International Field of Riders Confirmed for 2017 TKO

Cody Webb (center), Wade Young (left) and Kyle Redmond enjoyed the podium in 2016. Who will earn the top spots for 2017? Photo: Future 7 Media

 

A large list of riders from around the globe have confirmed that they will participate in the 2017 Kenda Tennessee Knockout this weekend at the Trials Training Center in Sequatchie, Tennessee. American Cody Webb is the favorite but he will have to fend off the UK’s Graham Jarvis, the most successful Extreme Enduro racer in the world, who won the Red Bull Romaniacs for the sixth time. Spain’s Mario Roman finished second at the Red Bull Romaniacs and he too will likely be a threat to Webb’s TKO dominance.

Two of the top Japanese riders are also participating in the TKO, Hiroshi Takahashi and Taku Izumi have made the long trip from Japan to compete with the goal of qualifying for the fifteen-rider main event. And you can add Canada’s Cory Graffunder to the list of international riders that will likely challenge for the podium.

California’s Kyle Redmond finished on the TKO podium in 2016 so he should be a threat again on his SRT Offroad Husqvarna. Arizona’s Max Gerston will be a threat as well on his factory Beta. And if you are looking for the young surprises, Ben Kelly was a relatively unknown rider that raced the Saturday qualifiers last year and made it all the way to the pro main event and finished fourth. And GasGas backed Noah Kepple was a front runner last year before an obstacle took him out of a top finish. And all the way from Hawaii, Casey and Chris Satterfield will be looking to build on top 25 finishes last year. And the local Tennessee fans can cheer on Jordan Ashburn on another factory backed Beta.

Unfortunately, South Africa’s Wade Young had to withdraw from the TKO due to injury as did Rockstar Husqvarna’s Colton Haaker. But Haaker’s #10 bike will be ridden by Dirt Rider Magazine Associate Editor Andrew Oldar, who is a former top Trials competitor that knows the Trials Training Center terrain well.

Below are the riders confirmed for the Sunday program. They will be joined by the top 30 from the 250 riders competing on Saturday.

Cody Webb
Graham Jarvis
Kyle Redmond
Cory Graffunder
Max Gerston
Noah Kepple
Ben Kelly
Mario Roman
Quinn Wentzel
Mitch Carvolth
Nick Klapec
Wally Palmer
Nick Fahringer
Jordan Ashburn
Casey Satterfield
Chris Satterfield
Joan Pau Segura
Hiroshi Takahashi
Taku Izumi
JoJo Bowden
Drew Fortner
Andrew Oldar
Jobel Coronado
Hunter Neurwirth
Ronnie Commo
JoJo Toole
Josh Rooken-Smith
Chance Baker
Mark Heresco