Rachel Gutish finishes 2nd in Denver Endurocross and the National Enduro series in the same weekend!

EnduroX Round 2 Overview:

Location: Denver, CO

Beta Factory Race Team Results:

-Rachel Gutish had a great performance last weekend placing 2nd in the Women's Pro class and is currently tied for 2nd place in the series points standings.

-Max Gerston finished just shy of the Super Pro podium in 4th place and is currently seated in 4th place in the series points standings.

-Morgan Tanke raced in the Women's Pro class finishing just off the podium in 4th place while also finishing in 3rd place in the men's amateur class.

RACHEL GUTISH

Bike: 200 RR

"I am excited to have earned another podium finish in Enduro X. The track in Denver was fast and jumpy, which is one of my weaknesses. There was one jump that I was unable to fully clear, and I consistently lost time there each lap. Like last round, I somehow got tangled with another rider off the start, but this time I kept my composure keeping the bike and myself off the ground. On the second lap I was able to pass Maria in the corner right after the little log step-up. The 200 was a real advantage in the really short, tight corners given how light and maneuverable it is. That same lap I was able to pass Morgan in the matrix and moved into second. However, Shelby was already long gone by the time I made it into second. So I focused on trying to be smooth and ride clean, rather than potentially charging my way into a mistake. Hopefully I can get a better start at the next round and battle for the win!"

MAX GERSTON

Bike: 300 RR

"Denver Enduro X was awesome! The track was fast and not very technical which made for some insanely tight racing. My 300 RR ran clean and the team did a great job dialing it in with the change in altitude. I was able to card 4-6-3 moto scores for a 4th overall. That 6th in the middle moto was costly for my overall as I was one point away from putting it on the box. I know I can do it and look forward to Nampa in one week! Let's do it!"

MORGAN TANKE

Bike: XTrainer

"Since it was my first Enduro X race in over a year I decided to race the Men's Amateur class along with the Women's Pro class. The night started off well for me almost getting the holeshot and leading the amateur race, a few issues with lappers put me on the podium in 3rd racing with the guys. I got another great start in the women's race holding 2nd for a little bit charging for 1st. Unfortunately some mistakes got the best of me and I finished in 4th. I know what to work on for next weekend and am ready to redeem myself."

National Enduro Round 9 Overview:

Location: Sand Springs, OK

Beta Factory Race Team Results:

-Rachel Gutish finished in 2nd place on the Women's Elite class podium after traveling all night from the EnduroCross event, and is currently in 4th place in the series points standings.

-Mike Witkowski finished just off the NEPro1 podium in 4th place and is currently in 4th place in the series points standings.

RACHEL GUTISH

Bike: 200 RR

"Although my wonderful parents drove the van all night from the Enduro X to the NEPG so that I could attempt to get some rest, to say the least I was a little tired. We arrived about 20 minutes before key time, and according to my watch I clocked four hours of sleep. The first couple tests I felt like I was riding in a dream, and in our sixth and final test I definitely hit the wall. I did manage to get my act together in test five though, and won the test by eight seconds. However, eight seconds doesn't help much when you're already over a minute down (laughs). So, I ended up with a pair of second-place finishes this weekend, and all things considered I am proud of how I rode and happy with how things went!"

MIKE WITKOWSKI

Bike: 300 RR

"Once I started racing, I understood why the terrain was awesome! It was fast and flowy with sandy soil and really good terrain. I was having a complete blast and it showed in my results. I won the first test of the day and ended up second in the next test. After two tests of racing I was winning the overall. That was something I have yet to do at an Enduro! So to say the least, I checked some goals off my bucket list which was just winning a test. Let alone lead the race after two tests. I was competitive until the later stages of the race where the terrain changed to rock and I didn't feel as comfortable getting wild in the rocks, so I ended up with 4th overall for the day."

Photo by Diahann Tanke

2019 Beta model ride impressions!

Here's a quick rundown of each of the machines I tested at the 2019 Beta dealer meeting. The course was a 6-8 minute loop, pretty tight with the longest straight allowing 4th gear or so.

