Taylor Robert Wins Sprint Hero Racing Opener at Glen Helen
Press Release | January 7, 2019
KTM Race Recap of Sprint Hero Racing Series
This is a press release from KTM…
Devore, CA (January 6, 2019) – FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Taylor Robert kicked off the 2019 Sprint Hero Racing Series with a big victory from Glen Helen Raceway over the weekend, besting KTM-mounted rider Gary Sutherlin in a two-day ISDE-format of racing.
The sprint format incorporated both enduro and moto tests, giving riders the opportunity to show their diversification on the course. Saturday’s racing got underway just in time to miss the heavy rainfall that bombarded Southern California later in the day, making for a chilly – but dry – opening day. However, the evening’s rainfall brought muddy conditions on Sunday for day two of racing.
It was a three-way battle for the overall victory as Pro riders Taylor Robert, Gary Sutherlin and Zach Bell each brought their ‘A’ game to the season opener. Robert claimed victory in all six enduro tests, with KTM-mounted rider Gary Sutherlin close in tow. Robert continued to put forth a solid performance in the moto tests but he didn’t quite have enough to best former professional motocross racer Zach Bell, who claimed all six moto tests on the weekend. Sutherlin was able to maintain a consistent pace inside the top-three throughout all sections of the course.
After two days of racing, it was Robert who prevailed with the overall victory as the rider with the best and most consistent times across the board. Robert was joined on the podium by Sutherlin in second overall, and Bell in third.
Robert: “The race was awesome! I was really impressed with the layout of the tests and I think it will be a great series for getting American riders prepared for ISDE. Zach [Bell] was riding really well in all the cross tests and he ended up winning all six cross tests by 1-2 seconds over me. Luckily, I had the enduro test pretty dialed in and I was able win all six of the enduro tests. Gary [Sutherlin] rode strong and consistent all weekend and was able to get second overall by making up time on Zach in the enduro test as well.”
Rounds 3 & 4: Canyon MX – Peoria, Arizona – February 16-17, 2019
Overall Results – Rounds 1 & 2
- Taylor Robert, KTM
- Gary Sutherlin, KTM
- Zach Bell, KAW
