Test of man and machine
EXTREME ENDURO OFFROAD RACE CHALLENGES RIDERS IN TENNESSEE’S OUTBACK
This weekend, some of the world’s top offroad motorcycle riders are converging on a tiny town in Marion County for a brutal race in Tennessee’s outback.
The seventh annual Kenda Tennessee Knockout Extreme Enduro, more commonly known as the TKO, is being held in Sequatchie, Tenn., on Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 12-13.
The event features a “Knockout” format. Riders race for the fastest time on a course that is challenging not only for its natural obstacles but also its August heat and humidity. It’s a test of man and machine.
In the first race at 9 a.m., 280 riders will compete. Half of them will be eliminated, or knocked out, according to fastest race times. The remaining 140 race again at 1 p.m. The 15 fastest will advance to Sunday’s finals.
The 23-mile course is outlined in yellow tape across wooded hills around Sequatchie. Riders wind their way between trees, up earthen hills sharp with rock outcroppings, following dirt paths littered with rocks, roots, boulders and fallen logs.
“Our course is very spectator-friendly,” says Charles Roberts at the Trials Training Center. “At a lot of races through the woods, spectators see the riders going out and coming back in and that’s all. With this race, you can see riders four, five or six places on the track.”
DirtBikes.com recently polled some of the top off-road racers to determine the Top 10 Extreme Enduros in the World.
The only American race to make that cut was the Kenda Tennessee Knockout, which came in fourth.
Sunday’s Pro class is drawing riders from eight or nine countries, including Graham Jarvis from England and Wade Young from South Africa.
Young rode his Sherco to an impressive second-place finish in the 2016 Kenda Tennessee Knockout despite having to stop to replace a broken clutch lever during the main event.
Quinn Wentzel, 23, a Pro Mototrials rider, Pro Extreme Enduro rider and Pro Enduro Cross rider from Canfield, Ohio, has confirmed he’s riding this weekend.
Cody Webb of California, four-time TKO champion, will be back to defend his title.
Roberts says Sunday’s winner of the finals receives $3,000. In all, $10,000 in cash prizes will be awarded.
Roberts expects as many as 3,000 spectators if the weather is good, “and even if it rains we’ll still have about 1,500,” he says.
“This is a family-friendly event. People can bring their coolers, and we’ll have concessions for sale on-site,” he says.
Sunday’s Pro class is drawing riders from eight or nine countries, including Graham Jarvis from England and Wade Young from South Africa; $10,000 in cash prizes will be awarded.