Grant Baylor captured his first win of the season and the AMA National Enduro final in Indiana. Photography by Shan Moore
Even though the 2015 Kenda AMA National Enduro Championship had already produced its new title holder—Kailub Russell—at the penultimate round of the series two weeks ago, the Muddobbers National Enduro in Upton, Indiana, October 11, came to an exciting conclusion with AmPro Yamaha’s Grant Baylor squeaking out a victory over Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Josh Strang by just one second.
Strang came out swinging by topping the first special test, but Baylor chipped away at Strang’s lead and eventually moved to the front. Baylor then headed into the final test of the day with a seemingly comfortable 23-second cushion over Strang.
The Aussie gave it all he had in that final test, chopping 22 seconds off Baylor’s lead, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Yamaha rider from winning his first National of the year and the second of his career.
The win also helped Baylor secure second place in the championship, finishing 20 points behind Russell, who skipped the enduro because of a knee injury. Baylor went into the Muddobbers carrying a small points advantage over former champ Russell Bobbitt for second place in the series, but Bobbitt could not really fight for the position after coming into the race under the weather. Bobbitt’s best test was a fourth but he still finished ahead of Moto-Tech KTM’s Steward Baylor, who finished fourth overall in Indiana, by just two points for third place in the championship.
Fifth in the championship went to Husqvarna’s Andrew DeLong who did not compete in Indiana due to an injury. He had just enough points to finish out the year ahead of sixth-place, Beta USA’s Cory Buttrick, who enjoyed the best ride of his year with third overall in Indiana.
AirGroup Racing’s Nick Fahringer, MotoSport.com/Yamaha’s Brad Bakken, Bobbitt, Drew Higgins (the top Expert-AA rider), KTM rider Broc Hepler and AmPro Yamaha’s Ricky Russell completed the top 10 overall at the Muddobbers.
KTM rider Higgins out-dueled season-long rival Evan Smith for top Rekluse Expert-AA honors. Smith ended up second for the year, with AmPro Yamaha’s Ryan Belue taking third. Both Higgins and Smith will graduate to the AA division next year.
Muddobbers National Enduro
Kenda AMA National Enduro Series
Upton, Indiana
Results: October 11, 2015
OVERALL
1. Grant Baylor (Yam)
2. Josh Strang (Hus)
3. Cory Buttrick (Bet)
4. Steward Baylor (KTM)
5. Nick Fahringer (Hus)
6. Brad Bakken (Yam)
7. Russell Bobbitt (KTM)
8. Drew Higgins (KTM)
9. Broc Hepler (KTM)
10. Ricky Russell (Yam)