350RR-S

The first bike I rode was the 350RR-S, and in this setting it worked great. For those that don't know, the RR-S series is identical to the Race Edition machines except for front forks and Race Edition add-ons like the shift lever, brake pedal, billet aluminum goodies, seat, and graphics. The big difference obviously is the forks; Sachs open chamber on the RR-S and standard RR machines versus Sachs closed chamber on the Race Edition machines. Anyway, previously I'd ridden this machine in a more "wide open" setting and there the difference in low end and overall power compared to the 390 is obvious. In this tight setting though the 350 worked really well, the most "flickable" of the 4-strokes and plenty of power for the short straight we had on the loop.

390RR Race Edition

Next up was the 390RR Race Edition. I own a 390RR and absolutely love that motor, I've said many times it's like Mama Bears bed, just right! The 390 Race was excellent, Beta did a good job with the settings on the new closed chamber fork and I prefer the feel of it just a little compared to the open chamber version. Torquey down low and and a nice, linear power delivery are the highlights of the 390. Whether you're using the low end in a tight, technical section or revving it out on a straight, to me the 390 is the perfect 4-stroke off-road motor. I rode this machine later in the day as well and confirmed everything above.

200RR

The newest addition to the lineup was next, and had the longest line all day as everyone was excited to try this machine. I have to say it is really impressive! It feels a lot like a 300 in that you can lug it, it doesn't have as much power down low obviously but has a surprising amount of torque and if and when you need more a quick fan of the clutch gets it up into the meat of the power. Based on the 125RR platform it's obviously really light and agile, floating over obstacles and trail nasties unlike a 4-stroke. This makes it easy to ride as it won't tire you out, and the linear power delivery helps in this regard as well. This was also one of the few machines I rode twice throughout the course of the day as it was that good!

125RR Race Edition

Hopped on the 125RR Race next and I need to start out by saying it has been many, many years since I've ridden a 125 so I was a bit of a "fish out of water" on this machine. In the tight confines of our test loop I wasn't gelling with this machine, but it's through no fault of the bike. Again, light and agile are the highlights of this little ripper. While it has a lot less low end power compared to the 200, up top it runs strong with plenty of revs to carry a gear longer than you would expect on a 125.

300RR Race Edition

The 300 is the best seller, and for good reason. While not a "2-stroke guy" as I've ridden 4-strokes for almost 20 years I felt really good on this machine, and think it might have been my quickest lap on our little loop. It's a very progressive engine with a linear delivery that allows you a choice of a couple gears for most situations, and the handling is spot on for off road. This bike really made me reconsider being a "4-stroke guy" going forward. The closed chamber fork has had some critics over the years but it really feels good this year. After riding it I came to the conclusion that if you came to Beta from a motocrosser then you'll feel right at home with the Sachs closed cartridge forks. If you've been on other Enduro machines the open chamber forks might be more similar to what you're familiar with. Either can be made to work very, very well for a variety of terrain and speed levels but straight out of the box this seems like a good way to look at the difference. This is the other model I rode again later in the day to confirm my initial impression; truly an amazing machine.

300RR

I wanted to try the "standard" 300RR to get a "back-to-back" comparison and the difference is minor. To me the closed chamber fork feels a little more planted and controlled, but the settings on the 2019 open chamber fork are really good as well. Again, the difference isn't huge by any stretch and your criteria when choosing your new Beta might come down to terrain and speed level as mentioned previously. Either can work for any terrain and speed level, and with the option of the fairly new Beta Factory Suspension service allowing you to have your suspension set up for you, where, and how you ride, you can't go wrong with either.

430RR Race Edition

The 430 has a little more "bark" on the bottom than the 390, and riders coming from another brand of 450 might appreciate this aspect of the 430. In more open terrain this would help in lofting the front end over an unexpected trail nasty or torquing out of a deep corner. It does require a little more throttle control than the 350 or 390 in the tight stuff but nothing crazy.

