produced before. The 2025
edition rewarded sprint speed,
clean lines and close racing. The
2026 race demanded technical
precision, mechanical resilience
and the willingness to keep
fighting when the course ap
-
peared impassable.
Wentzel added to his suc-
cesses at River Monster in the
Pro class, surviving a race that
refused to let nearly anyone
through.
CN
OVERALL (Top 5)
1. Quinn Wentzel (Rie)
2. Maverik Thaxton (KTM)
3. Creed Kisling (Hus)
4. Maxwell Beaupre (Bon)
5. Jarrett Mohn (KTM)
and trying to catch my breath,"
Thaxton said. "Then I came up
out of the creek and just really
tried to pump with my legs."
Creed Kisling finished third in
Pro at 4:28:53. Beaupre reached
the third checkpoint fastest but
did not complete the course due
to a mechanical issue, while
Jarrett Mohn also stopped after
checkpoint three. Across the
Pro and A results, only nine of
the listed starters reached the
final checkpoint.
That attrition rate told the
story better than the lap totals.
River Monster had been
rebuilt to enhance its reputation
as a true hard enduro, and the
weather pushed the new design
beyond anything the event had
expelled coolant, but it held
together long enough to reach
the finish.
Thaxton placed second in
Pro after completing the lap in
4:02:44. He briefly held the lead
before Wentzel moved past, then
watched Bonnell's Max Beaupre
charge through while the front
group studied Powerline Hill.
Thaxton's strongest weapon
was his hillclimbing ability. He
searched for fresh dirt outside
the main lines, shifted into taller
gears to maintain wheel speed
and attacked climbs such as
Chocolate Goddess only after
pausing to study them and
recover.
"I sat at the bottom for a
while, just thinking and studying
ROUND 3 / JULY 18-19, 2026
KAIROS WILDERNESS RESORT / GLEN LYN, VIRGINIA
OFF-ROAD I AMA EAST HARD ENDURO CHAMPIONSHIP
P90
Wentzel (center), Thaxton and Kisling celebrate their accomplishments on the Pro-class podium.
