Announcements, Rider info

More Racing and More Classes for 2026 Red Bull Tennessee Knockout; Exciting updates for 16th Annual Red Bull TKO

The Red Bull Tennessee Knockout is one of the premier off-road motorcycle events and has helped popularize Hard Enduro motorcycle racing in the US. 2026 marks the sixteenth running of the event that reaches its 500-rider capacity each year and includes first-timers up to the world’s best Hard Enduro racers like Mani Lettenbichler, Trystan Hart, Billy Bolt, and Cody Webb. This year will include several exciting updates to the format to provide more racing time and some additional classes.

The 2026 TKO will include more race time for most riders. Amateur riders will have a Friday qualifier, Saturday morning Knockout race 1 and the top 250 riders will earn a spot in the Saturday afternoon Knockout race 2.

All amateur class riders will have a Friday Hot Lap with separate sessions by class level to set starting positions for Saturday morning’s TKO Race 1. Unlike recent years, all amateur riders will compete in TKO Race 1 and the top 250 riders who complete the course within the 2.5-hour time limit will move on to TKO Race 2 on Saturday afternoon. This means more track time for the top riders. Like past years, the top 30 riders in TKO Race 2 will move on to race with the pro class riders starting with the Hot-Laps that wrap up the Saturday racing. Those final Saturday Hot-Laps and Sunday races will include the Pro eMoto, Pro Four-Stroke, and Pro Two-Stroke class riders competing for class and overall glory while the top amateur riders try to make their mark against the world’s top Hard Enduro racers.

The Sunday racing will include two Knockout races plus a multi-lap main event with the top 20 riders. The main event will be extended from 35 minutes to a 45-minute-plus-one-lap format. Counting all four rounds, the top riders will race for about three hours. The extra ten minutes for the main event will allow more time for the riders to battle for the top positions and the $12,000 purse. TKO is also the final race of the AMA National Hard Enduro Championship, so riders will be chasing championships in several classes.

Cody Webb is a six time TKO winner and will be back shooting for win number seven.

Classes for all levels, including new Peewee and Junior Kids Classes

TKO includes all 23 AMA National Hard Enduro Championship classes. That includes two eMoto classes for electric motorcycles, and there will be electric motorcycle demo rides to add to the fun weekend for racers and spectators.

The top 30 amateur riders earn a shot at racing against the top Hard Enduro racers in the world. Sign up now to lock in your custom Red Bull TKO number plate.

Another exciting addition to the 2026 TKO is five Peewee and Junior classes for kids aged four to fifteen. Those classes will have their own dedicated course and races on Friday morning before the amateur Hot-Laps. These classes are available for entry at the link below.

Sign up now to secure your 2026 TKO spot and your custom Red Bull TKO Number Decal. You must enter by July 15th and request your number from the AMA National Hard Enduro Championship organizers to ensure time to get your custom number decal with your name included.

2026 TKO entries are now open: Register for the 2026 TKO.

Check out the schedule and other details HERE.

Bike transportation to TKO from California

Interested in racing Red Bull Tennessee Knockout this August, but struggling on how to get your race bike there? Justin Leineweber, the producer of the King Of The Motos, is fielding interest from west coast racers who are looking to get bikes shipped back east to race the final AMA National Hard Enduro round on August 28-30. Justin and the @getdirtydirtbikes team are considering making the haul from California.

If you are interested, please contact Jusin Leineweber komjustin@kingofthehammers.com.

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2026 Red Bull Tennessee Knockout Date Change: Friday, August 28 to Sunday, August 30, 2026

Due to a conflict with the FIM Hard Enduro Championship, the 2026 Red Bull Tennessee Knockout (TKO) has been changed to Friday, August 28, to Sunday, August 30, 2026.

This change allows some of the world’s top Hard Enduro racers to participate in the TKO. In fact, Red Bull KTM’s Mani Lettenbichler and Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt are planning to be back to compete against the top North American Hard Enduro racers.

“After confirming the dates for the sixteenth annual TKO last year, we were surprised that the FIM Hard Enduro Championship scheduled a new event on the same date,” Eric Peronnard, the co-producer of the TKO said. “With our team of partners, we worked to modify our schedule to allow the best riders in the world to attend the TKO to the delight of American fans. The Red Bull Tennessee Knockout is one of the pioneers of Hard Enduro in America and we are proud to host the final round of the AMA National Hard Enduro Championship series which is thriving. Sincere apologies to the people that made plans around our original dates and big thanks to Red Bull, KTM, Husqvarna and our other partners for their support.”

TKO is the premier US Hard Enduro event and sells out the 500 amateur entries available each year. The format allows for different levels of riders to enjoy a challenging course that ramps up in difficulty throughout multiple rounds of racing. This allows less experienced riders to develop their skills and watch the best Hard Enduro riders in the world in the later rounds of racing.

2026 TKO entries are now open: CLICK HERE TO ENTER.

The 2026 TKO action will start on Friday with the amateur Hot Laps setting the Saturday starting positions. Saturday will include two rounds of amateur racing that will allow up to thirty riders to earn the opportunity to race in the Sunday pro competition. The pro riders will kick off their weekend with a Hot Lap on Saturday afternoon. Sunday will include three rounds of pro class racing that concludes with a multi-lap main event that is spectacular for the fans.

TKO will include all the AMA US Hard Enduro Championship classes. That includes two eMoto classes for electric motorcycles and there will be electric motorcycle demo rides to add to the fun weekend for racers and spectators.

Germany’s Mani Lettenbichler won the 2025 TKO over Canada’s Trystan Hart and the UK’s Billy Bolt. This was Lettenbichler’s third TKO win, matching Hart with three total wins. Cody Webb is the all-time TKO win leader with six. Don’t miss the 2026 TKO!

The Red Bull Tennessee Knockout Extreme Enduro