250RR Race Edition

The 250 is an interesting counterpoint, to both the 200 and 300 models. It has a little bit more "hit" than either, kind of like a 250 MX bike from back in the day. It's identical to the 300 other than bore and stroke (similar to all of the 4-stroke engines) but through porting and ignition it does feel different. Falling between the 200 and 300 as far as low-end power as you'd expect but strong up top, I would describe this machine as having a steeper horsepower curve than the 300 with a bit of a bump in the midrange.

300 Evo Sport

I'd never ridden an Evo Sport (trials machine with long range tank and seat, as well as knobbies) so this was an interesting machine to me. Trials purists might not care for it but I can see it's appeal to a certain group of riders. On the trail you obviously couldn't "push the pace" like you can on an Enduro machine but I think it acquitted itself quite well on our short loop. You can actually sit down in a corner, although the ergonomics are completely different to an off-road bike. At a leisurely pace there's nothing it can't conquer, and the handling at this speed is just fine.

Some other highlights of the meeting were being recognized as a top 10 dealer, and let me say it again: A huge thanks to our great customers for getting us there, we really do appreciate each and every one of you that trusts us for your Beta needs! Hanging out with the race team is always good fun, and the team is really strong this year with both returning athletes who are really progressing and some new additions who should all feature on podiums in the 2019 race season! For 2019 Beta continues as the title sponsor of the AMA National Dual Sport series, great events that always have a huge turnout. Beta also announced the Beta Cup for the NEPG series. For you National Enduro riders, race a Beta 125 for a chance to win a 250RR at the end of the year! Finally, the Beta National Demo Tour continues, with 4 hugely successful events so far and 18 to 20 more coming soon.

TREMAINE AND TANKE FINISH THE 2018 ENDUROCROSS SERIES WITH TWO 3RD PLACE PODIUM FINISHES, CULLINS WINS JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP!

EnduroCross Round 6 Overview:

Location: Boise, Idaho

Beta Factory Race Team Results:

Ty Tremaine finished in 3rd place at round 6 in Boise, Idaho while ending the season in 3rd place.

Morgan Tanke placed 3rd at the event and finished the 2018 series in 3rd place.

Max Gerston had an 8th place finish at round 6 of EnduroCross, and finished in 12th place in the season points standings for the 2018 series.

Mason Ottersberg placed 11th at the event, while finishing in 9th place for the series points standings.

Beta USA Support Team

Ty Cullins had a 5th place finish at round 6 of EnduroCross and finished the season in 6th place in the Pro class. Cullins also won the Junior Pro Class Championship this season, which is a class for pro riders under the age of twenty one.

For more information about the EnduroCross series go to: www.endurocross.com

TY TREMAINE

Bike: Beta 300 RR Race Edition

"Coming into Boise, I was just thankful to be racing and healthy after the bad luck in Everett. Kyle Redmond had a one point advantage going into the race but I didn't even think about it. I knew what my goals were and I just raced my own race. I felt strong start to finish and managed to come away with a 3rd and couldn't be happier to put Beta on the podium. I'm happy with the year and excited for what the future will hold."

MAX GERSTON

Bike: Beta 390 RR Race Edition

"Coming into the Endurocross finale in Boise, I really wanted to have a strong showing. Still struggling with the finger injury I had a hard time in hot laps and stalled my bike. I qualified straight to the main and ended up 8th in the main. Issues on the first lap set me so far back it was hard to make up ground. I am very excited to refocus and get ready for 2019."

MASON OTTERSBERG

Bike: Beta 390 RR Race Edition

"I qualified 4th out of my heat race and finished 11th in the main event. My speed was there and this was for sure the best I have ridden, just was too far back off of the start of the main after we all came together in the firewood. I have had many ups and downs through the season, but I finished better in the championship this year with 9th over last years 13th. There is so much more of me to give in this sport and I will not stop until I've made it to the top. Doubt me or believe in me, it's going to happen."

MORGAN TANKE

Bike: Beta 250 RR Race Edition

"I felt a lot better going into the last round in Boise, my ankle still wasn't 100% but I was ready to give it my all. The track was really fun to ride and the firewood pit was very difficult to navigate. I started out in 3rd place and was hanging up front with the top 2 riders for most of the race. I was able to put in a smooth ride and get my Beta on the podium in 3rd. Breaking my ankle mid season was a big bump in the road, but I'm happy that I made progress each race and ended the year strong!"

