All posts by Sean Finley

Pro riders

Gerston, Ashburn & Teasdale confirmed; Beta bringing two Americans and a South African to take on 2018 TKO

Beta USA (@betausa) will have two of their American factory riders, Max Gerston (@maxgerston) and Jordan Ashburn (@jashburn7) on hand for the 2018 Kenda Tennessee Knockout and will also host South African, Travis Teasdale (@travisteasdale69). The eighth annual TKO will take place at the Trials Training Center, in Sequatchie, Tennessee on the weekend of August 18-19.

Max Gerston had a solid fourth-place finish at the 2017 TKO and wants to make the podium bad in 2018

Gerston is the defending AMA West Hare Scramble Champion and veteran top EnduroCross racer that won the Junior championship as he came up through the ranks. The Arizona native has the skills to compete at the front of the pack in just about any type of off-road motorcycle competition and will be a threat for a podium at the TKO. He just missed the podium with a fourth-place finish in 2017.

Jordan Ashburn will give the Tennessee fans someone to cheer for as he tries to put his Beta on the podium

Ashburn is a Tennessee native that is very familiar with the local terrain found at the Trials Training Center and was very impressive at the 2017 TKO, his first on the factory Beta. He overcame some challenges at the end of the race to finish a strong fifth. Ashburn’s primary focus is the GNCC and Full Gas Sprint Enduro series but as he proved last year, he can do well at Extreme Enduro events as well.

South Africa’s Travis Teasdale will be competing in his first TKO but has years of experience competing around the world at the toughest events to apply to the TTC terrain. Photo: Future7Media

Teasdale, who is just twenty-one years old, is a regular on the World Extreme Enduro scene with several top finishes in many of the major events including a sixth-place finish at the 2018 Erzberg Rodeo. This will be his first time racing the TKO and he can be expected to be among the elite group challenging for the podium.

Look for more top riders to be confirmed in the coming weeks.

Pro riders

Wade Young & Mario Roman confirmed for 2018 TKO; Sherco factory riders are among the world’s best Extreme Enduro racers

Sherco has confirmed that both Wade Young (@wadeyoung55) and Mario Roman (@marioroman74)  will be competing at the 2018 Kenda Tennessee Knockout on August 19th. Both riders are past podium finishers at the TKO and will be a serious threat to take the win.

Wade Young just took the win at the 2018 Red Bull Romaniacs so he has momentum coming into the TKO

Young just won the 2018 Red Bull Romaniacs event, arguably one of the toughest Extreme Enduro events in the world. The South African, who is still just twenty-two years old, has previously won the Hells Gate Enduro in Italy and has won the tough multi-day Roof of Africa in his home country two times. Young finished second to Cody Webb at the 2016 TKO and will be gunning for the top step this time around.

Spain’s Mario Roman made the podium at the 2017 TKO and like Young, he learned a lot about the terrain and format that should help in 2018.

Roman transitioned from traditional Enduro to Extreme Enduro racing a few years ago and already has a few major wins to his credit including Ales’Trem and Hells Gate. The Spanish rider made a last-minute decision to compete at the TKO last year and joined Cody Webb and Graham Jarvis on the podium with a third-place finish. He too will be back looking to apply what he learned last year to earn the win.

Look for more top riders to be confirmed in the coming weeks.

Announcements

AOMC Partners with TKO, Provides Increased Purse for Women’s Class; $2,000 purse for the top three ladies

The Appalachian Offroad Motorcycle Company (@aomcmx) is one of the premier motorcycle dealerships and parts/accessories/gear suppliers in the country.

The West Virginia based company has partnered with the Kenda Tennessee Knockout to provide an increased purse for the Women’s class for 2018. The women will be aiming for an AMA Grand Championship #1 plate and a $2,000 purse. The winner will take home $1,000. The top three finishers will also earn the opportunity to compete in Sunday’s pro class.

Rachel Gutish at the 2015 TKO

Indiana’s Rachel Gutish (@rachel_gutfish) won the women’s class in 2015 and 2016 and California’s Morgan Tanke (@mtanke31) took the number one plate in 2017. A lot more women have already signed up for 2018 so it should be an exciting event. The women will compete in a Saturday morning qualification round and then their main event will take place on the short course on Saturday afternoon.

