Cycle News Staff | April 11, 2023
Jonny Walker, the reigning AMA EnduroCross Champion and multi-time Erzbergrodeo and Red Bull Romaniacs winner, has confirmed plans to compete in the 2023 Red Bull Tennessee Knockout at Trials Training Center, August 18-20, 2023.
The Beta rider from the UK just finished runner up in the 2023 FIM SuperEnduro Championship for the second year in a row and plans to compete in selected high-profile events before coming back to the U.S. to defend his AMA EnduroCross Championship. The high-intensity knockout format at the TKO suits Walker’s strengths.
“I am super excited to come back to race the TKO,” said Walker. “I am picking some special outdoor races this year that I enjoy, and the TKO is one that I have not won so I would like to tick that off my list.”
Jonny Walker has confirmed his entry for this year’s Red Bull Tennessee Knockout in August. Photo by Future7Media
The top North American riders will take on some of the world’s best hard enduro riders in a four-round pro-race format on Sunday.
Additionally, up to 500 riders can sign up for the amateur racing that will take place on Friday and Saturday to aim for an AMA Grand Championship number-one plate.
The Saturday program will include two rounds of racing and will serve as the AMA Extreme Off-Road Grand Championship for Amateur riders. The overall Amateur winner will be awarded the AMA Extreme Off-Road Grand Championship number-one plate. Classes will be available for amateur A, B, C, Women Pro, Women Amateur, Vet 40+, Vet 45+, Youth and eMoto.
Riders can reach Saturday’s round two in three different ways. First is through being a top-50 finisher from the 2022 TKO. Second is by earning a spot via one of several AMA Hard Enduro regional championship events. Last is by signing up for one of 500 open spots to compete in the Saturday morning qualifier, where up to 200 riders that finish the course in 2.5 hours will transfer to Saturday’s Grand Championship final. From there, the top 30 finishers will be invited to race Sunday’s expert program alongside the Pro class.
The racing format will be like past years with a Prologue on Friday to set amateur-class starting positions followed by two rounds of amateur racing on Saturday and a multi-round Sunday competition for the Pro class, which will include the top 30 finishers from Saturday. The ECR eMoto electric motorcycle class, which was a huge success in 2022, will be back, and additional feature developments will soon be announced.
Amateur riders are encouraged to enter the Red Bull Tennessee Knockout before the early-bird entry discount ends. CN
For more information about Red Bull Tennessee Knockout, please visit tennesseeknockoutenduro.com
