2025 AMA East Hard Enduro Round 8 Results

| October 13, 2025

The UP Sandstormers’ Mad Moose Hard Enduro, the penultimate round of the AMA East Hard Enduro Series, presented by IRC Tire, was blessed by the excellent racing conditions of Northern Michigan, October 11-12, and IRC Beta’s James Flynn used them to his advantage to take the overall win.

James Flynn at 2025 Mad Moose Hard Enduro — **James Flynn was the overall winner of the Mad Moose Hard Enduro in Michigan.**

Story & Photo by Stephanie Vetterly

Pro/A-class competitors and amateurs had separate, condensed six-mile courses tailored to their riding skills. Riders were given four hours to complete four laps, with no pre-race track walk to scout the course. The course featured flowing single-track mixed with tough hillclimbs and technical obstacles that quickly distinguished the experienced from the inexperienced. “Tyler’s Outhouse” attracted the largest crowds—a steep, rocky hillclimb covered in slick, foot-deep leaves that caused many to fall off their bikes. Another highlight, the aptly named “Tightrope,” required balance and precision as riders navigated the course along a two-story-high rock wall, then sharply pivoted to stay on top.

The Pro race was a fierce dogfight from start to finish. Wheel-to-wheel action defined the first three laps as Flynn, IRC Beta’s Daniel Lewis and Rieju’s Quinn Wentzel exchanged the lead with KTM riders Kamakana Waiwaiole-Kahalepuna and Champion Brick’s Tobin Miller. Flynn, who celebrated his birthday on race day, came out on top for the second year in a row, giving himself an important boost in the East Regional Championship standings heading into the final round.

“The first three laps I was a little tight and was just trying to loosen up and feel more comfortable,” Flynn said. “Going into the last lap, I thought, ‘Let’s win or die trying.’ I learned where I could carry momentum through the sections instead of stopping, and that made all the difference.”

Daniel Lewis at 2025 Mad Moose Hard Enduro — **Daniel Lewis was a close second.**

Lewis, who finished second, said, “All five of us were within a second of each other for the first three laps. It was crazy. Quinn would be in first, I’d be in first, James would be in first, and then we’d all be in last. I was hootin’ and hollerin’ out there; it was that fun. I just made too many small mistakes, clipping trees and wrecking in the single-track. If I had taken my time and just picked a better line, I would have been fine.”

Wentzel finished on the podium, but he left the race knowing he’d been in contention to win. “I enjoyed the technicality, but I think it could’ve been a little harder,” he admitted. “We were in a train until halfway through the last lap. I got caught behind a lapper for maybe 15 seconds, and that was it, the others were gone. I was in the lead a lot and felt like I had pretty good command over most of the race. Just one little slip-up cost me. I’m a little bummed, but happy to be on the podium.”

Quinn Wentzel at 2025 Mad Moose Hard Enduro — **Quinn Wentzel (5) rounded out the top three overall.**

Behind them, Miller fought to salvage a fifth-place finish after mechanical issues late in the race.

In the A class, Makana Barger took the win on his Champion Brick KTM after an early crash in the rock pit left him chasing the leaders. “I pulled a good start and was leading,” he said. “I was having fun, then decided to flip my bike upside down in the first rock pit. About the top eight riders got past me. I just kept ticking off riders and tried not to push too hard too early.

Tucker Miller finished second despite a broken shifter on the third lap that forced him to ride the rest of the race in second gear.

The amateur and youth divisions showcased the growing depth of the sport, with many riders tackling their first-ever hard enduro. Youth class winner Graham Kobak displayed both composure and fitness beyond his years. “I got out strong and tried to keep the same pace all the way,” he said. “I just wanted to get out of sight of Bentlee [Bredekamp]. The course was perfect—not too hard, not too easy—and I was able to find traction and creative lines to get around people.”

Bentlee Bredekamp, who finished second despite a rough crash, said, “I hit a tree right away.” He injured his fingers but pushed on regardless. Kobak’s victory tightened the points battle with Bredekamp and Chase DeLong, bringing the trio within just 16 points of the East Regional Championship lead and setting the stage for a dramatic showdown at the final round.

With Flynn’s victory, the championship fight now narrows to the season finale. The final round of the AMA East Hard Enduro Series is scheduled for October 26 and hosted by the Reading Off-Road Riders (RORR) in Good Spring, Pennsylvania, for the RORR Coal Cracker Smacker.CN