TY CULLINS

Bike: Beta 300 RR Race Edition

"I had around 7th gate pick in the main event, but my starts have been good all year and I was able to pull the holeshot. However, after several mistakes on the first lap I was back in 9th place. From there I just tried to ride fast and consistent and was able to make my way to 5th, getting my third top 5 of the season and winning the Junior Championship. Coming into this year I was expecting to be top 10 and finishing the year one point short of 5th and winning the Junior Championship means I surpassed all my goals. I'm excited to get back to training and come back for podiums in 2019."

National Enduro Round 10 Overview:

Location: Stanton, Alabama

Beta Factory Race Team Results:

Mike Witkowski placed 9th in the Pro 1 class of the last NEPG event of the year. Witkowski ended the 2018 season in 11th place.

For more information about the National Enduro series go to: www.nationalenduro.com

MIKE WITKOWSKI

Bike: Beta 250 RR Race Edition

"The Gobbler Getter Enduro was one of the races I have never done before, and I have never raced in this state of Alabama. The soil is sandy and the trees are tight! The track conditions were near perfect. The tight trees and ever changing elevation caught me off guard. I was expecting this last National Enduro race to cap off a good end to the year since I did so well at the last GNCC event, but the race had other plans. It seemed like I couldn't get a good flow going, but talking with other riders, that seemed to be everyone's issue. On a good note, I finished the day stronger than where I started. My Beta 300 was perfect and very fun to race. I'm looking forward to working hard this winter and starting round 1 with a fresh start here in a couple months! Thanks Beta for all the support!"

Photo by Diahann Tanke

Announcing the 2019 Beta Cup!

Beta Motorcycles has teamed up with the NEPG to introduce the Beta Cup within the 2019 Kenda AMA National Enduro Series. Beta Motorcycles is going to have a contest for anyone that rides a 2018 or 2019 Beta 125RR in the 2019 season for the Grand Prize of a Brand New 2019 Beta 250RR.

The rules for the Beta 125RR Cup Class are simple. Ride an 18' or 19' Beta 125RR in any class that you qualify for on a 125cc motorcycle, and you will be automatically entered into the Beta Cup Class. When entering your events you will simply sign up for an existing class in the National Enduro Series. The rider that earns the most points in his or her NEPG class will win the Beta Cup along with a 2019 Beta 250RR. This will give any rider a chance, whether they are an A, B, C, or Womens Rider.

*NE PRO1, NE PRO2, Beta Factory Support Riders, Beta USA Employees, dealers, and family members are ineligible.

If you are interested in the event, or you want to know the complete rules and regulations click on this BETA CUP LINK.

Beta race team updates!

The 2018 EnduroCross season is in full swing (here in Reno this week!), and we also have GNCC and National Enduro series (NEPG) news.

EnduroCross Round 2 Overview:

Location: Costa Mesa, California

Beta Factory Race Team Results:

•Beta Chile rider Benjamin Herrera finished in 6th place during his second EnduroCross event ever at the stadium packed round 2! Herrera is currently in 8th place right behind Beta USA support rider Ty Cullins in the series standings.

•Morgan Tanke placed 3rd at round 2 and is currently in 3rd place for the series points standings.

•Mason Ottersberg Placed 15th at the event and is currently in 13th place in the series standings.

The next event for all three racers will be at the 3rd round of EnduroCross in Reno, Nevada on September 22nd. For more information on the EnduroCross series go to: https://www.endurocross.com/

BENJAMIN HERRERA

Beta Chile Factory Racer

Bike: Beta 300 RR Race Edition

"I am very happy with the result of the race, I was running up front with the speeds of first place which gives me even more confidence. I felt comfortable on the Beta 300RR Race Edition, and I can be even better because I know of all my mistakes and will correct them. The Beta USA team supported me a lot. We did the set-up of the bike very well in practice. I am very grateful for Rodney, Jason, Ryan, and Bryce for the support and help during the race! I loved the bike and the team! I can't wait to ride in the next round!"

