Hintze Wins Ohio Hard Enduro
R
ound three of the Ohio Hard
Enduro Championship Series,
presented by Lancaster Sport-
cycles, June 6-7, brought the
championship to a new stop with
familiar Ohio toughness baked
into every mile.
The Amateur race opened the
day on a 12.7-mile course that
mixed fast, flowing single-track
with creek beds, rocks, logs and
enough tricky terrain to keep
riders honest. At the front of the
Amateur field, Bentlee Bre-
dekamp continued to make noise
in the Ohio series, taking the win
after a race-long fight with Em-
mett Covington. Bredekamp, who
had already shown serious pace
earlier in the championship, was
pushed hard throughout the day.
The two traded positions
through the rock sections and
creek beds, each finding trouble
in the same places. Bredekamp
said one muddy stretch of the
creek cost both riders roughly
two minutes, but the decisive
moment came late. Hearing
Covington behind him in the final
mile, Bredekamp dug deep and
stretched the gap just enough to
secure the win.
Covington, a local Ohio rider,
finished second after what may
have been the best head-to-head
battle of the morning. Cory King
rounded out the Amateur podium
in third.
In the afternoon, the Pro/A
field faced an extended course
of roughly 15 miles, with multiple
added splits that quickly changed
the tone of the race. Braxton Hin-
tze emerged with the Pro/A win
for Champion Brick Racing, but
even he admitted the course was
harder than expected.
Tobin Miller, the round-two
standout, finished second after
a physically draining ride in the
heat. Miller said he started over-
heating early and struggled in
several slick creek sections, los-
ing energy as the race wore on.
Nick Fahringer finished third,
leaning on his traditional enduro
background to stay composed
through the faster trail and con-
serve energy in the heat. Fah-
ringer called the race a blend of
fun, flowy woods and a few truly
gnarly obstacles made difficult by
the slick surface.
The series continues on July
11 for round four at Down Home
Farm in Cutler, Ohio.
Steph Vetterly
PRO/A (Top 10)
1. Braxton Hintze (KTM)
2. Tobin Miller (KTM)
3. Nick Fahringer (Sco)
4. Mark Fortner (Bet)
5. Makana Barger (KTM)
6. Maverik Thaxton (KTM)
7. Drew Fortner (Bet)
8. Leiber Ponce (KTM)
9. Tim Burwick (Hus)
10. Robert Cornwell (KTM)
WIND
IN THE
P62
Braxton Hintze was the overall Pro/
A-class winner at round three of the
Ohio Hard Enduro Championship.
PHOTOS: STEPH VETTERLY
Bentlee Bredekamp topped
the Amateur field.
