Caprock Canyon National Enduro Report

Caprock Canyon National Enduro

Turkey, Texas
November 15, 2020
Team Rider: Cole Kirkpatrick
Bike: 2020 KTM 250 SX
Result: 10th Overall, 3rd NE Pro 2
Story by: Cole Kirkpatrick
Photos: Mack Faint and Andrew Nguyen

The National Enduro series (NEPG) headed west to the small town of Turkey, Texas over the weekend. Turkey is the home of country music legend Bob Wills, dry loose dirt, and the caprock canyon. During the days leading up to the event, I welcomed KTM riders, Ben Kelley and Josh Toth to Lubbock to stay a few days at my parent’s place and get some riding in prior to the event since the terrain is so different than what the NEPG series usually races on.

We had a fun day riding at the ranch and as always it’s really cool to watch the factory pros ride around on the trails that I have ridden since I was on a PW 50. Mack Faint was also along for the ride as he is traveling on a road trip west with the KTM boys and captured some incredible photos of the day we all spent riding together outside of Post.

The race had five special tests sections that all featured very rutted and silty trail that worked its way around the caprock canyon area of West Texas. My goal for the event was to be top ten overall and I really wanted to podium in the NE Pro 2 class. I’ve been shooting and working a ton lately so my race shape wasn’t where I wanted it to be to really be able to push 100% for the duration of each test. I tipped over in one test and stalled the bike briefly in another but other than that I was happy with how I rode. I raced as hard and as safely as I could and was so pumped to finish tenth overall and in third in the NE Pro 2 class.

The national guys once again impressed me with their skill, even in conditions that are far from what they are used to. Now my focus is on putting the finish touches on the property in Post prior to the GRINduro 5 event that I put on in December. Russell will be attending the event as well and we will be renting out four of our Gnarly Routes bikes for the event.

Thanks for the continued support, it was fun to go racing again!