“We are really excited about getting involved with the Tennessee Knockout,” said Jamin Jones, the AOMC CEO. “We have heard a lot of great feedback about the TKO from our customers and feel that it is a great event to help grow the interest in Extreme Offroad racing in the US.”

The eighth annual Tennessee Knockout (TKO) will take place on the weekend of August 18-19 with the amateur riders chasing the AMA Grand Championship on Saturday and the pro riders competing on Sunday. The TKO has become one of the premier off-road events in the United States, attracting the top US and international riders. The 2017 TKO podium included American Cody Webb, the UK’s Graham Jarvis and Spain’s Mario Roman.

Sponsors

Kenda Extends Title Sponsorship of Tennessee Knockout; Eighth annual TKO scheduled for August 18-19

Kenda Tires has been the title sponsor of the Tennessee Knockout since the first event in 2011 and has recently extended that partnership for another three years. The Kenda Tennessee Knockout, also known as the TKO, has become one of the premier off-road motorcycle events in the US, attracting the top American and International Extreme Enduro racers. The 2017 podium featured American Cody Webb, the UK’s Graham Jarvis and Spain’s Mario Roman.

“The Tennessee Knockout has been a great partnership for Kenda,” stated Brian Darst, the Powersports Events manager for American Kenda. “Kenda has worked hard to develop some of the best tires available for extreme off-road riding and racing and we were thrilled to be the most popular tire brand chosen by the racers at the 2017 TKO.”

You can learn more about Kenda motorcycle tires here.

The TKO, hosted at the Trials Training Center in Sequatchie, Tennessee, is a two-day event with the top riders pre-qualified into the Sunday racing. Those riders earn an invite based on top results in several major US or International off-road motorcycle series and events. Top-25 finishers from the prior year also earn a spot on the Sunday invite list. On Saturday, those riders that did not already earn an invite can challenge themselves on the course with the top finishers earning their own invite to the Sunday Knockout rounds. And new for 2018, Saturday will serve as the AMA Amateur Grand Championship for Extreme Enduro.

The Sunday racing uses a unique four round Knockout race format that is challenging for the riders and entertaining for the fans. The course layout provides a lot of great spectator locations with some unbelievably challenging terrain for all four Knockout rounds. Mark your calendar for the weekend of August 18-19 to see the worlds best racers face off against the track and each other.

Pro riders

Pre-Qualified Riders for 2018 KENDA Tennessee Knockout; Top riders from major off-road events earn free entry to Sunday Knockout Rounds

The 2017 Kenda Tennessee Knockout podium included American Cody Webb, the UK’s Graham Jarvis and Spain’s Mario Roman. Who will take the podium in 2018?

The eighth annual KENDA AMA Tennessee Knockout, presented by Moose Racing and SRT will take place on August 18 – 19, 2018 at the Trials Training Center. The TKO has attracted some of the top off-road racers from around the world making it one of the premier off-road motorcycle races in the US. American Cody Webb has dominated the race despite tough competition from the likes of Graham Jarvis, Mario Ramon, Wade Young and Jonny Walker in recent years.

Webb will be back on his FMF KTM Factory Racing machine ready to take on all challengers again in 2018. We are not sure yet which of top international riders will be back to try to knock off Webb but they have all been extended an invitation along with the top US off-road racers. They will again be gunning for a $10,000 purse.

The KENDA AMA Tennessee Knockout uses a unique four-round Knockout race format that is challenging for the riders and entertaining for the fans. The amazing Trials Training Center, in Sequatchie, Tennessee, allows for easy access to the race action.

The top five finishers at the previous TKO events have included riders from EnduroCross, World Extreme Enduro, Trials, National Enduro, GNCC, WORCS and even the Enduro World Championship. So, it is a great mix of backgrounds facing off on an extremely challenging course with a large purse on the line.

Pre-qualified riders get a free entry into the Sunday program. These riders earn an invite based top results in several major US or International off-road motorcycle race events. Top-25 finishers from the prior year also earn a spot on the Sunday invite list. On Saturday, those riders that did not already earn an invite can challenge themselves on the course with the top finishers earning their own invite to the Sunday Knockout rounds. And new for 2018, Saturday will serve as the AMA Amateur Grand Championship for Extreme Enduro.

