fbpx

King of the Motos/King of the Hammers Conquers Competitors

Billed as the toughest extreme enduro race in the United States, the King of the Motos motorcycle competition kicked off the week-long King of the Hammers (KOH) event in Johnson Valley, California.

Billed as the toughest extreme enduro race in the United States, the King of the Motos motorcycle competition kicked off the week-long King of the Hammers (KOH) event in Johnson Valley, California.
For the uninitiated, think Mad Max meets the Red Bull Romaniacs at Burning Man for the level of high-horsepower insanity the event.
Spread over two days, the three-challenge format, held in the first week of February, marked its seventh anniversary. And if the event is any indication of the health of the powersports industry, 2018 forecasts some very positive signs. The event featured a record number of entries in the motorcycle, UTV and 4×4 classes as well as a full vendor/sponsor midway. Big rigs, fifth-wheelers and Class A motorhomes were surrounded by every type of mechanized off-road machinery available. During pre-running, qualifying and the week of competition, “Hammertown” swells to more than 40,000 people, making the makeshift city on Means Dry Lake the second most populated town in San Bernardino County.
But for motorcycle purists, King of the Motos features a special kind of insanity. The skeptics who thought last year’s event was too easy caused former Dirt Rider editor, Dakar Rally competitor, riding school instructor and all-around sadist, Jimmy Lewis to tweet: “#2018kom is all work and no play. We promise!” From the nighttime start up a nearly impossible mountain face to the toughest desert loops this side of Dakar, the King of the Motos course was challenging enough for everyone.
“This time I think I’ve done it. I made it just tough enough,” said Lewis. And, in the loosely translated words of two-time Dakar winner Fabrizio Meoni, “Only one rider should finish the race then die after crossing the finish line.” Okay, so nobody died, but Lewis believes that extreme enduros should be really tough.
As if the course wasn’t tough enough, a premium was placed on navigational skills and a hidden waypoint caught out many of the top racers, including the winner and only one credited with completing the race, Cody Webb, who led the two-day/three “moto” event – in fact, he was the only rider to finish the entire 140-mile afternoon leg on the second day.
After chasing Webb up the mountain Saturday night and running with him for the first day leg, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Colton Haaker was credited with second. Max Gerston rounded out the top three. Even though David Kamo found the waypoint that Webb and Haaker had missed, he was dropped to fifth.

For more details on King of the Motos and the UTV class at King of the Hammers, go to https://ultra4racing.com.

KOM Unofficial Results:
Cody Webb (KTM)
Colton Haaker (Hus)
Max Gerston (Bet)
Noah Kepple (GasGas)
David Kamo (KTM)

You May Also Like

Sherco USA Team Up With Reed Christensen for S.C.O.R.E and Best in the Desert

Christensen is the defending champion of the prestigious Mint 400.

Reed Christensen

Sherco USA has teamed up with Reed Christensen of 4 Amigos Racing, who races the Ironman class in both the S.C.O.R.E  and Best in the Desert series. Christensen is the defending champion of the prestigious Mint 400 and was leading the Baja 1000 when a fire destroyed his chase trailer with all of his needed equipment. With that, he went on to finish the race on borrowed tires, lubricants, air filters and goggles. He was one of seven total finishers in the Ironman class.

New Sponsorship Agreement Between Heidenau Tires and Team Obsolete

Heidenau has been producing tires for classic motorcycle sizes for almost 20 years.

Heidenau tires with classic Benelli race motorcycle
R&G to Protect All-New Rahal Ducati Moto Team

The team makes its maiden appearance at Daytona 200 next month.

R&G crash protection engine cover
H-D Factory Race Team Launches for 2024 MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers

The 18-race schedule includes a round at the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas.

Harley-Davidson Factory Race Team
Suzuki and H.E.P. Motorsports Launch 2024 RM Army Boot Camps

RM Army Boot Camps were launched in 2023 to much acclaim.

RM Army Boot Camp logo

Other Posts

Royal Enfield’s Build. Train. Race. Program to Return for the 2024 Season

Royal Enfield continues to inspire a new generation of women riders.

Build. Train. Race., Royal Enfield BTR
Top Canadian Superbike Riders Ben Young and Trevor Daley Join Team BATTLAX

Young and Daley will debut on the Bridgestone-backed effort at the Daytona 200 March 7-9, 2024.

Ben Young and Trevor Daley, Team BATTLAX
Team HRC to Enter FIM E-Xplorer World Cup

The FIM E-Xplorer World Cup is an endurocross discipline featuring exclusively electric motocross bikes.

Honda CR ELECTRIC PROTO
Polaris Off Road Unveils Full Driver Lineup for 2024 King of the Hammers

In addition to the Polaris Factory Racing team, fellow Polaris-supported racers Branden Sims, Wayne and Kristen Matlock, Justin Lambert and Sierra Romo are all set to compete in Desert Challenge.

King of the Hammers, Polaris RZR Pro