Due to a conflict with the FIM Hard Enduro Championship, the 2026 Red Bull Tennessee Knockout (TKO) has changed to August 28 to 30.

In a week of change for major international hard enduro races (see HEWC story here), the granddaddy of North American Hard Enduro, the Tennessee Knockout, has shifted a weekend also.

It’s a change which allows “some of the world’s top Hard Enduro racers to participate in the TKO”, chiefly Red Bull athletes Mani Lettenbichler and Billy Bolt. Pre-Hard Enduro World Championship season noise did point to this conflict between TKO’s original dates and the new Swedish HEWC round on August 20-22.

It seems the Swedes won the fight not to budge, and TKO which laid down its dates good and early, was forced to jump back a weekend to allow for the international big hitters to participate.  

“After confirming the dates for the sixteenth annual TKO last year, we were surprised that the FIM Hard Enduro Championship scheduled a new event on the same date.” Eric Peronnard, the co-producer of the TKO said. “With our team of partners, we worked to modify our schedule to allow the best riders in the world to attend the TKO to the delight of American fans. The Red Bull Tennessee Knockout is one of the pioneers of Hard Enduro in America and we are proud to host the final round of the AMA National Hard Enduro Championship series which is thriving. Sincere apologies to the people that made plans around our original dates and big thanks to Red Bull, KTM, Husqvarna and our other partners for their support.”

 

TKO is the premier US Hard Enduro event and sells out the 500 amateur entries available each year. The format allows for different levels of riders to enjoy a challenging course that ramps up in difficulty throughout multiple rounds of racing. This allows less experienced riders to develop their skills and watch the best Hard Enduro riders in the world in the later rounds of racing.

2026 TKO entries are open, sign-up here

The 2026 TKO action will start on Friday with the amateur Hot Laps setting the Saturday starting positions. Saturday will include two rounds of amateur racing that will allow up to thirty riders to earn the opportunity to race in the Sunday pro competition. The pro riders will kick off their weekend with a Hot Lap on Saturday afternoon. Sunday will include three rounds of pro class racing that concludes with a multi-lap main event that is spectacular for the fans.

TKO will include all the AMA US Hard Enduro Championship classes. That includes two eMoto classes for electric motorcycles and there will be electric motorcycle demo rides to add to the fun weekend for racers and spectators.

 

More information: www.tennesseeknockoutenduro.com

 

Photo Credit: Ryan McCasland