Cycle News Staff | July 24, 2023
Racers that came to the rocky, fern-infested forest of central Pennsylvania for the Rattlesnake National Enduro were met with near perfect conditions. The Rattlesnake Enduro, round six of nine of the 2023 Magna1 AMA National Enduro Series, Presented by Moose Racing, saw Steward Baylor Jr. grab his first National Enduro win of the season.
Steward Baylor Jr. ended his winless drought in the National Enduros after taking top honors at the Rattlesnake in Pennsylvania. Photos: Mack Faint
Starting on the traditional grass track held in Cross Fork on the Quiet Oaks Campground property, Pennsylvania native Craig DeLong took an early lead. Rocky Mountain ATV/MC Tely Energy Racing KTM rider, Baylor, then went on an impressive run, winning tests two through five to win the Rattlesnake for the fourth time.
Baylor in the bushes.
“We did a lot of tire testing all week and ended up with trials tires like we always run here,” Baylor said. “I think the last seven winners here used a trials tire, so that’s what we did.”
Tests two and three were rockier than most years. “I have not gone this long in National Enduros without a win since I started these things, as long as I had my leg over a bike anyway,” Baylor said. “A win sure does feel nice.”
Grant Baylor maintained his championship points lead with second overall.
Grabbing a second place was younger brother Grant Baylor on the Babbitts/Monster Energy Kawasaki. The championship points leader, Grant Baylor, was hovering between second and fourth place all day before finally throwing down the fastest time in the sixth and final test, which was the longest of the day at nine miles.
“I just tried to have a smooth day here,” Grant said. “I know the rocks can jump out and get you as they have to me several times here in the past.”
Grant Baylor on the gas.
Going into the last test, Grant and Josh Toth were separated by just half a second. “Josh and I had a good battle going all day. I knew we were within a couple seconds going into the last test, so I let it all hang out there and was able to come away with a second place and extend the points lead, so all in all it was a good day.”
Third place overall was Enduro Engineering GasGas rider Toth. Toth is typically a threat when it comes to more technical terrain like it is at the Rattlesnake, so a podium here is no surprise.
Josh Toth took third.
“It was a tough day with the course being relentless,” Toth said. “They were saying it was a little rockier than years past, and I think it might be. It seems like there is no dirt out there, just rocks, there are no breaks out there.” Toth continues to hold second in the championship points.
Fourth overall on the day was Factory Husqvarna rider DeLong. Rounding out the top five was Coastal Racing Factory GasGas rider Ryder Lafferty. Sixth overall went to AmPro Yamaha rider Ricky Russell.
Pro Podium.
Seventh overall and first NE Pro2 rider was Bonecutter Off-Road GasGas rider Thorn Devlin. Devlin’s day was almost derailed a half mile into the first test. Devlin’s rear tire came off of the rim completely. Riding the section on the rim with the tires wrapped up in the swingarm, Devlin was nearly outside the top 100 overall going into the second test. Devlin was able to mount a new wheel after the first test to then go on and start chipping away the time behind the leaders in the NE Pro2 class.
“I was about a half mile in and I came around a corner and I was on the ground before I knew it, I looked down and saw the rear tire split off the rim,” Devlin said. “I rode three miles of the test with no rear tire, and it was sketchy at times. I knew I had to salvage the time I could and then throw it down in the rocks.”
Thorn Devlin won the Pro2 class in seventh overall.
Devlin won three of the remaining five tests including the final and sixth test to finally come away as the NE Pro2 winner. Factory Beta Rider Evan Smith from the NE Pro1 class came away with eighth overall.
For his first NE Pro2 podium and ninth overall finish was Hunter Bush. Hunter is a local ECEA enduro rider and avid NE Pro2 National Enduro racer. Bush felt really comfortable in the rocks at the Rattlesnake National Enduro because he lives only a few hours from Cross Fork.
Pro 2 Podium.
“I really like this type of terrain and I ride this stuff at home all the time,” Bush said. His best finish before this race was fourth. “Finishing on the podium was a surprise today; it feels awesome.”
Wrapping up the top 10 overall and the third podium spot in the NE Pro2 class was factory Beta rider Jonathan Johnson. Johnson has several NE Pro2-class podiums including two this season. “I put some work in with a little bit of time off lately, just trying to be a little bit smoother and I think it paid off today,” Johnson said.
Rachel Gutish won the women’s category.
Taking top honors in the Women’s Elite class was Rachel Gutish on her OverandOut GasGas. Gutish is always tough to beat in rocky technical terrain and she proved that again today.
“I thought there was topsoil here and I thought wrong,” Gutish said. “I really like the technical stuff, so the course suited me well here. I didn’t feel like I set the world on fire today, but I was just smooth.”
Women’s Podium.
Women’s Elite points leader, Enduro Engineering GasGas rider Mackenzie Tricker, took home second place. “Not a record day for me today,” she said. “I am not typically a good rock rider and it was tough today.”
Another new face to the Pro podiums was Cate Nash in the Women’s Elite class. Nash is local to the area and wanted to give the National Enduros a try. “This is my first time here and I absolutely loved it,” Nash said. “Tests two and three were tough and I crashed a bit. But then I put my head down to try to make up time in test four and five.”
Top Amateur rider was AA rider Justin Lafferty.
Logan Densmore
Overall Results (Top 10)
- Steward Baylor Jr (KTM
- Grant Baylor (Kaw)
- Josh Toth (GG)
- Craig DeLong (Hus)
- Ryder Lafferty (GG)
- Ricky Russell (Yam)
- Thorn Devlin (GasGas
- Evan Smith (Bet)
- Hunter Bush (GG)
- Jonathan Johnson (Bet)
