Racing

Another Look At The 2018 Hidden Valley Golf Course Sprint Enduro

Racing dirt bikes on a golf course

October 27, 2018

Josh Strang and team pose for a championship photo after the Aussie off-road star claimed the 2018 Kenda Full Gas Sprint Enduro title. The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider put himself in excellent shape to win the title on Saturday by winning four of the six tests.Darrin Chapman

Over the past two years, the Kenda Full Gas Sprint Enduro Series offers competitors a unique opportunity to race on a full-fledged golf course. Something that is kind of a pipe dream for dirt bikers.

The owners of the Hidden Valley Golf Course near Glen Daniel, West Virginia, have ties to dirt biking and in an effort to bring business to their country club during the off-season, they agreed to host a round each of the past two years of the Full Gas Sprint Enduro series. A big win-win for both the golf course and sprint enduro racers.

This year’s event marked the final round of the FGSE series and it was where the 2018 series title was decided. The championship battle came down to Steward Baylor and Josh Strang, and Baylor held a slim two-point lead going into the race.

Strang was strong on Saturday, winning four of the six tests, while Baylor struggled. The combination of the two finishes left Strang with the upper hand, needing only to finish third on Sunday to clinch the title. And while Baylor was unstoppable on Sunday, winning all six tests, Strang finished a solid second to claim the 2018 Kenda Full Gas Sprint Enduro title.

Steward Baylor took first place at the Hidden Valley Golf Course Sprint Enduro thanks to a strong performance on Sunday, which saw the Tely Energy KTM rider win all six tests.Darrin Chapman

KR4 Husqvarna’s Tayla Jones claimed her seventh win of the season, beating out Bonanza Plumbing/Trail Jesters/KTM rider Mackenzie Tricker and Fly/Maxxis/Seat Concepts/KTM Becca Sheets in the process.Darrin Chapman

Jordan Ashburn turned in one of his better performances of the season with a fourth place. The Beta USA rider was second-fastest in the opening test on Saturday.Darrin Chapman

Grant Baylor was in contention for a podium finish until his rear hub exploded on Sunday.Darrin Chapman

Due to the slippery conditions in the “golf course” sections, Josh Strang said he used more “European” lines, which he said he thought gave him an edge on the competition.Darrin Chapman

On the same day of the race, Steward Baylor was selected to take the place of the injured Kailub Russell on the US ISDE squad’s World Trophy Team that will be competing this year in Chile.Darrin Chapman

KR4 Husqvarna’s Liam Draper won the Pro2 division after winning all 12 tests over the course of the two-day event. Braxton McGee (Husqvarna) and Jesse Ansley (KTM) were second and third in the class, respectively.Darrin Chapman

SRT Racing’s Evan Smith got off to a slow start, eventually finishing sixth behind Liam Draper.Darrin Chapman

Josh Strang cranks it open on one of the faster sections of the course.Darrin Chapman