MORGAN TANKE

Bike: Beta 250 RR Race Edition

"I was feeling really good coming into round 2. I really liked the track but unfortunately injured my ankle in practice. I was in a lot of pain before the main event but knew I needed to go out there and do my best. I was able to salvage a good result for the team out of a not so good day."

MASON OTTERSBERG

Beta 430RR Race Edition

"Going into round 2 I had a lot better mindset for the outcome of the night I wanted. I really felt at ease knowing I was setting times comparable to the top 6-7 guys. Unfortunately I made small mistakes that costed me a transfer spot in the heat after running fourth and fighting for third finishing in 8th. Going into my LCQ I ended up getting the hole shot and leading the first few laps until I dropped into second. From there I was fighting for 2nd all the way down to the finish line. Thank you to all of our sponsors and team for the opportunity to represent ourselves in front of all those people and show what Beta motorcycles is all about! "

Beta USA is happy to announce its latest addition to the Factory Race team; the talented young rider Cody Barnes. Barnes will be racing in the XC3 class of the GNCC series aboard a Beta 125 RR and the National Enduro series(NEPG) aboard a 250 RR in the Pro 2 class.

RODNEY SMITH

Beta USA Race Team Manager

"I'm very excited to sign Cody to our Factory team! He has been riding and developing our new 125 RR most of this year and now for the 2nd half of the season he feels he is ready to race the 125 RR! Barnes will finish out the rest of this year on the Factory Team in the remaining GNCC events. I'm Looking forward to seeing his full potential!"

CODY BARNES

Bike: Beta 125 RR & 250 RR Race Edition

"I am very excited to have this opportunity with Beta USA! I am looking forward to the rest of this year and next years race seasons. I believe that I will be able to put in very good results in these last 4 rounds of the GNCC series this year with how I am feeling on and off the bike. I expect myself to be on the podium in XC3 at every round and hopefully on the center of the podium. I feel awesome on the bike and think that is not only helping me with my riding but also my confidence level."

Photo by Diahann Tanke

Gerston takes 3rd place in the 2018 King of Motos, Wasson places 5th Overall at the First Round of the National Hare & Hound Series!

The 2018 King of Motos event took place last weekend in Johnson Valley, California. Top Enduro riders showed up to compete for the title in the two day event that went late into the night. Riding conditions were dry and navigating the course was a problem for most riders. Beta USA factory rider Max Gerston placed 3rd overall aboard his 300 RR Race Edition. This was Max's second year with a podium finish in the KOM event. For more information about the King Of Motos event go to: www.ultra4racing.com

Gerston's next event will be the 2nd round of the West Hare Scramble series on February 17th. For more information on the WHS series go to: westharescramble.com

Max Gerston: "King of the Motos was a complete cluster. Navigation errors, course workers directing in the wrong direction, confusing course crossings all made for an interesting race. Through all the confusion I just kept moving forward and ended up with Moto scores of 4-3-6 for 3rd overall."

The first round of the NEPG also kicked off last weekend in Wedgefield, South Carolina. The weather started off cold and damp making the sandy soil loamy and full of traction. By the end of the race the weather had turned to full downpours and the conditions worsened. Beta USA factory rider Mike Witkowski placed 14th in the Pro1 Class aboard his Beta 250 RR Race edition. For more information about the NEPG Series go to: www.nationalenduro.com

Witkowski's next event will be the 1st round of the GNCC series. For more information on the GNCC series go to: gnccracing.com

The first round of the Kenda National Hare and Hound took place last weekend in Red Mountain, California. Clear skies and moderate temperatures made for great riding conditions, minus a few dusty spots.
Joe Wasson placed 5th overall and in the Pro Class aboard his Beta 430RR 4-Stroke. Wasson was able to pull the holeshot and led the race for a while. Newly signed Chance Fullerton placed 2nd in the 250 Pro Class in the first round of the series.
The second round of the Kenda National Hare and Hound Series will take place in Ocotillo, CA on February 24th. For more info visit nationalhareandhound.com

Joe Wasson: "Weekend started off good. I pulled the holeshot over the top of the first hill and was beyond stoked at how well my 430 pulled. Led for about 15 miles then ended up losing a position, then I held second for a while after that. I was riding at a pace where I knew I was safe and wasn't going to make any mistakes but ended up losing a couple more positions which left me in 5th place. There was some good competition out there, but I was able to hold 5th and finish the race strong."

