Walker with Another Top Ten Overall Finish 2nd in Class Leburn

Apr 23, 2026 Michael Le Pard News

Published Apr 23, 2026 by Michael Le Pard

he inaugural Rocky Mountain ATV/MC Dukes GNCC in Kentucky proved to be a weekend of grit and mixed fortunes for the Liqui Moly Factory Beta Racing team. Jhak Walker spearheaded the effort with a standout performance, navigating the challenging Kentucky terrain to secure an impressive 9th overall finish and a hard-earned 2nd place in the highly competitive XC2 250 Pro class. His consistency throughout the race allowed him to climb to 8th in the Overall National Championship Standings and is in the top spot of the XC2 class early into the season. In the XC1 Open Pro division, veteran Josh Strang battled through a stacked field of factory talent to cross the line in 8th place, earning valuable points that keep him sitting 7th overall in the championship hunt. Unfortunately, the team’s weekend was dampened by a tough break for Cody Barnes, who suffered an injury during the event and was unable to finish the race. Sending our best wishes to Cody after his lap one crash. Despite the setback, the team’s presence in the top ten continues to highlight the Beta lineup’s competitive edge as the series heads to Tennessee for round six.
Results:
Josh Strang » 8th Place » XC1 Class

Cody Barnes » DNF » XC1 Class
Jhak Walker » 2nd Place » XC2 Class

Factory 480 RR

“The race for me went ok, I made the choice to run a gummy tire based on the early morning conditions, but very quickly found out it was the wrong choice. I rode within my comfort level with the track conditions, and in the end, I was only able to get an 8th place in XC1 on the day, which is a little disappointing.”

Factory 250 RR

“My race went well, I put myself in the lead on lap two. Then, while leading, I came together with a lapped rider really hard. After that, I lost my flow a little bit with the tricky conditions and rode it in for a 2nd place.”

Photos: Mack Faint

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