US Sprint Enduro: Girroir pushed all the way at CJ Raceway Rnd6
2024 US Sprint Enduro Series presented by Moose Racing headed to Newburg, West Virginia for round six where the all-conquering Johnny Girroir met serious competition from Cody Barnes and Craig Delong.
Every top athlete has an off day from time to time. It’s how you manage your off days and come back from them is what makes a true champion.
After five-straight overall wins in the 2024 US Sprint Enduro Series and after virtually dominating the series to this point, FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Johnny Girroir had somewhat of a rough day at the office on Saturday at the CJ Raceway Sprint Enduro in Newburg, West Virginia, as the six tests were split between four different riders.
At the end of Saturday’s event, Girroir won three of those and won the day by just four seconds ahead of a close battle with Phoenix Honda’s Cody Barnes, savaging his day with a great ride in the next-to-last enduro test, and Rockstar Energy Racing’s Craig DeLong nine seconds back in third.
“I had a pretty high-speed crash in the second cross test on Saturday and that kind of scared me or shocked me a little bit,” said Girroir. “I wasn’t riding that great in the beginning anyway, but I picked it back up in the end and it was a good day.”
Saturday’s top five consisted of Girroir, Barnes, DeLong, FMF KTM Factory Racing Lander’s Angus Riordan, who also won the Pro2 class in style...
On Sunday, Girroir was determined and he won all three cross tests and one enduro test to outpace DeLong for the win and claim the overall for the weekend. In all, Girroir won six of the twelve tests, which gave him the overall by 28 seconds.
“Today went smooth,” said Girroir. “I kept her off the ground, found some good speed in the cross test and had a good last enduro test, so it worked out good.”
Third on Sunday behind DeLong was Barnes who clocked P2 for the weekend. “I had a good weekend with second overall,” said Cody. “I was competitive with Johnny plus he had a crash and I was close to him so that helped. Then today I struggled a little bit, it got a little bit drier and I kind of kind of struggled a little bit and didn't make it easy on myself. I had a bad last cross test trying to be more patient and I think that cost me on the 250. You just kind of gotta ride it more aggressive. On the last enduro test I got caught a little stump got tangled up in some trees but I was able to hold on to 2nd overall for the weekend so that was good.”
Craig DeLong was more consistent on Sunday, finishing second ahead of Barnes and Riordan and Husqvarna-backed Jason Tino rounding out the top five. Riordan also topped the Pro 2 division with Tino second.
“Today was really good,” said DeLong. “I fell in the second enduro test and probably lost 10 seconds. That really set me back because I was second behind Johnny and that fall dropped me back to third. I had a good cross test and I won the first enduro test today, so I feel I’ve been making good improvements the last few weeks.”
The two-day overall standings looked like this: 1. Johnny Girroir (1:25:38.048); Cody Barnes (1:26:06.956); Craig DeLong (1:26:11.939; Angus Riordan (1:27:21.34). Cunningham was also the top Pro-Am rider.
Women’s win for Richards
The Pro Women’s division was won by FMF KTM Factory Racing Lander’s rider Brandy Richards continued her undefeated streak by topping Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Korie Steede by a little over two minutes. Richards finished inside the top 20 overall for the weekend.
“It was a pretty good weekend,” said Richards. “Yesterday was a little bit slippery but then it dried out. Today was super dusty and super slick and I just made a few mistakes here and there but overall I had a good time.”
Steede won two tests on Sunday. “Overall, it was a super rough weekend for me, I just wasn’t on,” said Steede. “It’s really hard to compete with brandy when you are making a lot of mistakes so Sunday I tried to turn the day around and grabbed two test wins and had the fastest enduro time in the final enduro test, so at least I improved on Sunday.”
Test Awards and Results:
New for 2024! FMF Fastest Test Awards – These Specialty Awards will be given to the racer of the fastest Cross Test and fastest Enduro Test on the weekend in the Youth/Amateur and Pro divisions.
YOUTH DIVISION
Super Mini SR Racer, Enduro Test – Levi Wilkins 6:35.6
Super Mini SR Racer, CrossTest – Levi Wilkins 6:50.2
AMATEUR DIVISION
Open A Racer, Enduro Test- Triston Landrum 7:09.7
Open A RACER, Cross Test – Tyler Dibartolo 7:35.1
PRO DIVISION
Cooper Jones (Pro-Am), Enduro Test – 7:14.3
Johnny Girroir (Pro 1), Cross Test – 6:51.4
ROUND 3 OVERALL RESULTS
The US Sprint Enduro Series resumes on August 24-25 in Masontown, WV for round seven of the US Sprint Enduro Series. In addition, sign up is open for the Sprint Enduro World Championship which will be held on July 13-14-15 in Harleywood Farm in Bristol, VA.
More information: www.ussprintenduro.com
Words Credit: Shan Moore
Photo Credit: Art Pepin
