Quote:
Originally Posted by VxZeroKnots
Yeah, hard enduro is just getting started in the US, this event is only in it's second year. Also it's a sprint race, closer to what they have in Europe than the endurance races like The Roof etc...
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Yes, and this event was even missing several bigger name americans that are pretty capable in hard enduro including Max Gerston, Kyle Redmond, Taylor Robert, Colton Haaker, Ben Kelley & Noah Kepple.
For most Americans, to keep factory level support, they have to favor chasing championships like endurocross, hare scrambles, WORCS, H&H, GNCC etc. So when there are scheduling conflicts (or money/time is tight) guys generally pass on the hard enduros unfortunately. Hopefully as these events get bigger and get more press there will be greater incentive for these guys, and maybe some more Europeans, to show up and battle it out.
And with all due respect to Mitch, he is a phenomenal rider (he's a regular fixture at many local AZ off road races), but he's a notch behind the bigger names in US hard enduro (all of which are a few notches behind Cody Webb and the elite Europeans). The roof was his first ride on the sherco and he had some issues. He also did Erzburg this year and was only about 2 minutes from completing the course in the allotted 4 hours. I think that left him 26th overall if that gives an idea where he stacks up with the worlds best riders.