Robert Clinches Sprint Hero
Enduro Championship
IN
THE
WIND
P48
Z
ach Bell used his vast moto-
cross racing experience to
win the final round of the 2019
Sprint Hero Enduro Racing
season at Glen Helen Raceway,
September 22, but it was FMF
KTM's Taylor Robert who cel-
ebrated big after wrapping up the
2019 championship. Bell scored
his first victory of the year, ahead
of Robert and Dante Oliveira.
The Sprint Hero format includ-
ed two tests with six laps of moto
along with six laps of off-road,
and the track was significantly
faster than the one used for the
opening round at Glen Helen,
and it lent itself perfectly to Bell's
riding style. Bell was pleased to
finally unseat Robert, who won
the first four rounds.
"To come back from injuries
and to have fun with it again was
good," said Bell. "I'm just ready to
keep growing."
Robert won four out of five
races this season, and his
second-place effort was more
than enough to net him his first
championship in six years of
trying with KTM. Injuries have
slowed his progress in the past,
but he stayed healthy this year
and it showed.
"I was riding reserved for the
first couple of tests because of
the championship," said Robert.
"I have a strong enduro back-
ground, and Zach has a strong
motocross background so that re-
ally showed with those tests."
Dante Oliveira finished third in
the race and was elevated to third
in points, relegating Gary Suther-
lin to fourth. The final round was
rescheduled and conflicted with
Sutherlin's wedding day, so he
was absent this round.
"I had a slow start with some
bad tests early on," Oliveira said.
"As it went on, I was able to
charge a little harder. The ridges
were definitely gnarly and very
slick, but it was a lot of fun. I'll
be training for next year to I can
hopefully do better."
Zach Bell took the
overall win.
