We got this press release today from Sean Finley at Digital Throttle who’s been working with us on the Kenda Tennessee Knockout Extreme Enduro. Photos by Drew Ruiz.
Sequatchie, TN (August 28, 2011) – Tennessee native Mike Brown outlasted a tough field of over fifty riders to win the KENDA Tennessee Knockout, fueled by Monster Energy. The first time “American Extreme Enduro” lived up to its billing as a tough race as Brown noted at the finish that the 40 minute long main event “Was tougher than anything I have ever done. At the halfway mark, I thought I would not be able to finish but I was leading so I kept pushing”.
Cody Webb, the factory Beta rider and 2010 AMA Trials champion that has become a regular podium finisher in EnduroCross events finished second and was within striking distance of Brown on the final lap before stalling his bike. Bobby Prochnau, the super tough Canadian KTM rider finished third.
Taddy Blazusiak, the pre-race favorite was eliminated from the competition during the first Knockout round when a minor crash knocked the fuel injection system loose and forced him to pull out of the event. Blazusiak was a good sport though and stuck around all afternoon to cheer on the other riders.
The four round format started with a single timed lap on a very extreme “short” course that took Cody Webb three minutes and twenty five seconds to complete. Brown was just two seconds behind and GEICO Honda’s Kyle Redmond was another four seconds back. This set the starting order for the 50 riders that would go into Knockout round one with the fastest riders going first and getting the advantage of less dust but also the disadvantage of having to pick the lines for the first time on the ten mile “long” loop.
Brown showed his strength on the long loop with a 39 minute and 7 second time that set the standard. Webb was very close with a 39:25 lap and Prochnau came in with 39:56. Kyle Redmond was fourth at 40:59 and Am-Pro Yamaha’s Jordan Ashburn at 41:41. Paul Whibley was next in line followed by Colton Haaker, Rory Mead, Michael Williams and Dustin Gibson rounded out the top ten riders.
A total of twenty five riders moved forward to Knockout round two, which was a head to head race with five riders each in five groups. The top two riders in each group would move on to the ten rider final. Brown and Whibley qualified from group one. Webb and Haaker qualified out of group two. Prochnau and Mead qualified out of group three. Williams and Redmond qualified out of group four and Ashburn and Palmer qualified out of group five. Husqvarna’s Jamie Lanza and Ryan Sandoval were among the non-qualifiers along with GEICO Honda’s Scott Watkins and Kawasaki rider, Gary Sutherlin.
Brown rocketed to the front of the pack at the start of the ten lap main event while Webb found himself on the ground in the first turn. Prochnau ran second followed by Whibley while Colton Haaker and Rory Mead battled for forth. Webb moved past four other riders on the first lap, which took around four minutes.
Michael Williamson, a relatively unknown Tennessee based rider that turned heads all day with his speed unfortunately crashed after not making it up an extremely difficult alternate line up the side of a cliff and dropped out on the first lap. Brown pulled a few seconds gap and rode conservative lines while several riders battled for second. Webb finally got to second at the halfway point and began to reel Brown in. By then, Haaker had taken a tumble with an aggressive line on a downhill to take him out of contention.
Whibley had a chain derail on his YZ250 2-stroke on lap five and lost a few positions. After nearly 40 minutes of racing, Webb moved to within striking distance of Brown on the final lap but stalled and tipped over to provide the gap that Brown needed to take the victory. Rory Mead had also closed in on Prochnau but slid out in a turn while trying to take the final podium spot. Whibley climbed back up to fifth after battling with an impressive Ashburn. Redmond and Palmer were the final two finishers in seventh and eighth.
PRO CLASS RESULTS: 2011 Kenda Tennessee Knockout, fueled by Monster Energy
1. Mike Brown, KTM, USA
2. Cody Webb, Beta, USA
3. Bobby Prochnau, KTM, Canada
4. Rory Mead, Honda, New Zealand
5. Paul Whibley, Yamaha, New Zealand
6. Jordan Ashburn, Yamaha, USA
7. Kyle Redmond, Honda, USA
8. Wally Palmer, Christini, USA
9. Colton Haaker, KTM, USA
10. Michael Williams, Kawasaki, USA
See this PDF of the final results, including all rounds of the Sunday knockout as well as the Saturday Amateur competition.
Had a great time! Great race. Would like to see more like this. Thanks for having it.
Sam
You’re welcome, Sam. We’ve also heard from:
Reggie Wrinkle:
From Dixie Poe Brooks on the TTC Facebook Wall:
From Paul Breeding:
From Rick Holsomback:
What a great event. Traveled down from NY to see it, and don’t regret it for a second. If it is held next year, I’ll be back! I was sorry to not see Taddy ride the entire event, but none of the riders disappointed. Cody was smooooth in the rough stuff. That guy impressed me.
There’s nothing like seeing a race live. Looking forward to my next one.
I road the Saturday event and would say it was just enough fun and challenge to make it a unique experience for the average weekend warrior racer. I qualified, barely for Sun race and sitting there waiting my turn in line with Mike Brown and thoughs guys was humbling. After walking the short course I can say I was a bit nervous but it turned out ok. I was not disappointed to not make the next cut. I grabbed my chair and sat down and watched one of the most exciting races I’ve ever seen. I would put it on par with any super cross. A++ to the organization, the trail, the challenge and the show. You’ll be packed with riders and spectators next year. Oh yea, how about a checker flag at the finish. I was the guy that did two laps Sat:)
Will there be pictures posted of the event or will this be something through the photographer?
Thanks,
Sam
Sam, I’m told that there a few hundred photos that TTC staffers took that have yet to be sorted through. We’ll get the best of the bunch up ASAP.
In the meantime, see the links to photos in the comment below by amina moreau.
Wow,what an honor it was to get to race a such an event.words can’t describe how awesome this event was.From on the bike Saturday and Sunday am,to behind a camera and screaming like a cheerleader it was just plain awesome event.It was worth every penny spent to get there. Please,please,please make this annual! To the Owners and staff of TTC,Thanks,great course! Clean bathrooms,great hospitality,top notch! Till we meet again!
hey guys! what a great weekend!
for anyone who’d like to see some additional photos:
saturday
sunday
Amina, WOW, you’ve got some great photos on those pages. Artistic flair! I’ll be sure to draw attention to those when I do a blog summary of all the TKO media coverage. Thanks a ton!
thanks griff!
i can’t believe how much fun i had. it was really nice being disconnected from the world without cell or internet access, being covered in dirt, and experiencing something completely new!
can’t wait for next time!
From Mike Tosch, Kenda Tire: