Story & Images: Noel Flatters | Editor - The Enduro Bureau
November 10th 2023 | Redmond, Oregon

THE BOTTOM LINE UP-FRONT

1. Has the two week break been enough for series leader #22 Jonny Walker (Beta Racing) to regain his equilibrium after his tough Rounds 3 & 4 and return to the front of the field? I saw him this evening at the track walk and he looked very relaxed and comfortable.

2. Will Trystan Hart (FMF KTM Factory Racing), Cody Webb (FactoryOne Sherco) and Colton Haaker (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) be able to keep front-running like they did in Idaho Falls and close the gap to Walker even more with just two rounds to go?

3. Women’s series leader Rachel Gutish (Over and Out Racing / GasGas USA) will miss Round 5 for ISDE duties with Team USA. The focus this round will be on the battle between Melissa Harten (Beta Racing Canada) and Hallie Marks (Sherco USA). With Gutish injuring her shoulder down in Argentina this week the championship overall could be up for grabs for either Harten or Marks.

4. After a first look this afternoon, the track seems fast but still technical. More importantly, it seems like it will have room for a few different line options and passing opportunities as the series gets tighter.

5. Is there a wildcard in the field that can disrupt things? Ryder LeBlond (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) has shown glimpses of his speed and talent, but hasn’t put it all together yet in the series. He’s one to watch this weekend, and could steal points from the top 4. Taddy Blazusiak (GasGas Factory Racing) is always a potential threat and could also play a role this weekend. 

6. With Branden Petrie (Sherco Endurance Racing) out of the series with a fractured vertebrae suffered in Round 4, Spenser Wilton (HTR GasGas) is the sole Canadian apart from Trystan Hart. Wilton is battling hard to break into the Top 10, and will be looking to take advantage of his strong starts to make that happen. Wilton raced the Triple Crown AX finale in Calgary last weekend and acquired himself well in the 450 class, with a strong LCQ win and a solid Main.

7. Gus Riordan (FMF RPM KTM Racing) told me in Idaho that he’d be racing here in Oregon following his win in the final round of the GNCC series and P2 overall. I’ll definitely keeping an eye on him to how he does out there.

We’re here in Redmond OR for Round 5 of the 2023 IRC Tires Endurocross Series, and it’s shaping up to be an exciting one. 2022 Series champion Jonny Walker dominated the first two rounds of the series with perfect 1–1-1 motos in each, and leaving the field questioning what they could do to reel him in. The double-header round in Idaho Falls, however, was a different story. In Idaho we saw a return to normal operations for The Robot with Hart going 1-2-1 in Round 3 and 1-2-2 in Round 4 to win both. Walker, on the other hand, struggled through both rounds, getting caught up in multiple incidents that prevented him from challenging for wins (2-4-3/P2, and 6-3-4/P4). There was no doubt that his speed was there, it just looked from trackside like he was struggling to get himself back on track all weekend.

Cody Webb and Colton Haaker also seemed to find their next higher gears in Rounds 3 and 4, picking up Moto wins and important Championship points. After the standings shakeup in Idaho Falls Walker’s lead has shrunk to just 13 points over Hart and Webb, with Haaker just another 10 points behind them. 

I reached out to Hart and he’s definitely fired up for this important round of the series. “Pretty simple from here on out. I need to be in-front of Cody (Webb) and Jonny (Walker). Not a small task, but I’m up for the challenge. I didn’t go to Germany, but I did get sick for 5 days or so. Wasn’t ideal but ‘tis the season for sickness I guess. Really looking forward to racing and having fun. Hopefully pulling some holeshots and making some sick passes for the fans.”

On the women’s side of the Pros, series leader Rachel Gutish (Over & Out Racing / GasGas) won’t be here in Redmond as she’s otherwise engaged with Team USA down in San Juan Argentina for the 2023 ISDE. Gutish had a gnarly crash on Day 3, but has managed to ride with a separated shoulder and broken ribs, even picking up a test win today. When I first heard about the crash and injuries I thought there was no way that she would be able to line up for the Series finale in Reno next weekend, but in asking her about that today she quickly set me straight: “100%, I’ve got a title to win, I will be lined up on the gate.” Gutish should only need a P6 in Reno to take the series. The women pros get to drop one result from the series in order to accommodate riders racing ISDE, which will eliminate Gutish’s DNS this round.

I touched base with Hallie Marks (Sherco USA) , the 2023 US Hard Enduro champion and currently in third overall 13 points behind second-place Melissa Harten (Beta Racing Canada) today. She told me that she’s loving Endurocross, and the improvement she’s been seeing each round. “I loved the technicality of Round 4! It was a crazy close race with both Rachel and I getting stuck in the tires and battling 30 feet before the finish line. Staying smooth and consistent are my goals this weekend, along with picking my lines faster and not hesitating before obstacles. Hopefully I can come away with a podium position!”