2022 The Locked and Loaded Shotgun Enduro Results

| July 18, 2022

Trystan Hart wrapped up the AMA IRC U.S. Hard Enduro Series (USHE), presented by Inside Enduro season, with another dominant victory for a perfect season.

Trystan Hart at 2022 The Locked and Loaded Shotgun Enduro — **Trystan Hart finished off a perfect season at the Locked and Loaded Shotgun Enduro in Pennsylvania**

Story and Photos by Matt Musgrove

The Locked and Loaded Shotgun Enduro at the Red Rock Lodge in Sugarloaf, Pennsylvania, was the home to the final USHE round, and was a first-year hard-enduro event at this beautiful 4000-acre property. The father-son team of Mike and Mike Soudas traveled to each round, scoring the entire series, and were simultaneously planning and promoting this final round with their club, the High Mountain Dirt Riders. The course consisted of dense forests, creeks, steep hills and endless sharp rocks that were constantly being relocated.

The race started on Saturday with two prologue qualifiers each for two class groupings. In the Pro class, Ryder LeBlond led the first prologue by only a second ahead of Hart, and Hart led the second prologue by only a second ahead of LeBlond. They were very close to each other during both races, but it was Hart who ended up having the best cumulative time for the day. Trials champion Pat Smage finished third for both races, reinforcing the notion that he is a serious contender in the hard-enduro world.

In the other prologue grouping consisting of the B, C and Youth classes, AMA West and East Regional Extreme Off-Road B Class Champion Riley Bender won both races with a strong lead. The prologues were about five miles long and the speeds were a bit higher, but they still challenged many of the amateurs and set the starting rows for Sunday’s main event.

Ryder LeBlond at 2022 The Locked and Loaded Shotgun Enduro — **Ryder LeBlond did a good job trying to keep pace with winner Hart. He was rewarded with second place.**

When the races ended on Saturday, a big rainstorm rolled through and soaked the property for a few hours, changing the conditions of the entire course for the following day. Sunday began with a 90-minute LCQ, which gave many of the amateurs a second chance in qualifying for the main race. The top 100 qualifiers were allowed into the main race, and they had five hours to complete two laps on a 12-mile course, which turned out to be more difficult than the athletes were expecting.

Hart pulled ahead early and didn’t look back, gaining major time on everyone behind him. The battles for the podium spot were back and forth throughout the race, with LeBlond, Logan Bolopue, Keith Curtis and Smage all swapping positions at some point. The rocks were relentless, and the rain made the course extremely difficult as time went by. As a result, many of the amateurs only made it to checkpoints one and two. Only 14 riders finished one lap, and only five completed two within the time limit. Hart’s pace was amazing to witness, as he was keeping his cool in the tough sections and making it through them as if it were nothing. Even passing lappers on his second lap, he found alternative lines and maintained his energy to continue growing his lead. He finished his two laps in three hours and 13 minutes, which was 46 minutes ahead of second place. LeBlond and Bolopue ended up in the second and third positions, respectively, less than a minute apart. This was also Bolupue’s first USHE podium finish.

Shelby Turner at 2022 The Locked and Loaded Shotgun Enduro — **Shelby Turner wrapped up the East Women’s title.**

In the Pro Women’s class, Shelby Turner had a solid lead and made it to checkpoint two in one hour and 45 minutes, winning the class and wrapping up her AMA East Regional Extreme Off-Road Championship season. Louise Forsley and Morgan Tanke finished second and third, respectively.

Hart also wrapped up his memorable season with an AMA East Regional Extreme Off-Road Championship, adding to his West and USHE overall Championships.