas North America's Thorn
Devlin looked impressive all day
and rounded out the top five, fin-
ishing 36 seconds ahead of Ohio
Husqvarna rider Cory Buttrick.
Zach Hayes (KTM) overcame
a crash in the second test to
finish seventh overall and first in
the NEPro2 class.
Jake Froman (XC Gear/En-
duro Engineering Husqvarna),
who is starting his first full year in
Mike Witkowski rode his Beta
two-stroke to fourth overall.
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
DARIN
CHAPMAN
