Bredekamp Dominates Ohio Hard Enduro Debut

Results – Ohio Hard Enduro Championship Series Round 1

The Ohio Hard Enduro Championship Series officially launched in Sugar Grove, Ohio, with the inaugural round held at the COCR Motocross property. The seven-round series, held entirely within Ohio, was created to give riders a competitive proving ground closer to home while continuing to grow the sport at the grassroots level. Judging by the turnout and the action on course at Round 1, the demand for that kind of opportunity is already strong.

The race took place at the COCR Motocross property, a scenic 100-acre venue overlooking the Hocking River.

While the area had been hammered by torrential rains earlier in the week, strong winds in the days leading up to the event helped dry the terrain. By race morning, riders were greeted with freezing temperatures but clear skies, and a course that offered a mix of dry, loose soil with tacky woods sections and a handful of muddy pockets that kept riders on their toes.

Nearly 90 riders lined up for the morning amateur race on a roughly 4.5-mile loop that showcased the property’s elevation changes and technical terrain. The course wound through wooded singletrack, hillclimbs, and scenic overlooks before funneling riders into tighter obstacles that tested their balance and endurance.

From the start, one rider quickly established himself as the rider to beat.

Bentlee Bredekamp put on a dominant performance, quickly distancing himself from the rest of the field. His pace was so strong that race officials extended the amateur race from the scheduled three laps to four, giving the front-runners an extra lap to battle.

Even with the additional distance, Bredekamp continued to stretch his advantage, eventually taking the overall win with more than a 17-minute lead over second place.

“I felt good,” Bredekamp said after the race. “My cousin, Thad, got the holeshot and we were battling a little. I ended up passing him and just rode smooth from there.”

Bredekamp particularly enjoyed the balance of the course, which combined flowing singletrack with enough technical features to keep riders engaged.

“The course was pretty dry, but there were a few wet spots out there,” he said. “I loved the course—it was really fun and was probably the best course I’ve ridden. It wasn’t too hard, but it wasn’t too easy. It was nice and flowy and technical.”

New sections opened up on the second lap for the amateur riders, including the aptly named “Slip-n-Slide.” The short but steep hillclimb that quickly became a muddy bottleneck as riders funneled through the obstacle. The addition of the Amateur Hill climb and other technical elements added to the challenge as the race wore on.

Cory King finished second overall after returning from a wrist injury suffered at last year’s Hollow Point Hard Enduro. He credited his relentless training routine for helping him regain form.

“I’ve been riding almost every day,” King explained. “After the wrist break, I’ve been in the gym with the cast on doing squats, running—everything else—and once I got that cast off, I’ve been full-bore riding every day.”

The afternoon pro race featured 35 riders on an expanded five-mile course that added seven technical sections. The pro layout included a dramatic waterfall climb near the end of the lap along with a three-part endurocross section featuring massive logs, tires, and rock obstacles that tested precision.

Maverik Thaxton ultimately took the overall victory after rebounding from an early mistake in the opening lap.
“I felt good all day,” Thaxton said. “I pulled the holeshot and then early in the woods I got off balance and went down. A bunch of guys got by me.”

Early confusion with course splits shuffled the order slightly, but Thaxton soon found his rhythm and rode a smooth race to secure the win.

Behind him, Drew Fortner put together an impressive ride to finish second overall. Fortner hadn’t raced frequently in recent years, but the Ohio series provided the perfect opportunity to return to competition—and to settle a little family rivalry.

Two of Fortner’s brothers were also in the race, including Mark Fortner, a regular competitor in the National Hard Enduro series who finished in the top 25 last season. One of Drew’s primary goals heading into the event was simple: beat his brother.

“I’m pumped,” Fortner said. “I haven’t raced a lot in recent years… so I’m happy. I’ve been working on my endurance and my fitness; it’s paying off and things are clicking. And really, it’s about the bragging rights with my brothers, too.”

Fortner had to fight for that second-place finish, holding off challenges from veteran rider Nick Fahringer and Coran Calvert as the race wore on. By the final hillclimb, all three riders were feeling the fatigue.

“On the last hillclimb, both Nick and Coran were right behind me,” Fortner said. “That was a struggle—we were all tired at that point.”

Fahringer ultimately secured third place after a spirited ride. The Ohio native appreciated the laid-back atmosphere of the new series, noting that it provides a chance to race hard enduro without the pressure of the national circuit.

With strong turnout, competitive racing in both the amateur and pro ranks, and a course that showcased the terrain of southeastern Ohio, Round 1 set a promising tone for the inaugural Ohio Hard Enduro Championship Series. If the opening round is any indication, this new state championship could quickly become a key fixture in the Midwest hard enduro scene.

The Ohio Hard Enduro Championship Series continues with Round 2, the Black Rock Hard Enduro, scheduled for April 25 in Chesterhill, Ohio

Stay turned to the April issue of On the Pegs for a more in-depth look at this event!

Results: https://www.moto-tally.com/ohecs/Results.aspx

Amateur:

1. Bentlee Bredekamp (HSQ)
2. Cory King (SHR)
3. Bradley Carson (GG)
4. Thad Bredekamp (BET)
5. Luke Barto (KTM)
6. Dariel Torres (KTM)
7. Graham Kobak (SHR)
8. Cory Jones (KTM)
9. Aaron Miller (YAM)
10. Nathan Glynn (KTM)

Pro/A:

1. Maverik Thaxton (KTM)
2. Drew Fortner (BET)
3. Nick Fahringer (SHR)
4. Coran Calvert (HSQ)
5. Mark Fortner (BET)
6. Robert Cornwell (KTM)
7. Leiber Ponce (KTM)
8. Justin Remley (KTM)
9. Donnie Alborn (KTM)
10. Roberto Isales (KTM)