Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1466689
a tree and smashed his hand, which might have cost him a podium. He still had a solid day for fourth overall. A surprise entry was Steward Baylor who is just 11 weeks out from breaking a vertebra in his neck. The AmPro Yamaha rider's main plan was to salvage some points for now and then come on strong when he's a little healthier, but he surprised a lot of people with a fifth overall finish. "I want to say this is my worst fin- ish at a National Enduro in maybe four or five years, or at least tied my worst, so I'm not really stoked on it, but given the circumstances and the amount of time on the bike, I think I'm happy with it." Steward won the first round in Sumter, so he was the points leader coming into the Virginia round. "I just threw away the points lead; I tried everything I could to finish fourth and at least keep it tight, but late in the day I was just really struggling to stay strong through the test," said Steward. Despite a hard crash in test three, Rockstar Energy Husqvar- na's Craig DeLong managed to recover for sixth overall. DeLong's Rockstar Energy Husqvarna teammate Trevor Bol- linger went home with a seventh overall. Steel City Men's Clinic's Ben Nelko (Honda) made it two for two in the NE Pro 2 class for 2022 with an impressive perfor- mance that netted him the NE Pro 2 victory plus eighth overall. "I struggled the first half of the day," said Nelko. "I wasn't feeling real confident on the bike. Brody (Johnson) was ripping. So, I had to turn it around and try to ride as fast as I could, but as safe as possible, too." FXR/Husqvarna's Evan Smith came in just 11 seconds behind Nelko for ninth overall, while Coastal Racing GasGas' Ricky Russell rounded out the top 10. Magna1 Motorsports Husqvar- na's Brody Johnson was second in the NE Pro 2 class with an 11th overall finish while Will Sieven- piper (KTM) was 12th overall and third in the NE Pro 2 division. AmPro Yamaha's Rachael Ar- cher won every test to claim the win in the Women's Elite class. "I went down once in the sec- ond test; I was kind of stuck be- tween a tree and I got out pretty quick," said Archer. "Then rode a solid day. I won every single test. Felt good." Enduro Engineering/Fly Rac- ing KTM's Mackenzie Tricker was second, while Brook Cosner was third on a Yamaha. Shan Moore OVERALL 1. Ben Kelley (KTM) 2. Grant Baylor (GG) 3. Ryder Lafferty (GG) 4. Josh Toth (KTM) 5. Steward Baylor (Yam) 6. Craig DeLong (Hus) 7. Trevor Bollinger (Hus) 8. Ben Nelko (Hon) Pro 2 9. Evan Smith (Hus) 10. Ricky Russell (GG) IN THE WIND P44 Rachael Archer won the Women's Elite class.