All three pro class winners from 2026 American National Enduro Championship repeat their performances at round two, the Beta Cross Timbers National Enduro with Liam Draper securing the overall in Oklahoma for Am Pro Yamaha.

On a busy weekend for AMA off-road racing, the Redline Oil American National Enduro Championship (ANEC) Presented by MSR Racing split the East Coast/West Coast divide by going right down the middle to unfamiliar terrain at the Beta Cross Timbers National Enduro hosted by the South Central Area Riders and co sanctioned with the Blackjack Enduro Series.

The conditions in Oklahoma played a major role in the pace of the day. Friday had set a 100-year heat record for the day which continued throughout the weekend. Along with the heat, 30mph winds also contributed to drying the property out and creating massive amounts of dust for each row of riders to battle through. 

AmPro Yamaha’s Liam Draper came into the weekend with the white plate after winning the opener in SC. Draper told us “It’s definitely not the east coast terrain out here and I was a little out of my comfort zone. But I was able to keep it on two wheels and consistent all day and here I am in the middle of(of the podium).” His three test wins on the day afforded him enough of a gap to maintain the back half of the day to make it back to back overall wins in his return to ANEC racing.

Defending Champion, Rocky Mountain ATV/MC Red Bear Racing Kawasaki’s Steward Baylor, once again started out strong by taking the first test win of the day. From there he tested set up changes that put him a little farther off the pace. After changing back for the final test, he was able to best the next closest rider by 24 seconds to secure the number two overall spot on the day.

Safety On Site Rocky Mountain ATV/MC Kawasaki rider Grant Baylor kept his podium streak alive for the season by earning third place for the second race in a row. Taking a test win of his own, and riding solid times in the top three gave him the consistency to come away in the money and the final podium position. 

Pro 2 Class

In the Pro 2 ranks, defending champion, Rocky Mountain ATV/MC Red Bear Racing Kawasaki’s Nick DeFeo dominated the day once again. DeFeo swept all six tests for a second time, making him unbeaten at 12-0 on Pro 2 tests and even notched an overall test win in section 2. FMF Red Bull KTM’s Jason Tino bested everyone but DeFeo all day, taking the number two spot in all six tests to earn 2nd place overall in the Pro 2 class. Enduro Engineering Triumph’s James Jenkins made his first appearance on the Pro 2 podium in just his second ever race competing in the class.

Pro Women

In the Pro Women class Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Korie Steede racked up 5/6 test wins on the day to make it a clean sweep of our pro class repeat winners. Factory Rieju’s Rachel Gutish was able to take the lone test win away from Steede and put herself in the number two spot for the day while Enduro Engineering’s Shelby Turner was able to remain consistent throughout the day earning the 3rd place spot in the Pro Women ranks. 

Say What? Pro riders explain their race…

Cross Timbers Results

Pro 1

1-Liam Draper

2-Steward Baylor

3-Grant Baylor

Pro 2

1-Nick DeFeo

2-Jason Tino

3-James Jenkins

Pro Women

1-Korie Steede

2-Rachel Gutish

3-Shelby Turner

Round 3 of ANEC will take place April 11 & 12, in Centreville, MS for the first ever two-day event at the FMF Farm 14 National Enduro at Kevin Windham’s property.

More information: www.nationalenduro.app

Words Credit: Tyler Shepardson

Photo Credit: Art Peppin