Racing

The Faces Of The Lake Sugar Tree Sprint Enduro

A trip around the pits at the Virginia Sprint Enduro

May 23, 2018

The Lake Sugar Tree Full Gas Sprint Enduro almost didn’t happen due to flooding in the Axton, Virginia, area. However, thanks to the effort of promoter Jason Hooper and his crew, the event turned out to be one of the best of the year, at least on Sunday when the sun came out and dried things up a bit. Photographer Shan Moore takes us on a tour of the pits to meet some of the people at the event.

Josh Strang claimed his first win in the series in almost two years at this weekend’s event. The Australian racer has been living in the United States for almost 10 years now and he’s been one of the top off-roaders in the country during that span. Josh proved he still has the speed to get the job done and with the win he moved into third in the series’ standings.Shan Moore

Ryan Sipes has spent the last year riding an assortment of off-road events, including motocross, GNCC, Sprint Enduro, and even flat track. Sipes spent some time taking laps on a quarter-mile flat track the weekend before the Virginia round, preparing for a flat-track event in Sturgis in August.Shan Moore

The Virginia race was a frustrating one for Steward Baylor. The South Carolina rider is used to winning, especially with the Enduro format, but he was forced to settle for fifth overall this past weekend.Shan Moore

Jason Hooper is our fearless leader when it comes to the Kenda Full Gas Sprint Enduro Series. “Hoop,” who is the promoter of the series, brought the Sprint Enduro format to America a few years ago and it is starting to build a solid following. This weekend’s turnout was a good example. I don’t have official numbers, but the turnout was incredible considering the weather and the videos of flooded creeks that were floating around YouTube.Shan Moore

The “hard luck” award went to Evan Smith. Evan topped the standings after Saturday’s round and was in contention for his first overall win of the series, but he threw a chain in the fourth of six tests on Sunday. A DNF for the test thwarted his chances at the win.Shan Moore

Tayla Jones chats with Mackenzie Tricker before the start of the race on Saturday. The two went at it in the Women’s Pro class, with Jones barely edging Tricker for the overall win.Shan Moore

The other half of the Baylor Brothers crew, Grant sat in second at the end of Saturday’s round, but a few crashes too many kept the Tely Energy KTM rider off the podium.Shan Moore

New Zealander Liam Draper is in America this year racing the GNCC and Full Gas series in the Pro 2 division on a KR4 Husqvarna.Shan Moore

Layne Michael turned in his best performance of the series with a second overall. The KR4 Husqvarna rider won two tests on the weekend.Shan Moore

Tricker topped the Women’s Pro class on Saturday by a half second over Jones.Shan Moore

Kevin Spina spins the wrenches on Jordan Ashburn’s Beta USA-backed 430 RR.Shan Moore