THE WEEKLY FEED: OFF-ROAD MUSICAL CHAIRS • TECATE ENDURO • TAYLOR ROBERT BACK IN THE DAY

BLAST FROM THE PAST: TAYLOR ROBERT

Back in 2012 Team Monster Kawasaki’s Taylor Robert was on a roll. He’d won the WORCS Off-Road Championship and was Top American at the ISDE. Then the curtains shut when Kawasaki nixed the Off-Road team. Taylor signed with KTM in 2013, would compete in their Baja effort and the EnduroCross series, two formats completely opposite of the closed course WORCS events. In spite of several near catastrophic injuries, Taylor has always rebounded and rates as one of America’s most versatile and accomplished off-road racers with several championships that mate to big wins in Sprint, WORCS, National Hare and Hound events and of course huge ISDE highlights

OFF-ROAD MUSICAL CHAIRS

COASTAL GASGAS FACTORY RACING TEAM: THAD DUVALL JOINS RYDER LAFFERTY FOR 2023 SEASON

Thad Duvall “I already feel a part of the Coastal Racing family and believe this will be my best year with the best people backing me. I grew up riding/racing with Barry in the early years of my pro career and excited to learn from one of the best in off-road history.”

2023 Coastal GASGAS Factory Racing team lineup for U.S. offroad action! Led by Team Manager Barry Hawk, the GASGAS USA-supported program returns for its third season with two riders competing on the east coast. Hawk, a former GNCC Champion, was thrilled to announce the addition of multi-time race-winner Thad DuVall to the squad, to join up-and-comer Ryder Lafferty, returning for his second year with the team.

Duvall will focus on GNCC’s XC1 Open Pro Championship in 2023, as well as the U.S. Sprint Enduro series, racing aboard the EX 350F. The West Virginia native is no stranger to the premier class podium, and he definitely embodies the GASGAS way of fun!

Ryder Lafferty: Since finishing 2nd in the GNCC series in the XC2 250 Pro class and 3rd in the National Enduro series in 2022 my goals for 2023 are to contest for those championships again. This year I’ll be working with Kailub Russell and Jacob Fetty. I think that with their guidance and knowledge I’ll be able to improve and accomplish my goals in 2023.”

Racing aboard the EX 250F, Lafferty will look to build on his successful year in GNCC’s XC2 250 Pro Championship this season, where he finished runner-up in 2022. Also, a third-place finisher in the National Enduro Pro 1 division last season, Ryder is hungry for more and he expects to contend for the top spot aboard the EX 350F in 2023.

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Josh Toth

Enduro Engineering GasGas Off-Road team welcomes Josh Toth for the 2023 season. Josh comes to the team with an impressive resume including GNCC XC2 Championship, US Sprint Enduro Championship, AMA National Enduro race wins, and multiple other race wins. Josh will be competing in a full AMA National Enduro Schedule as well as select events nationally including motocross, sprint enduro, GNCC, hillclimb, hard enduro, flat track and more! Josh will be racing multiple different GasGas Motorcycles both 2 Stroke and 4 Stroke. Josh will also be racing in the Mountain Bike world as well. Josh will be racing in select MTB Downhill and MTB Enduro events as well showcasing the Enduro Engineering MTB products.

Mackenzie Tricker

Mackenzie Tricker comes to the Enduro Engineering GasGas Off-Road Team and boasts an impressive resume throughout her pro career. Starting out in motocross winning multiple Loretta Lynns championships before moving to off-road. Mackenzie has been able to rack up multiple GNCC WXC wins, multiple AMA National Enduro Women’s Elite wins, multiple Sprint Enduro and other off-road wins as well. Most impressive is Mackenzies 4 consecutive AMA National Enduro Women’s Elite Championships from 2019-2022. Mackenzie will be looking to make it 5 in a row come 2023 as well as racing in Sprint Enduros and other select events.

TECATE ENDURO

This was the 61st running of the Tecate Enduro put on by the infamous Los Ancianos (The Ancient Ones) Motorcycle club. It was just under 100-miles, painted with freshly cut in single track for the 300 riders who got an entry into the prestigious event. Here’s a recap from the club:

All photos by Scott Penwarden

2022 Tecate Enduro key points

•Though the conditions were dry, there was some moisture under the surface. Also, because the weather was cool, it made for perfect riding temperatures.

•The start and finish was at Rancho Santa Veronica east of Tecate, Mexico.

•The race had three loops with total mileage of more than 95 miles with short breaks in between.

Slammed onto an early row, Anson Maloney (22-Overall winner) shares space with Arturo Salas (23), Kyle Williams (21) and Dustin McCarthy (24)

•They got some new Pro riders this year. Anson Maloney was clearly the fastest rider. He had it tough because being out front, he had to navigate new trail without a lot of tracks to follow. Congratulations to him.

•Anthony Ferrante is definitely a rider to watch for in the future. He is young and very fast. 2^nd OA

Mojo Motosports Anthony Ferrante finished second overall.

•It was great to see Ivan Ramirez ride again. He passed four pros on the third loop to get into third position OA.

•Ashley Gage simply dominated the Women’s class. She has a smooth and controlled riding style that makes her go very fast. She beat many of the very fast men.

Ivan Ramierz returned to racing after a 6-year hiatus where he battled Lyme disease. The former National Hare and Hound champion finished a very inspired 3rd overall.

•Larry Roeseler, multi time Tecate Enduro winner and legend in many respects, bested the Master Class with a very fast and consistent ride. He said two loops was plenty as he enjoyed his tacos and a beer after the race.

•Grant Palenske finished his 35th year of entering our event.