GLEN DANIEL, W.Va. (October 22, 2018) – The 2018 Kenda Full Gas Sprint Enduro (FGSE) series concluded this past weekend, October 20 and 21, at the Hidden Valley Golf Course in Glen Daniel, West Virginia. What once seemed like a dream, became reality this past weekend where competitors raced their way through twelve total tests featuring clubhouse facilities, fairways, sand traps, and greens. The KR4/Husqvarna team closed out the season on a high note with three pro podiums.
Layne Michael continued his hot-streak and wrapped-up the season with his third-straight podium finish. When the final championship points were totaled, Michael was awarded fourth overall. “It was a killer weekend ripping up a golf course at the Full Gas Sprint Enduro finale,” said Michael. “I rode solid for third overall – the tests were fun and the dirt ended up being so good. Thanks to the KR4 team for all the help!”
The Pro 2 division was dominated by Liam Draper. Draper’s performances all season long have been nothing short of impressive, but his wins in all 12-test were just what the New Zealand native needed to wrap-up his first AMA National Championship. “It was another awesome weekend,” said Draper. “I managed to win every test and claim my first AMA No. 1 plate and championship in the United States. It was awesome to have my dad here by my side and to rip around a golf course which has always been a dream of mine.”
Tayla Jones followed in Draper’s footsteps, winning 11 out of the 12 tests en route to her second title in the Women’s Pro division. “I had a good weekend at the race. The first day went well aside from some crashes and collisions on the slick course,” said Jones. “I still managed to win that day. The second day definitely went smoother and picked up the win for the weekend. I’m stoked to get the number 1 plate for a second season. I love racing the Full Gas Sprint Enduro series and I’ll definitely be back to try to make it three-in-a-row in 2019!”
After rain fell on Friday night the course was slick and grassroots team member, Michael McLean, spent most of Saturday adjusting to the track. On Sunday, McLean was running in a much better position, when an unfortunate crash ended his day early. “I struggled on Saturday to get comfortable with the track,” said McLean. “I had a tough crash on the first test on Sunday that ended up bending my handlebars so that I couldn’t finish. All in all, it was a fun time on a dirt bike!”
KR4/Husqvarna Team Results:
Layne Michael – Pro – 3rd
Liam Draper – Pro 2 – 1st
Tayla Jones – Women’s Pro – 1st
Michael McLean – Open A – 11th
The KR4/Husqvarna team heads to Crawfordsville, Indiana this weekend for the popular Ironman GNCC, which serves as the season finale for the 13-round AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country championship.
**Photos courtesy of Darrin Chapman
About KR4 Performance:
KR4 Performance is a leading professional and amateur race team that participates in the Grand National Cross Country Championships (GNCC), the Full Gas Sprint Enduro Series (FGSE) and the National Enduro Promotions Group (NEPG) series. The 2017 KR4 team took home championships in each respective series. This year Layne Michael will make his XC1 Open Pro debut with the KR4 team, while Tayla Jones will look to repeat her Women’s Pro championships. KR4’s solid team structure is made up of former GNCC pros, expert motorcycle mechanics, and industry enthusiasts that are 100% dedicated to helping clients achieve their racing goals. Visit www.kr4performance.com for more information.
About the KR4 Arrive-N-Ride Program:
KR4 is paving the way for the future of off-road racing with its unparalleled Arrive-N-Ride Program, saving riders time, money and hassle. For an affordable fee, KR4 can offset the cost of racing and have everything ready for riders on race day. With the KR4 Arrive-N-Ride program, bikes are prepped by the KR4 team before a race and delivered with gear to riders on race day to the location of their choosing. To learn more or sign up for the Arrive-N-Ride experience, please contact fkeegan@kr4performance.com or visit www.kr4performance.com. For additional information, follow the team on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. For the team’s photo gallery, visit their Flickr page.