ond half of the race managing a
failing rear brake. With no rear
brake on the final lap, Thaxton
relied heavily on engine braking
and the front brake while Fortner
continued to close.
Thaxton held on to finish the
race three minutes and one
second ahead of Fortner. Ponce
finished third overall and as the
first A-class rider. The victory
also secured the inaugural Ohio
Hard Enduro Pro/A overall cham-
pionship for Thaxton, with 161
points, 33 clear of Fortner.
The morning amateur race
belonged to Graham Kobak.
After a fast opening few miles,
the course dropped riders into
creeks and technical climbs,
terrain that suited Kobak's
strengths. He pushed nearly non-
stop for three laps and finished
in 2:34:05, 10 minutes and 46
VOLUME ISSUE OCTOBER , P63
(Left) Maverik Thaxton won the
final round of the Ohio Hard Enduro
Championship and also claimed the
inaugural number one plate. (Right)
Bentlee Bredekamp captured the
overall Amateur Championship.
PHOTOS: STEPH VETTERLY
