See this 4-page PDF of the 2012 TKO Rules and Schedule.
It’s subject to change, of course.
All posts by Griff Wigley
A new dedicated blog site for the 2012 Kenda Tennessee Knockout Extreme Enduro
In preparation for the 2012 Kenda Tennessee Knockout Extreme Enduro (TKO) on Labor Day Weekend, I’m in the process of creating a whole new website for the event.
As you can see below, I’ve imported all the 2011 TKO blog posts from the Trials Training Center blog. Lots more work to do, so stay tuned.
2012 Kenda Tennessee Knockout Extreme Enduro schedule confirmed
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:
Sequatchie, TN (December 13, 2011) – The first ever KENDA Tennessee Knockout, fueled by Monster Energy took place last summer to rave reviews from riders and fans. So the team at the Trials Training Center is excited to confirm that the event will be back for 2012 on September 1st and 2nd during the Labor Day holiday weekend. If you want to compete in or see a true “American Extreme Enduro”, mark your calendar now. Mike Brown, the 2011 winner stated that the multi round 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”.
The top off-road racers from around the world will be invited to compete and amateur riders can race on Saturday with the top finishers earning the opportunity to move on to the Sunday Expert Knockout rounds. On Sunday, the riders will compete in a very tough and spectator friendly four round format.
Kenda Tennessee Knockout Extreme Enduro featured in January Dirt Rider magazine
The January 2012 issue of Dirt Rider magazine has a feature on the inaugural Kenda Tennessee Knockout Extreme Enduro held this past August here at the TTC. (See a pattern here?) Sean Finley at Digital Throttle put this PDF together to give you a glimpse. Here’s an excerpt:
Given the worldwide popularity of hard enduro, the Kenda Tennessee Knockout Extreme Enduro was proof that with the right organization, a good format, a difficult course and support from the top riders such an event can successfully be held on American soil. The rocky terrain surrounding the Trials Training Center was on par with the difficulty level of most hard enduros, and almost as soon as the event was over, the riders, teams and spectators were buzzing about a future edition of the race.
The article is available via a print or digital subscription to Dirt Rider magazine here.
Kenda Tennessee Knockout Extreme Enduro featured in Dec. Dirt Bike magazine
The December 2011 issue of Dirt Bike magazine has 3 pages devoted to the inaugural Kenda Tennessee Knockout Extreme Enduro held this past August here at the TTC. Sean Finley at Digital Throttle put this PDF together to give you a glimpse. Excerpt:
When you think about extreme enduros and nasty off-road racing, Europe usually comes to mind. Here in the United States we’ve seen events like Last Man Standing and some National Enduros get pretty brutal, but for years the U.S. extreme off-road race scene has been dead. The inaugural Kenda Tennessee Knockout Extreme Enduro (TKO) in Sequatchie, Tennessee, brought extreme off-road racing right here to the States. It was rocky, it was brutal and we hope it is here to stay.
The article is not available online but you can get it by subscribing to Dirt Bike magazine here.
TTC photo album: Kenda Tennessee Knockout Extreme Enduro
‘Bout time, eh? Yes, our album of Kenda Tennessee Knockout Extreme Enduro 2011 photos is finally up.
Some photos by the TTC’s Ashley Jackson, with others by Larry Mayo, used with persmission.
See the large slideshow of 31 photos (recommended) or SLOW CLICK this small slideshow:
Cycle News features the Tennessee Knockout Extreme Enduro
Last week’s Cycle News (Sept. 7 issue) featured the Tennessee Knockout Extreme Enduro (TKO) in a 6-page feature titled TKO for Brown (pages 102-107) with many photos. An excerpt:
Brown led every lap of the final. He blasted to the front right off the start and opened up a small lead. Knowing any small mistake could mean disaster Brown rode conservatively and chose his lines carefully every lap.
Webb, however, had nothing to lose and went after Brown. The Beta rider had fallen in the first turn and was hammering it around the course. His aggressive riding style carried him right up to Brown late in the race. But when he was within striking distance on the last lap, Webb tipped over, which was just enough to give Brown some breathing room and eventual win.
After nearly 40 minutes of racing, Brown was happy to see the checkered flag. “Was tougher than anything I have ever done,” Brown said. “At the halfway mark, I thought I would not be able to finish, but I was leading so I kept pushing.”
A stunning Tennessee Knockout Extreme Enduro video by the crew at DigitalOffroad.com
Rob Mitchell at DigitalOffroad.com emailed us this last week:
Hey There, I just wanted to send you a quick note and thank everyone for putting together such a great event in the Tennessee Knockout.
Here’s a video that we at digitaloffroad.com put together. I hope you enjoy!
Follow Rob’s link to see a large version of the video embedded in their TKO page. Or view it here/on Vimeo. It’s very well done and includes some slo-mo sequences that are amazing. Props to both Rob and Jared Bolton.
2011 Tennessee Knockout Extreme Enduro Edit from Rob Mitchell on Vimeo.
Media coverage of the TKO
We’re compiling a list of media coverage of the Kenda Tennessee Knockout Extreme Enduro. Here’s what we have so far:
Cycle News
- Brown Tops Tennessee Knockout Extreme Enduro
- Tennessee Knockout to Brown
- Sept. 7 Feature article: TKO for Brown
Dirt Rider
Some excerpts from the Dirt Rider article:
The weather was expectedly hot and sticky, and the brutally rocky terrain and dust made for a tricky course in and around the surrounding canyons and hills of the TTC. The format for the race was creative, with both a long loop and a shorter course being utilized to pre-select a field of amateur racers and narrow down the stacked field to 25, and then finally ten, top racers. Prizes were also awesome like best cycling shoes and watches.
…
After multiple rounds of qualifiers, the TKO main event took place on the unbelievably difficult short course, which was approximately five minutes in length.
…
With ten laps of racing for the victory, the final was extremely hot, brutal and according to Brown “way tougher than an outdoor motocross national.”
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Overall, the first-ever TKO was a huge success, and the buzz has already started about next year’s event
Other publications ran the press release of the results, including Trials and Enduro News, Dirt Bike, and Digital Offroad.
If you know of other coverage, let us know!
TKO video
Here are four Tennessee Knockout Extreme Enduro videos that we’re aware of. If you know of more, let us know!
1. Garry Griffith, Griffith Cycle
2. kxdad31
3. bamadude1331
4. Jaymc1972
TKO photos
We’re still working on sorting through our large batch of Tennessee Knockout Extreme Enduro photos. In the meantime, here are some photos by Larry Mayo and Amina Moreau that we think you’ll enjoy (click thumbnails for a larger view):
1. Larry Mayo sent us these three photos of TKO winner Mike Brown:
See hundreds more of Larry’s TKO photos here.
2. Amina Moreau has two posts on her Stillmotion blog with many TKO photos, including this one of ‘wild wally’ crashing:
Mike Brown wins inaugural Kenda Tennessee Knockout Extreme Enduro; Tennessee native outlasts a tough field of riders
We got this guide 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.
