Cycle News Staff | May 3, 2021
2021 Iowan Hard Enduro Results. FMF KTM’s Trystan Hart won the Iowan Hard Enduro, round three of the Kenda AMA Extreme Enduro East Championship, in Spragueville, Iowa, May 1-2. The Canadian topped FactoryOne Sherco’s Cody Webb and Rockstar Husqvarna’s Colton Haaker in the overall results, which used a motocross-style two-moto format.
Trystan Hart held on to win The Iowan Hard Enduro. Photo: Brandon Krause
The racing kicked off with a hot lap to determine the starting positions for moto one and Delullo Racing Husqvarna-backed Ryder LeBlond set the fastest time of 19 minutes and 20 seconds. Taylor Robert was second with a time of 19 minutes and 34 seconds. Haaker rounded out the top three with a 19 minute and 45-second lap. Webb and Pat Smage completed the top five.
A derailed a chain held Hart back to ninth-fastest time and a second-row start in moto one.
The riders started in rows of five, based on the hot-lap times for the first moto, and LeBlond took the early lead from row one. The top four riders battled in a pack on a relatively easy course, by hard enduro standards. Hart joined the lead group and was able to take the lead. Haaker and Robert battled for second coming to the finish, and Haaker went off the course just before the last section but re-entered and finished second. However, he was docked a position for the off-course excursion.
Hart took the race-one win with a time of 26 minutes and three seconds. He was followed by his teammate Robert, just 10 seconds back.
Haaker was third and Webb was frustrated to finish the first race in fourth, 20 seconds behind the winner.
Will Riordan rounded out the top five.
Only the top 32 riders moved on to the second race.
In the second race, some more difficult sections were added, and the riders had to complete three laps, making it much more challenging. Webb and Hart swapped the lead position before Webb opened a small lead. Then Webb had an issue with his throttle sticking, which allowed Hart to take over the point once again. Webb fixed his bike problem on the trail and managed to close back in on Hart in one of the difficult sections and then made a last-second pass to take the race win in a time of one hour, 27 minutes and 9 seconds. Hart was just six seconds back and Haaker finished in third, just 21 seconds behind Webb.
Robert finished fourth, nearly two minutes behind the leader, and LeBlond rounded out the race in fifth. Pat Smage (Sherco) was sixth followed by Riordan (KTM) in seventh, Nick Fahringer (Sherco) and Max Gerston (GasGas) with last year’s winner Quinn Wentzel (Rieju) rounding out the top-10.
The combined race scores determined the overall results, and Hart stood on top with 2-1 finishes. Webb edged out Haaker (3-3) with a 4-1 for second. Robert was fourth with a 2-4 finishes and LeBlond rounded out the top five overall with a 6-5.
“The day started off horrible with ninth in hot laps and a derailed chain,” Hart said. “I was fired up for the first moto and came out charging, ultimately winning the sprint. In the final, Cody and I went back and forth most of the race and we had some really good battles. I’m happy to end up with the overall win!”
Cody Webb was runner-up despite winning the second leg. Photo: Brandon Krause
Webb said, “I really wasn’t too happy with how the day went. It was a pretty simple course for a hard enduro, and the conditions weren’t on our side. In moto one I got a bad start and just couldn’t get around those guys. I tried a few times, but just couldn’t make it happen and settled for fourth.
“In the final moto, I rode angry and charged hard. I rode a little tight with the other guys right on my tail for the first half before opening up a nice lead. I then suffered some issues and lost all the time I gained and fell back. I charged hard and was aggressive which allowed me to take back the lead right before the finish and get the win in moto two. I was happy with how I rode overall, just not how I executed that first moto, which ended up costing me.”
“You don’t think of Iowa for extreme races, but it proved to be pretty cool,” said Haaker. “The course was a little easier than some of our events, but it made for some really fun racing. We were able to battle between obstacles rather than resting. I had a huge loop-out in the second race and fortunately, I was not hurt and my bike was okay, so I was able to get going again and challenge Trystan and Cody until the very end where I missed a turn.”
In the Pro Women’s class, Louise Forsley (FactoryOne Sherco) took the win. She finished the race 21st overall. She was the only woman rider to earn a spot in race two. In that final race, Forsley finished 27th overall.
Shelby Turner and Kristina Smuda finished 2-3 in class. CN
Kenda AMA Extreme Enduro East Championship
Round 3
Spragueville, Iowa
RESULTS (May 1-2, 2021)
OVERALL (Top 10)
| 1. |
Trystan Hart |
(KTM) |
1-2 |
| 2. |
Cody Webb |
(She) |
4-1 |
| 3. |
Colton Haaker |
(Hus) |
3-3 |
| 4. |
Taylor Robert |
(KTM) |
2-4 |
| 5. |
Ryder LeBlond |
(Hus) |
6-5 |
| 6. |
Will Riordan |
(KTM) |
5-7 |
| 7. |
Pat Smage |
(She) |
8-6 |
| 8. |
Nick Fahringer |
(She) |
7-8 |
| 9. |
Max Gerston |
(GG) |
9-9 |
| 10. |
Quinn Wentzel |
(Rei) |
1-10 |