Chance Fullerton: "The race started out well getting a jump on just about everyone then later getting passed by teammate Joe Wasson about a half mile in. I kept a comfortable pace with the top guys and kept going along to the finish where I finished 2nd 250 Pro and 13th overall. I definitely have more in me and am expecting a much better finish at the next round."

Photo by Kato

EnduroCross Highlights and Round 6 of the NEPG Series

Enduro Cross Highlights

Round 1 of the EnduroCross series kicked off last weekend in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Practice times started at 9:00 AM and races went on past 10:30 at night. A lot of riders said that the course was easy compared to what they raced last year, however there were a few difficult sections that created big problems for some of the riders.

When a rider went down, or got hung up on a section of the track, it created a traffic jam for the other riders behind them. The traffic jams allowed the riders that cleared the obstacles to increase their lead on the rest of the pack. Having everyone grouped together created a tight battle for positions and made the race super exciting to watch. 

Overall the event was a great start to the season. The riders got a taste of what is to come for the rest of the EnduroCross series, while being able to see what they can improve on for the next event.

The next event in the series will be in Reno, Nevada on September 23rd.

Max raced on his new 2018 Beta 350 four stroke for the first time this year. The Beta Factory rider finished the 1st round of the series in 5th place. 

Max Gerston Commented;
"The first round in Vegas went well. The 350RR suited the fast track perfectly but was still able to chug in the technical sections. I had a bit of a rough day program, which didn't set me up very well for the main event. However, I was able to ride to a solid 5th place. I definitely learned a lot and look forward to improving the rest of the year."

Beta Factory rider Ty Cullins won his qualifying heat that placed him in the main, but he had a few errors in the main event that landed him in 13th place for round one.  

Ty Cullins Commented;
"The night started out good with a win in the qualifier, but in the main event I went down in one of the first corners and another rider had his bike on top of mine, after that it was hard to make up time on the fast paced track. With over a month until the next race, I know I will have time to work on my speed and fitness to be ready for Reno."

Beta Factory rider Morgan Tanke was doing great on board her Beta XTrainer, but an early traffic jam on the first lap of the main event caused her to fall to the back of the pack, which she didn't recover from. Morgan came in 5th place in the women's class for the first round of the EnduroCross series.

Morgan Tanke Commented;
"I struggled a little bit in Vegas and look forward to a few weeks break, so that I can work on a few things and come out swinging in Reno!"

Round 6 of the NEPG Series

The 6th round of the National Enduro Series was held in Matthews, Indiana. The riding conditions were perfect and the event drew in spectators and racers from all all over. Drew Higgins was in 11th place for the first test, but ended up finishing in 13th for the day.

Drew Higgins Commented;
"This is one of my favorite races on the schedule, because of the dirt, and it's more enduro trail. My day started out good, I was riding good in the first test, and ended up just outside the top 10. The second test I was riding good until I had a big get off, I rode as fast as I could for the last mile to get the best time I could. The next few tests were good for me. I changed it up for test 6, and made sure I made it to the finish safe."

Photo by Adam Booth

Higgins earns a top 5!

Beta USA's Drew Higgins finished in fifth place at round 2 of the GNCC series held in Palatka, Florida this past weekend. Filling in for the injured Nick Davis, the young Texan proved his fitness and riding ability is on point. Higgins' teammate Jordan Ashburn hit a knocked down telephone pole on the first lap after running seventh in the XC1 class, ending his day.

