Liam Draper Makes History: A Major Break in the U.S. Sprint Enduro Series!
Second round of the 2025 U.S. Sprint Enduro Series took place at Outback Raceway in North Carolina and marked a significant turning point in the enduro world. AmPro Yamaha rider Liam Draper ended FMF KTM Factory Team’s Johnny Girroir’s 22-race winning streak, securing an overall victory.
Draper Wins in a Tough Battle
Over two days of racing, Draper won both days and claimed victory by just 6.394 seconds. Sunday’s win was particularly close, with Draper winning by just over a second. Both riders won six tests each over the weekend, but Draper’s outstanding performance in the final enduro test on Saturday made the difference.
“In that last enduro test, I gave it everything I had,” Draper said. “I was ready to risk everything to beat Johnny. It was some of the closest racing I’ve ever had. We entered the last test just seven-tenths of a second apart. At one point, I took the lead, then he got it back, but I pushed as hard as I could and gave it my all.”
For Girroir, the race marked the end of his impressive winning streak, but the experienced KTM rider acknowledged that all streaks must eventually come to an end.
Young Talents Shine
Phoenix Honda’s Cody Barnes and FMF KTM Factory Team’s young star Grant Davis fought for the final podium spot. In the end, Davis took third place overall and won the Pro 2 class, proving that his recent success in U.S. Sprint Enduro and GNCC was no fluke.
“I’m happy with my riding,” Davis said. “The whole track was deep sand, and I made a few mistakes that cost me. I lost the front end twice, which affected my overall time on Saturday.”
Barnes, now racing on a 450 instead of his usual 250, narrowly missed the podium by just four seconds. He described how the sandy track became rough and challenging as the race went on.
FMF KTM Factory Team’s Cooper Jones and Red Bear Team Green Kawasaki’s Collier Martinez had a fierce battle, finishing the weekend just two minutes apart.
Richards Dominates Women’s Class
KTM’s Brandy Richards was unbeatable in the Pro Women’s division, winning all 12 tests over the weekend. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Korie Steed finished second, nearly three minutes behind Richards.
“The only crash I had was in the first test on the first day,” Richards said. “After that, I stayed upright the whole time and found my flow. The enduro test was about 70% sand, but there were also some hard-packed sections with tree roots. Overall, it was mostly sand.”
Phoenix Honda Racing’s Tayla Jones finished third, while Rachel Gutish (Sherco) and Ellie Winland (Yamaha) rounded out the top five.
2025 U.S. Sprint Enduro Round 2 Overall Results:
- Liam Draper (Yam)
- Johnny Girroir (KTM)
- Grant Davis (KTM)
- Cody Barnes (Hon)
- Craig Delong (Hus)
This thrilling race proved once again that the U.S. Sprint Enduro series is highly competitive and full of surprises. It will be exciting to see how the competition unfolds in the upcoming rounds!
