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Flynn Fast at Lightning Strikes Hard Enduro I RC Beta's James Flynn took the checkers at the U.S. Hard Enduro (USHE)'s Lightning Strikes Hard Enduro at Lightning Raceway in Tippecanoe, Ohio, September 14-15. After success with the inaugu- ral Lightning Strikes Hard Enduro last fall as part of the USHE's Fall Series, promoter and hard enduro racer Rieju USA's Quinn Wentzel wanted to come back and one-up himself. He did just that. This year's event had a few changes, which had a huge impact on the racer experience. Racing was an eight-mile course, with amateurs racing on Saturday and the Pro classes racing the same course with some challenging sections added in on Sunday, allowing for fewer lappers and fewer bottle - necks each day. With a lack of rain in the area leading up to the race weekend, the track was dry and fast, with rocks having ample traction. After amateur racing was finished, a Pro Prologue was held on a shortened course to determine start order for Sun- day's Pro race. Six laps were on the agenda, with some nice cash prizes for incentive, and riders could be seen flying through the creeks and the endurocross- style track. James Flynn had a solid start, getting in front of the pack and keeping pace just ahead of Logan Bolopue. Flynn was able to set the fastest lap time at 3:30. Rieju USA's Hayden Mosa rounded out the Prologue podium, with 3 Seas Recreation's Mark Fortner and Clinton County Motorsports' Nick Fahringer closing out the top five. The stage was set for Sunday's Pro race. Eight miles of track were laid out in the Ohio woods with eight additional Pro splits for added difficulty. Flynn was fastest off the start, taking the holeshot with Bolopue hot on his heels. Bolopue would push Flynn all race, getting within seven sec - onds of the Beta rider in lap three, but Flynn had found the flow and extended his lead throughout the rest of the six laps, finishing a full 10 minutes in front. "I got the lead at the beginning and just tried to ride my race the whole time," said Flynn. "After a couple of laps, I started to figure the course out a little bit more. WIND IN THE P62 Beta rider James Flynn was the overall winner at the Lightning Strikes Hard Enduro in Ohio. PHOTOS: STEPHANIE VETTERLY