The following riders have earned invites directly into the Sunday competition for the 2018 KENDA AMA Tennessee Knockout:

Continue reading Pre-Qualified Riders for 2018 KENDA Tennessee Knockout; Top riders from major off-road events earn free entry to Sunday Knockout Rounds →

Announcements, Registration

2018 Kenda Tennessee Knockout Extreme Enduro schedule confirmed; Amateur registration opens November 30

The Trials Training Center in Sequatchie, Tennessee will host the eighth annual Kenda Tennessee Knockout on the weekend of August 18-19, 2018. The TKO is recognized as one of the premier off-road motorcycle races in the United States, attracting some of the best racers from around the world.

Cody Webb, arguably the best American Extreme Enduro racer, has been challenged by many of the best US and international riders and has still managed to take the TKO title five years in a row.

Cody Webb has taken on stiff competition and still managed to win five straight Kenda Tennessee Knockout events. He will be back to go for his sixth straight win in 2018. Photo: Adam Booth

In 2017, the UK’s Graham Jarvis challenged Webb but had to settle for second.

Graham Jarvis, the most successful Extreme off-road racer in the world, took on the TKO in 2017 and put up a good fight but ultimately finished second to Webb. Photo: Adam Booth

In 2016, South Africa’s Wade Young put up a good fight but he too finished second behind Webb. In 2015, it was the UK’s Jonny Walker that pushed Webb extremely hard but ultimately followed Webb to the finish. Spain’s Mario Roman, and top American’s like Taylor Robert and Kyle Redmond had joined Webb on the podium but have not been able to take him down.

Webb will be back on his FMF KTM aiming for his sixth straight TKO win in 2018. Any rider that finished in the top 25 on Sunday at the 2017 TKO will be qualified directly into the 2018 TKO Sunday program. In addition, the top off-road riders from other major US and International racing series and events will be invited directly into the Sunday program.

The Sunday format will again feature a multi-round Knockout format that is challenging for the riders and very spectator friendly. The expert riders will be competing for a $10,000 purse.

Saturday will be open to the first 250 amateur entries. The top 30 finishers from Saturday will earn a spot in Sunday’s expert program.

Amateur registration opens at 6:00 pm CST on Thursday, November 30, 2017. There are just 250 spots available and entries sold out in just a couple of hours for the 2017 event so please plan to get your entry in as soon as it opens. The registration link will be available here on the TKO website.

Media coverage, Video

Red Bull Moto Spy follows Cody Webb at 2017 Tennessee Knockout

The Red Bull Moto Spy crew followed Cody Webb at the 2017 Kenda Tennessee Knockout as he was aiming for his fifth straight TKO win. The FMF KTM Factory Racing rider had to fend off the UK’s Graham Jarvis, the most successful Extreme Enduro racer in the world while competing on some of the most difficult terrain imaginable.

Nearly three hundred riders competed at the seventh annual Kenda Tennessee Knockout and this feature highlights the second and final day of competition when the field was already down to 58 riders.

The article:

Go Inside America’s Toughest Enduro With Cody Webb

The video:

Pro riders, Video

2017 Kenda Tennessee Knockout Video Highlights

Cody Webb earned his fifth straight Kenda Tennessee Knockout win despite heavy presure from Graham Jarvis. Photo: Adam Booth

The seventh annual Kenda Tennessee Knockout was the best one yet. American Cody Webb took his fifth straight TKO win despite heavy pressure from the UK’s Graham Jarvis and Spain’s Mario Roman.

2017 Kenda Tennessee Knockout Video Highlights, presented by Moose Racing and SRT Offroad:

2017 Kenda Tennessee, Knockout Main Event Results:

  1. Cody Webb, KTM
  2. Graham Jarvis, Husqvarna
  3. Mario Roman, Sherco
  4. Max Gerston, Beta
  5. Jordan Ashburn, Beta
  6. Cory Graffunder, Husqvarna
  7. Ben Kelly, KTM
  8. Mitch Carvolth, KTM
  9. Quinn Wentzel, Husqvarna
  10. Grayson Goncalves, Husqvarna
  11. Kealoha Estrella, KTM
  12. Josh Rooken-Smith, KTM
  13. Noah Kepple, GasGas
  14. George Kowalski, KTM
  15. Chris Satterfield, Husqvarna