2023 Battle of the Goats Hard Enduro Results

| April 25, 2023

The Battle of the Goats in Taylorsville, North Carolina, came back swinging, April 22-23, after skipping last year. And celebrating the return of the Goats the most was overall winner Trystan Hart on the FMF KTM.

Trystan Hart at 2023 Battle of the Goats — **Trystan Hart led from start to finish at the Battle of the Goats Hard Enduro race in North Carolina.**

By Matt Musgrove

The 17-mile racecourse featured steep hill climbs, relentless rock gardens, off-camber roots, and ultra-slick creeks. The race was the first round of the AMA East Hard Enduro Series, Presented by IRC Tire, and the third round of the IRC U.S. Hard Enduro Premier Championship, Presented by Klim.

The race was made up of two qualifiers on Saturday and a six-hour main race on Sunday. The first qualifier on Saturday featured mostly amateur classes, while the second qualifier had expert/amateur classes and the pro division. The hard enduro gods were looking over the Brushy Mountain Motorsports Park on Saturday, dumping about a half inch of rain before the first qualifier, making the course at least twice as hard with hills and rocks covered in slick mud.

Cody Webb at 2023 Battle of the Goats — **Cody Webb came on strong at the end and took second.**

For Sunday’s main, the weather was nice, but the trails were still very wet from the rain the day before. For the main, Trystan Hart (FMF KTM) took the holeshot on a stacked first row, followed by at least 40 more rows of Pro and Amateur racers.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Ryder LeBlond and Sherco’s Cody Webb were right there. A unique part of the Battle of the Goats main race is that on the second lap, the course splits off to an added difficult section that adds time to their lap. On the first lap, the Pros did not have to struggle with any lappers and the course was a bit shorter. Hart came around in one hour and 33 minutes, with LeBlond six minutes behind and Webb another five minutes behind LeBlond.

Webb and LeBlond were battling back and forth throughout the race, swapping positions several times. Behind the lead pack, it was spread out among RPM KTM’s Will Riordan, Sherco rider Logan Bolopue, and Beta USA’s Danny Lewis who held their positions the entire race.

Ryder LeBlond at 2023 Battle of the Goats — **Ryder LeBlond completed the Battle of the Goats podium.**

On the second lap, the lappers piled up through difficult sections, which were an added challenge for the Pros. Hart held his lead the entire race, working patiently through the amateurs and limiting his mistakes on the tougher obstacles. On one section, LeBlond was fighting his way through a large group of amateurs and took a line that caused some extra struggle for him. Webb was close behind and grabbed the opportunity to pass him, taking the second spot.

Webb finished lap one 11 minutes behind Hart, but started creeping up on the leader, getting within five minutes from Hart. Webb, who welcomed his second child Thursday night before the race and then flew out Saturday morning, was racing with limited sleep and no track walk.

Bailey Lerwill at 2023 Battle of the Goats — **Bailey Lerwill won the Women’s Pro class.**

Hart ended up finishing his second lap and coming through the finish line first in just over three and a half hours. Webb finished in second place, six minutes behind, and LeBlond fell back a bit but finished in third place in just over four hours.

In the Pro Women’s Class, Bailey Lerwill of HTR GasGas, won her first-ever race in that class. Hallie Marks and Georgia Eversole finished in second and third, respectively.