Drew Higgins explains his weekend "I was really looking forward to this opportunity to race in the GNCC this weekend, it was something that I have been working towards. Leading up to the race was awesome, Rodney put us through a couple days of conditioning which I feel helped. I really think that his additions to my workout routine are going to be beneficial. The race started off great, I nailed the holeshot and led for a little. During the first lap I got passed by a couple guys, I followed them to learn as much as I could. I was sitting in 5th after the first lap and stayed there pretty much the whole race. I passed and got to fourth place for one lap, then got stuck back in fifth when I pitted the second time. After the pit I rode smart and tried to minimize the mistakes to end up 5th. The bike worked amazingly all day long, I was very pleased with the suspension. My suspension tuner Bryce Rivera has it spot on and I'm really glad he is now working with the team."

"I found myself off to a bad start early on. I was close to the back and the dust had us to a near stand still. It started pouring rain halfway through the first lap, so the conditions changed very quickly, and I was able to work my way to 7th place on the first lap. I suffered a major get off directly behind the pits clipping a telephone pole that was sawed off 5 feet above ground. This ended my day in a hurry landing head-first and obtaining a nice knot on the head." explained Ashburn.

Factory rider Justin Wallis raced round 5 of the WORCS series in Lake Havasu however suffered a rare mechanical failure during the race and not be able to finish the race.

This weekend the Factory Team's schedule is round two NEPG help in Ormond Beach, Florida. Drew Higgins will try and put his Beta 300 RR on the podium. In the West, Max Gerston will be racing in the round three WHS held in Gorman, California.

Photo by Ken Hill

Max Gerston 2nd at King Of Motos!

The Beta Factory race team was busy this past weekend with their extreme team's first event at the King Of Motos (KOM) held in Johnson Valley, California. Factory rider Max Gerston finished the event in second aboard his 300 RR two stroke. Woman racer Morgan Tanke rode her Beta Xtrainer to a solid 16th place in the amateur division beating more than 60 other racers.

Gerston describes his race, "King of the Motos 2017 was a crazy one. GPS navigation and an added night race portion complicated the race and amplified the technical aspects of the Extreme Enduro. I had a solid setup with my Beta 300 RR and was able to have consistent rides with a 3rd in the night portion, a 2nd in the morning portion, and a 3rd in the afternoon segment resulting in a 2nd place overall. I am happy with the result and excited to build off of that for the rest of the 2017 race season."

Morgan Tanke was also pleased with her finish, "The new 3 moto format at King of the Motos this year was awesome. The night race was definitely one of the craziest races I've ever done. Starting up a technical canyon with 100+ racers all at once at night was insane! The morning desert moto also had a super difficult start but once I got through I was able to ride a steady pace and conserve my energy for the extreme moto. Midway through the 3rd moto I had a major bike issue and there wasn't much I could do to fix it. I kept on going and limped it home to the finish! Betas are the toughest motorcycles out there, no doubt!"

Across the country, round one of the National Enduro series was getting kicked off. The season opener was held in Wedgefield, SC which was the same location as the East coast Hare Scramble. The event was used as a warm up for many of the factory teams so the Pro class was stacked. NEPG regular Drew Higgins made his Beta race debut finishing in a solid 14th position. Higgins teammate and GNCC racer Nick Davis used the event as a warm up finishing 20th.  

"My day started out really good, got off to a good start in the first test and ended up 8th. Tests 2 and 3 were good, made minimal mistakes and tried to just maintain my speed throughout the test. I felt like my bike was working awesome all day, besides some mistakes in test 4 that cost me some time. I hit a tree that was bent over and it ripped me off my bike, after I got going I crashed again trying to get back into my groove. I rode as hard a could for tests 5 and 6, but my pace was a little off of what it should be. All in all I was really happy with my fitness and my bike, I just need to limit the mistakes that I make, and ride smoother. I'm looking forward to building off this result, and going up from here in my finishes." Higgins explains.

Next on the Factory Team's schedule is round two of the National Hare & Hound championship in New Mexico where Joe Wasson will try to put his Beta 480 on the box. Beta racers Jordan Ashburn, Nick Davis, and Drew Higgins are competing in Gaston, South Carolina at round one of the Full Gas Sprint Enduro.

Photos by Diahann Tanke