The penultimate round of the 2023 AMA IRC Tire EnduroCross Series presented by Progressive returned to Redmond, Oregon, on November 11 for KLIM motorcycle athletes and ambassadors to find some season-best finishes. 

In the EX Pro class, US Hard Enduro Media Specialist, Max Gerston, finished 10-7-7 for eighth overall and sits seventh in points heading into the final round. 

“The Oregon EnduroCross was challenging,” Gerston said Monday. “I squashed my thigh pretty good in a practice crash so it ended up being more of a ‘make it work’ type of night."

"My starts showed improvement," Gerston added. "I ripped a holeshot and led a few laps, which was one of my goals this year. The track was fairly fast paced, which made the race intensity very high. I had fun and I am excited to bring everything I have into the final round in Reno.”

Idaho rider Anthony Johnson rounded out the top 10 in EX Pro with a 9-9-11, along with a fifth in EX Expert. 

“The highlight for me was just being able to focus on speed and keeping up the intensity with all the fast guys,” Anthony said Monday. “I’m looking forward to putting a hard charge in for Reno hoping to finish with a 10th overall for the season.” 

Factory Beta’s Danny Lewis finished 12-13-13 for 13th in EX Pro, along with a third in EX Expert. 

“What an awesome weekend for me in Redmond,” Lewis said Monday. “For sure my best performance ever racing endurocross. The track was so fun and flowy! Ready to try to do it again in Reno.”

Anthony’s brother, Coleman Johnson, finished ninth in EX Expert.

“The track and obstacles were huge compared to the earlier rounds and it made for some good battles throughout the day,” Coleman said Monday. “A highlight for me was battling with my brother Anthony in a qualifier during the day even though it was only for a couple laps. In Reno I am looking forward to being able to battle with the racers in the expert class and give it one more push to qualify into the Pro class.”

Photos ©️ Jenny Keller Photography / @jennygkeller and @nickcgclark

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In later news, two Colorado-based KLIM motorcycle ambassadors, Rick Emerson and Jeremy Shoning, were among more than 340 competitors at the 97th International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) in San Juan, Argentina, where temperatures reached triple digits on Day 1 of the six-day race. 

Riding for the Elizabeth Scott Community Foundation USA Club Senior-class team, Emerson and Shoning tackled the brutal course, riding over seven hours and 100 kms every day, wearing a mixture of KLIM XC Lite and Mojave motorcycle pants and gloves, along with moisture-wicking KLIM Vented Socks and neck Tek Soks with active cooling properties.  

Donning the Viper Off-Road Goggle for maximum field of view, Emerson, a 10-year US Ski team veteran, said, “The first day was the gnarliest I’ve ever ridden in 114-degrees of 160 gnarly singletrack desert miles.”

For Shoning, KLIM’s XC Aqua Pak came in handy carrying spare tools and parts, along with an extra air filter, which was changed five to six times a day coming into special test sections after the blinding dust and long silt transfers. 

Factory Beta’s Zane Roberts showed up to witness his first-ever ISDE and signed up to help fellow countrymen and women at various checkpoints throughout the race week.

“I thought the event was pretty rad,” Roberts said. “I don’t think anyone was prepared for how gnarly those first couple days were going to be in the 100-degree heat. Not only were the riders a little underprepared but so were all of us that were helping at the checks and tests. Those first couple days were really about helping get these guys through safely as a lot of people were in pretty bad shape.”

Having Roberts on hand equipped with ice, water and electrolyte drinks helped racers like Emerson (pictured below) push through the long intense days.

"I thought Rick Emerson was incredible,” Roberts added. “He just kept chugging along and required the least amount of aid of just about anyone who came through our sections – half the time he wouldn’t even stop but would just wave at us and keep on going with his day. He also never showed up with a poor attitude, which those of us trying to help out really appreciated. He is a man of true grit.”

As for the best gear, Roberts agreed KLIM's XC Lite was the perfect gear for the terrain and conditions at this year’s ISDE – one of the most challenging in history. 

“Being on the motorcycle for 7-8 hours a day in 100 degree temps, the most light and breathable gear possible will be most advantageous, and XC Lite basically feels like you have nothing on, so I would absolutely recommend XC Lite for those long hot days," Roberts said, adding that an appearance at next year’s ISDE in Spain “is not unlikely.” 

 

“Being there in Argentina definitely got my competitive drive going,” he said. 

The Elizabeth Scott team finished 27th out of 77 club teams. 

Two Lozere Enduro Club teams of six French racers put KLIM XC Lite motorcycle gear to the test, finishing seventh and 12th, respectively. 

On Team 1 was Gabin Allemand, Noa Massardier and Adrien Robin, and on Team 2 was Kevin Maliges, Florian Poudevigne and Jeremy Morice.

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Up next: 

AMA EnduroCross - Round 6, Reno, Nevada, November 18

AMA West Hare Scrambles Regional Championship Series - Round 8, Wilseyville, California, November 17 & 18 

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Have a race report we missed? Email us at racers@klim.com! 

Ride hard, ride often, ride KLIM. #KLIMLife