Racing

Motorcycles And Mechanics Of The Kenda AMA National Enduro Series — Photo Gallery

Here’s a look at a few bikes and mechanics of the Kenda AMA National Enduro Series

February 8, 2018

One of the coolest things about attending a round of the Kenda AMA National Enduro Series is the access fans have to the trick factory bikes and the friendly mechanics who maintain them. For instance, it's not unusual to see Thad Duvall's mechanic Tanner Tremaine or Josh Toth's KTM wrench Charles Marchant standing in front of their factory rigs talking to fans. Here's a look at just a few of the machines and mechanics of the national enduro series.

Josh Toth’s factory KTM 250 XC-F features a WP Trax shock that sports a bladder instead of a mechanical piston. According to WP’s Tanner Harding, the bladder gives the bike a little better small-bump compliance. The bladder system is available through WP authorized dealers.Shan Moore

Thirty-five-year-old Charles Marchant has been a professional mechanic since 2005. In the past, the Wyoming native worked with Wil Hahn at Star Yamaha, plus Darryn Durham and Vicki Golden. Since joining factory KTM, Marchant wrenched for Cory Buttrick and Russell Bobbitt before joining Josh Toth this season.Shan Moore

Thad Duvall’s Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing FX 350 also uses the WP Trax shock with a bladder. This year, both the Husqvarna and KTM factory riders are using Xtrig triple clamps. Thad’s bike had a special billet-aluminum throttle housing.Shan Moore

Duvall’s mechanic Tanner Tremaine is starting his second year with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing. Before joining the team, Tremaine worked with RPM Racing, where he wrenched for his cousin Ty Tremaine. Tanner got into the profession after attending the Motorcycle Mechanics Institute in 2009.Shan Moore

Andrew Delong’s FAR Racing GasGas XC 300 features a Lectron carburetor, which Delong says makes the power delivery a bit smoother. He also spoke of a 15–20 percent fuel-mileage gain, which is important in off-road racing.Shan Moore

Joey Mauer has been wrenching for various teams for 28 years. In the past, the Ohio native has worked for Mitch Payton’s Pro Circuit Kawasaki team and also wrenched for Greg Albertyn at factory Suzuki. Now he spins wrenches for Andrew Delong on the FAR Racing GasGas team. GNCC star Fred Andrews was the first “pro” rider Mauer worked for.Shan Moore

Drew Higgins AirGroup/Enduro Engineering Husqvarna TE 300 runs a Boyesen Rad Valve, which mechanic Mike “Napper” Napieralski says helps the bike more easily transition from the low-end to midrange, and it gives the bike a smoother power delivery. As expected, Higgins’ bike features the full arsenal of Enduro Engineering aftermarket parts, including a skid plate, brush guards, radiator braces and guards, and a rear disc guard.Shan Moore

Napieralski got his start in cycling, working as a mechanic at the Olympic Training Center. Afterward, he worked for Cannondale’s mountain-bike racing team, where he got heavily into suspension. Napper worked with the team in 22 countries before crossing over to motorcycles and taking a job with Enduro Engineering.Shan Moore

Mike Witkowski’s Beta USA 250RR features several Beta USA-supplied aftermarket parts, such as a sharkfin, clutch slave unit guard, rear sprocket, and billet oil-filler cap. We also spotted a titanium banjo bolt on the rear brake caliper that mechanic Jamison Gryder had neatly safety-wired in place. Witkowski was running a 38.5mm Keihin carburetor instead of the stock 36mm mixer.Shan Moore

Grizzly Peak Racing is new to the 2018 Kenda AMA National Enduro Series. It’s a AmPro Racing Yamaha satellite program. The North Carolina-based team supports pro rider Anthony Federico, whose YZ250F features Michelin tires with Nitro mousses and an Akrapovic exhaust. Federico runs an Athena GET ECU and a Rekluse Torque Drive clutch. Team manager/owner Andrew Kane says they get all of their power gains with VP fuel.Shan Moore